Dropping Off the Motorcycle for Service and a Tour of Pope’s Tavern

February 10, 2025

On Saturday (February 8), the weather was warm, but it was threatening rain. Bruce decided we could drop off his motorcycle at Longshore Cycle Center in Florence, AL.

Bruce had ordered new motorcycle tires and they arrived just before he had to take care of his dad. We geared up and rode to Longshore Cycle Center. Bruce decided to get the full service, since it had been a while.

They weren’t busy at this time of year. They were happy to let us leave our gear in their waiting area.

We walked into downtown Florence to Big Bad Breakfast. Along the way we saw several historic markers. I loved seeing the aluminum Singing River Statue in Florence. (Muscle Shoals and Sheffield also have aluminum Singing River statues. The cities got together and each one has a unique musician statue.)

While waiting to be seated, Bruce got a call. Longshore had ordered the wrong size front tire. Bruce spent a while on the phone with them and working with them, to get the issue resolved. They found a front tire that would work.

After breakfast at Big Bad Breakfast (delicious), we walked to Pope’s Tavern to do a tour. Pope’s Tavern was never a tavern. It was an inn at one time. During the Civil War, it was a hospital that helped both Union and Confederate soldiers.

They are planning on planting a herb garden outside. They found one of the cisterns by accident and have been excavating it. It is full of items from the 1950’s.

There is a small building on the corner of the property that is not original to the house. It was a radio shack. They turned it into a cotton and slavery display.

For a small display, it made one think a lot. “The evil men do lives after them.” Shakespeare.

At the time of this writing, entry into the museum was $5 for adults and $3 for students. There was no discount for seniors.