On a lark

I conned my wife into making this trip after indulging her habit at the upscale outlet malls around Atlanta all morning. Nice day for a drive -- bright sun, chilly air, not a lot of traffic. Left the metro area around 2 pm. The drive is well-marked, and we didn't need any of the maps I had stashed in the trunk of the car. Last mile or so is along a ridge that drops off quickly on either side of the road, providing views that one really doesn't expect for Alabama. Not much feeling of accomplishment after reaching the top; even after climbing the observation tower. But it is a summit, and it's also a state highpoint.