A Week Around Florida: Valdosta to Eufaula Day 8

Today was the day we headed back to the farm in Alabama. After driving through some thick morning fog along state highways and county roads we had one more place we planned to stop at on the way home. We headed northwest toward Eufaula where we wanted to stop for a long lunch break and then made it to the farm by early afternoon. Eufaula ended up being a starting and ending point for this trip, and driving across the lake looking out over the water to the train bridge felt like we were both on a way, and back home.

Driving Through Heavy Fog

Old Pecan Tree Plantation in Fog

Valdosta to Leary, GA

One of the many quaint old towns along the state highways we traveled through was Leary, GA. It was a typical old southern town that was built along the railroad tracks. That was of course back in the day when railroads were the main mode of transportation across the country for people and goods. This pre-dates the Eisenhower era and the development of the interstate system we know today, interstates which bypassed just about every little town like this.

Rest Stop in Leary, GA

Farm Equipment in Leary, GA

Sweet Home Alabama

Crossing over the state line into our home state of Alabama, we drove through a town that we have visited several times recently, Eufaula. This town has a beautiful historic district, with large southern style homes, complete with columns on the front porches and spanish moss in the enormous old growth oak trees. This was not our focus on this day, however. We drove through town and headed toward Lake Eufaula where we were to have lunch for the day.

Alabama State Line in Eufaula

Worker Walking Across Bridge in Lake Eufaula

Driving Over Lake Eufaula AL

Train Bridge Crossing Lake Eufaula

Lakepoint State Park Marina

Our lunch destination was Lakepoint State Park Marina on Lake Eufaula. The weather was warm and windy. The reason we decided to check out the marina on this trip was because we wanted to check on slip pricing and do a little boat observation.

We have owned several boats in our time traveling, both sailboats, a really cool Trisonic Powerboat (and even kayaks). One of the boat types we have become interested in recently, however, is the houseboat, or shanty boat. We love looking at them, learning more about them and considering the possibility of owing one in the future sometime. Some of our favorite YouTube channels take these pontoon or houseboats around The Great Loop or just up and down the river systems. If that’s interesting to you then check out Back Waters and Back Roads YouTube channel or their Facebook Group called The Shallow Drafters Shanty Boat Club (Official).

This being a Wednesday in December, the marina was deserted. There were a couple of workers manning the office, but other than that and a few live-a-boards, we had the place to ourselves. We took this opportunity to walk through all the different docks they had and get a really good look at the houseboats calling this lake home. The selection was not huge, but we did get to check out a few different construction techniques and hull types, etc. We call this “research.”

Marina Slips at Lake Eufaula

Deborah and Edgar Walking Down the Dock

Houseboats in the Marina Lake Eufaula AL

Birds Flying Across the Water

Houseboats in the Marina Lake Eufaula AL

Large Green Houseboat in the Slip

Welcome Aboard Houseboat

Dock #3 Houseboats

Deborah Looking at All the Cool Houseboats

Houseboat with Plants and AC

My favorite one we saw this day was a shanty boat called “Bad Influence.” I love the name and the quirkiness of the whole set-up. The base of this house boat is a pontoon and the owner took the wheels (axle, etc.) off of a small travel trailer and set it on the decking. I just loved this one. It looks like they then built a roof over the whole thing. Wacky and fun, this was my kind of shanty boat!

Camper Trailer Houseboat Bad Influence

Finally, Lake Eufaula is actually home to many alligators. Many years ago, there was one very large alligator that boaters sought out and when you saw him it was a big deal. Now, the lake is home to some of the largest alligators in the south and is known as one of the best places for alligator hunting in the region. In 2015, hunters killed an alligator measuring 13.5 feet and weighing 920 pounds and another alligator killed in 2019 set a new state record at 14 feet. So, be careful out there.

Beware of Alligators and Snakes

Alligator on the Banks of the Lake

Thanks for coming along with us on our trip around Florida. We hope you have enjoyed the trip and will join us on our next adventures. You never know where we will go or what vehicle will take us there, but most likely it will be Loki and someplace with water! Thanks for coming along for the ride. Happy travels.