The Storm ~ Fort Benning ~ Infantry Museum

The Storm ~ Time check 6:30am Wednesday March 23, 2022!

At 3:19am, the storm started to rain heavily. Heavy rain until 4:05am. I had moved the Truck Camper directly in back of the restaurant, absolutely no wind was noticed, and with no rocking. I would have lowered the electric jacks if the wind would have been an issue. This morning , on the radio, they announced a tornado, close to New Orleans! One dead and injuries to others, I am glad with the move away from Natchez. It’s not that far from New Orleans!

Dark Clouds with the full Moon shining!

The storm is over! Wednesday 24, 2022!

Leaving Montgomery, AL traveling to Columbus, GA. Actually Fort Benning’s (Uchee Creek RV Park) is located across the Chattahoochee River in Alabama. Well, it didn’t matter as there was no availability on sites. This was due to an Archery Tournament. So the office told us to try Camp David, a campground just off base, next to the National Infantry Museum. We did get a site at Camp David that met all our needs. As a bonus, it had exceptional excellent Wifi. I was able to work on my blogs.

National Infantry Museum ~ Fort Benning

What did we do all day? Of course we spent a lot of time at the

National Infantry Museum. This is a new facility just opened last November, according to the camp host. Maybe she was referring to reopening after Covid (not fact checked). For sure it was a massive facility.

Inside the museum lower level

I couldn’t imagine why the parking lot was nearly full! Thousands of cars! We walked up to the building entrance and asked security what event was going on? He said graduation tomorrow and a class rehearsal on Inovye Field and in the Maneuver Center of Excellence. Now for a brief inside tour of the museum. A giant atrium greets you. The building has three levels. The bottom floor has divided areas that take the country through all major wars. Very well illustrated, I couldn’t possibly cover anyone of these in months of writing. I did walk through the dark jungle of Vietnam with familiar displays. When I mean dark I mean totally dark. It did bring back memories! A full size “D Model” Huey helicopter was hanging from the ceiling with Infantry jumping out into the jungle! Like I said, I could write for months on this museum.

This represents one wall of two that received the Congressional Medal of Honor! 🇺🇸

Helen reading exhibit of many in the lower level

Kinetic Energy rounds ~ In other words “spent Nuclear Uranium SBOT“

That’s a six inch steel piece of a tank, with penetration from a SABOT round!

This is the overview of the pedestrian bridge between Georgia & Alabama

View of the walking bridge

Locals love to fish the Chattahoochee!

Water Sports is abundant on the river

You can see the rapids pretty impressive in this view

Back at Camp David , which is civilian owned by an active duty Army Captain. It’s a new RV campground with 42 full hookup sites. A trail goes down to a lake which, I think, empties into the Chattahoochee River. The reason I say this is because of the walk, hike, bike paved trail that goes all the way through Columbus on the Chattahoochee River.

I asked if the park had mostly long term campers. She said, “We have 14 active duty sites reserved, another 13 sites are, (I like this) for traveling nurses! The rest are like us going through, staying a day or two. We couldn’t stay but one night because of the Archery Tournament.

One last note on Camp David being adjacent to Ft Benning. Most Army training areas are miles from the urban part of the base. With that in mind, you can hear small arms firing. Ft Benning ranges are a “gun shot away,” not alarming rather it’s a subdued sound that makes you realize that troops are here to train and protect our country. Camp David at night is no different. I could hear Black Hawk choppers flying night training missions. In a distance C130 warming up on the runway, possibly for a 101 Airborne night parachute drop. I could also hear light artillery in a distance. This didn’t last all night, but just after dark and early dawn.

In the morning, we left Camp David and headed for Front Ave in downtown Columbus. This is the historic part of town. The Chattahoochee River is a big part of the attractions. Did you know that the Chattahoochee has the longest Urban rapids in the country. Created when tectonic plates shifted raising ledge upwards. There are several bridges crossing the river. Phenix City is on the western side in Alabama. A wide pedestrian Bridge is outstanding for relaxing and viewing the Front Ave from the River’s prospective!

Next we explored Broadway, a divided Boulevard with large shade trees, shops with the flavor of New Orleans, meaning wrought iron railings on second floors, hanging flower pots and decor. Further down Broadway, came the restored homes that grace a lot of these southern river towns.

Green is inspiring!

One of many restored homes

Flowers are in bloom!

Old Brick kilns ~ Red bricks made locally Grey Bricks made in another part od Georgia

Did you know that Memorial Day originated in Georgia. The Ladies Memorial Association of Columbus started the tradition.

Tonight, we are at another Cracker Barrel Restaurant, a little on the outskirts of Columbus

That’s what we saw and did