Since Chrissy is a member of the Hound Family, we're off to the middle of nowhere for a visit to the Coon Dog Cemetery. There's really not a good street address, but we have directions. Ever our GPS, Sir Garmin of GPS, doesn't understand. The cemetery is located near Red Bay, Alabama and the Mississippi state line. Told you our summer was going to be eclectic. So it is!
Just in case you think I'm pulling your leg about this place, here's a website for you for more information:
http://www.coondogcemetery.com/
We leave early so it won't be so hot when we get there. We're taking I-65 and then getting off on side roads until we reach Tuscumbia. Then it gets to be more country roads. We're up for it!
I mentioned the tornado damage in Tuscaloosa in an earlier post. We saw a lot of it in Cullman and in the other towns we went through. Many areas were hard hit.
We took all the turns and the directions were correct. We turned onto Coon Dog Cemetery Road and drove and drove and drove. We were so far in the woods that I asked David didn't I hear banjo music playing. We finally arrived!
They take all this quite seriously!
We get out and I have to "go." Conveniently, there was a sign marked "Ladies." I thought twice about it and then thought some more. I was desperate.
The answer is: Yes, I did.
I was amazed at all the markers! There are too many to show, but here are many of my favorites.
Troop was the first dog buried here. He died in 1937. Note the flowers and the tennis ball placed on his grave site.
This appeared to be the first monument. There had been a dog carved into the "tree." Someone removed it leaving just the paws.
This is David and Chrissy in front of what appears to be a second monument like the first one. This one has the dogs on the tree. Chrissy was not enjoying herself. She wanted back in the truck with the A/C running! Didn't happen.
Here are many of the markers that caught my attention. There are so many more that I didn't post.
UKC is United Kennel Club. PKC is Professional Kennel Club.
Here's one for a Night Champion and World Champion.
Metal marker that was soldered. You might remember it from the movie "Sweet Home Alabama."
This one appeared to be made from a cedar log plank.
This was the dog's credentials that allowed him to be buried here.
A last laugh perhaps? A coon on the dog's marker.
This photo was placed on the grave site.
We don't know if this one wasn't permitted to be buried in the cemetery, but the photo and info were and carved into the wood rafters of the picnic pavilion.
After a quick trip into Red Bay, we decided to head home. We took a road I didn't know home. The new I-22. I was familiar with I-24 headed to Memphis, but hadn't heard of this one. Great road to take and we were back home in no time.
Catch us down the road!
Jenny :)
