We Be Trippin': The Great DIS-nee Road Trip

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Thanks DisGeeks for the Sesame Place update! We'll be catching that helicopter and going to Hershey Park on Monday for anyone interested!

Yay! A side-trip to Hershey Park!

(I've never been there -- only to the Hershey's Chocolate World attraction, so I appreciate any info I can get! I've heard great things about it, though! I plan to visit there -- and Dutch Wonderland -- sometime with my family.)

 

[KigerKat]

Looks like some kind of Close Encounter of the Third Kind type of thing...

Yeah - that's it!

It definitely doesn't inspire me to recycle.

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

The funny thing is that you can delete your cookies and refresh the page and Kroger's system doesn't know you already voted, so you can vote again and again. I have a sneaky feeling that is the only way someone can get up to 124,677 votes. Seriously, the bag isn't that pretty. Take a look:

It looks like the kids are just floating in some weird trance.

Kinda creepy.

Looks like some kind of Close Encounter of the Third Kind type of thing...

Yeah - that's it!

It definitely doesn't inspire me to recycle.

HA! I'm totally loving everyone's "flattering" assessment of the competition!

SPOOOOOOOOKY!!

 

[BigThunderMtn]

You're right! I just brought the first bag up to 300 votes!!

THANKS!!!!!

They could have planned that a little better.

 

[BigThunderMtn]

THANKS!!!!!

They could have planned that a little better.

Here are the Top 10...not sure how clear this is going to be to see. The 4th bag (heart flower) was probably created a few days ago and now it is almost at 40,000 votes. There are maybe 3 or 4 I'd say are worthy of the Top 10, but I can't say that they got there legally either.

I can't think of any high traffic sites to post on to hopefully help. I tried craigslist, but some of the ads are being flagged. Any suggestions?

 

[DSNY4ever]

BTM did you try posting on the community board on here? Maybe you could start a thread about ways to go "green" in your community and add your bag in there and get a whole new group of voters..?

Oh I am excited to see Hershey park, and I have never been in a helicopter!

 

[BigThunderMtn]

BTM did you try posting on the community board on here? Maybe you could start a thread about ways to go "green" in your community and add your bag in there and get a whole new group of voters..?

Oh I am excited to see Hershey park, and I have never been in a helicopter!

We have a community board? I haven't really ventured out. We only have a couple days left now or if I had thought I could do it I would have created a room long ago. I thought it might have been frowned upon.

 

[madbrad76]

OK folks, sorry for the EXTENDED delay!!! BTM and KigerKat made Atlanta look so appealing that I had to actually take a real trip there.

To get us all back in the mood, let me start of with a little travelling music ... On the Road Again!

As we finally wave goodbye to BTM and KigerKat and the wonderful state of Georgia, let me welcome the Disnee family to the State of Alabama!!

Here is a map of the areas we'll be visiting along the way. In honor of Ann, we'll be making a short stop off in Talladega. It will be a short stop since there are no races in town until October. We'll then be making stops in Birmingham, Huntsville, Florence, and then on to Disneymommom in Dry Prong, LA. As a result, I'm going to seperate my leg of the trip into 4 major parts. Each part will include info on that city plus any additional tid-bits on the surrounding area or other interesting stops along the way.

I'll give everyone a few minutes to gather their belongings and then we'll be on our way!

 

[Marshay]

Can't wait!! I've driven through Alabama but never explored it!

 

[madbrad76]

Talladega National Forest

On our way to Birmingham, we'll pass thru the Talladega Nation Forest.

Central Alabama's Talladega National Forest covers 375,000 acres at the southern edge of the Appalachians.

Before it was bought by the federal government in the 1930s, the area that comprises the Talladega was extensively logged and represented some of the most abused, eroded wastelands in all of Alabama. Pine forest regrowth now hosts a diverse eco-system.

The tiny 7,400 acre Cheaha Wilderness preserves a portion of this natural wealth near Rebecca Mountain.

The Talladega National Forest is physically separated into two areas, and divided into three Ranger Districts. Oakmulgee District lies in the central part of the state, east of Tuscaloosa in Hale, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Perry, Chilton and Dallas Counties. It consists of level to moderately sloping, broad ridges with stream terraces and broad floodplains. The Shoal Creek and Talladega Districts are located in the northeastern part of the state in Cherokee, Calhoun, Cleburne, Talladega and Clay Counties. They consist of upland hills and low mountains with predominantly moderately steep slopes. The forest covers parts of eleven counties in Alabama. In descending order of forest land area they are Cleburne, Clay, Bibb, Talladega, Perry, Hale, Calhoun, Chilton, Tuscaloosa, Cherokee, and Dallas counties.

 

[BigThunderMtn]

We are heading to Smith Lake this weekend MadBrad, so now GA is visiting AL. I promise we weren't following you.

Here is the in-laws lake castle...err, I wish. They have a modest lake cabin there we frequent during the summer months.

 

[Marshay]

Here is the in-laws lake castle...err, I wish. They have a modest lake cabin there we frequent during the summer months.

WOW!!!! Let's go!

 

[BigThunderMtn]

WOW!!!! Let's go!

I think this is where the BatCave is.

 

[catotigger]

Talladega National Forest

On our way to Birmingham, we'll pass thru the Talladega Nation Forest.

Central Alabama's Talladega National Forest covers 375,000 acres at the southern edge of the Appalachians.

Before it was bought by the federal government in the 1930s, the area that comprises the Talladega was extensively logged and represented some of the most abused, eroded wastelands in all of Alabama. Pine forest regrowth now hosts a diverse eco-system.

The tiny 7,400 acre Cheaha Wilderness preserves a portion of this natural wealth near Rebecca Mountain.

The Talladega National Forest is physically separated into two areas, and divided into three Ranger Districts. Oakmulgee District lies in the central part of the state, east of Tuscaloosa in Hale, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Perry, Chilton and Dallas Counties. It consists of level to moderately sloping, broad ridges with stream terraces and broad floodplains. The Shoal Creek and Talladega Districts are located in the northeastern part of the state in Cherokee, Calhoun, Cleburne, Talladega and Clay Counties. They consist of upland hills and low mountains with predominantly moderately steep slopes. The forest covers parts of eleven counties in Alabama. In descending order of forest land area they are Cleburne, Clay, Bibb, Talladega, Perry, Hale, Calhoun, Chilton, Tuscaloosa, Cherokee, and Dallas counties.

Wow! This looks AMAZINGLY beautiful!

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Here are the Top 10...not sure how clear this is going to be to see. The 4th bag (heart flower) was probably created a few days ago and now it is almost at 40,000 votes. There are maybe 3 or 4 I'd say are worthy of the Top 10, but I can't say that they got there legally either.

Ah, that sounds like there could be a pirate involved with that rapid a voting process! Curses!

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Yay! We're on the road again! Yippee!

 

[BigThunderMtn]

Ah, that sounds like there could be a pirate involved with that rapid a voting process! Curses!

Kenny has been missing.

 

[AnnDisneyFan]

No worries...

Should I wait a bit before I officially remove you from the itinerary, though? ('Cuz -- at the rate we're going -- you'll likely make it to your business-trip destination and back before the Party Bus even reaches Texas.) 'Just sayin'... (as AnnDisneyFan would say)!

Oh, and my kids are 10 and 12 now, but we LOVED Sesame Place just a mere few years ago! They loved the climbing nets and the water rides especially!

On another note, I went to Carowinds (now a Cedar Fair park) on Saturday.....so NOT Disney but close enough to visit more often. Anyway, we didn't have the best time, rides down among many other things and I called to let them know that I just didn't think this was our year for a season pass and would like my money back.

Anyway, the manager was so apologetic and sincere and understanding that he offered to refund my money OR if I wanted, I could have PREMIUM passes..........so Fleagles, I am coming your way and going to Kings Dominion.....and 3GUYS, is there one by you too, right??

Again, not Disney, but as a real ride rider that was an awfully nice jesture for the manager to make! Just sayin'

Have a great night everyone!

 

[Marshay]

I am coming your way and going to Kings Dominion.....

Keep me in the loop, too! Kings Dominion isn't that far from me either...DIS Meet anyone???

 

[madbrad76]

Anniston Army Depot

Located northwest of Talladega National Forest and just off of I-20 is Anniston Army Depot.

Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) is a major United States Army facility fulfilling various depot operations. Primary missions are the repair of tracked vehicles and storage of chemical weapons (Anniston Chemical Activity).

The depot employs over 2,000 people and covers 25 square miles of land. Tanks and other equipment are repaired and tested there, but historically Anniston's main role has been as a major munitions storage site, since WWII. Anniston is one of eight depots in the United States where chemical weapons are stored(7.2% of nation's chemical weapons stockpile). Much of the stockpile was in M55 rockets armed with Sarin, VX nerve agent, as well as shells armed with mustard gas. The last M55 rockets were destroyed in March 2007, leaving artillery shells and land mines armed with VX and mustard.

ANAD is the only depot capable of performing maintenance on heavy-tracked combat vehicles and their components. The depot is designated as the Center of Technical Excellence for the M1 Abrams Tank and is the designated candidate depot for the repair of the M60 Patton tank, AVLB, M728, M88 Recovery Vehicle and M551 combat vehicles. After the Iraq War, over 1,000 M1 tanks, howitzers and other armored vehicles were stored awaiting re-engineering.

More info on Anniston Army Depot
Official Site of anniston Army Depot
Anniston Army Depot


Anniston Chemical Activity

Anniston Chemical Activity is a U.S. Army chemical weapon storage site located in Alabama. The Army has safely stored approximately seven percent of the nation’s original chemical weapons stockpile at the Anniston Army Depot since the early 1960s. In August 2003, the Army began disposing of these weapons at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. Since then, it has destroyed by incineration 47% of the depot's total stockpile including all 437 tons (397 metric tons) of GB (sarin).[1] As of July 2006, there were 1,817 tons (1,648 metric tons) of other agents remaining at the Depot. This stockpile was split 46%/54% between mustard gas and VX nerve agent. On July 23, 2006, destruction of the base's stockpile of VX was begun. By January, 2007, 131 tons (119 metric tons) of VX had been destroyed.

Anniston develops and operates mobile treatment systems for on-site treatment of recovered chemical weapons. The agency successfully treated recovered chemical weapons at Camp Sibert and Fort McClellan, both in Alabama.

More info on Anniston Chemical Activity
Anniston Chemical Activity