FT MORGAN STATE HISTORIC SITE

This afternoon we went to the tip of the Bay to explore Ft Morgan, a site constructed during the Civil War and used well into the 1920's as a naval base. They had in interesting little museum and we wandered all over the grounds.

I like the picture with the canon on the right defending the US against invasion and the British Petroleum oil rigs in the background which invaded a century later without a peep!

On our way back we stopped at the dog friendly beach and had a nice walk.

THE WAC'S ARRIVE

The days are going by with walks on the beach and exploring the area. We’ve found a beach where Teddy can run free and have both loved the crashing of the ocean and the sand shifting under our feet. The weather has been changeable, in the lower 70’s and an occasional shower.

Janis and Jeanne, friends from the camping group who live in North Carolina arrived in Gulf Shores today, Jeanne came up from camping in Florida and Janis straight from home with an overnight near Auburn University...War Eagle...Eat em up Tiger!!!

Deb came out from the city and a friend who started these camping groups on the internet, Diana, originally from Maine now a permanent Alabama resident joined us too.

We had a great evening sitting on the dock, watching the dolphins playing just offshore and having a nice dinner.

Janis and Jeanne have their kayaks so we’re hoping for a nice day to be out on the water. Diana is a big golfer, so if the weather cooperates there will be a lot to do this week!

AND THE DAYS GO BY

Yesterday the storm clouds threatened from early morning. I decided to go to the movie in the afternoon with Deb and we saw Descendants. Sad but really good.

Before the show I was sitting outside reading my book when the winds changed and the whole feel of the air felt threatening. The sky is huge and I can see for miles across the bay. The view went from monochromatic to livid colors of purples and roiling grey. Nature provided quite a show but brought no rain until later in the afternoon. Then it poured the way only a tropical shower can pour for a long time. Falling asleep last night with the rain tapping the roof was lovely.

This morning dawned a bit foggy but brought a beautiful day. I met Deb and her friends Billie and Lynn for a long bike ride, then had lunch at one of the best barbecue places I've ever been.

Later we walked the beach in Ft Morgan for a while, so all in all was a great day.

The mobile RV guys came and fixed the hot water heater this morning so I'm looking forward to a long hot shower when I go inside.

I seem to have pretty fair internet so will try and post a few pictures.

So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay Watching the tide roll away

We are all moved in on the bay in Gulf Shores. I can sit on my couch and look out at the bay, listening to the water lap onto the shore. The bay is huge and the dock and observation deck stretch quite far into the water. There are walking trails all around and a bike path just down the road.

Our trip down was thankfully uneventful. The car towed well and all in all it was an easy trip.

The kayak is still on the roof, waiting to see where I decide to slip it into the water.

My friend Debra, the Mayor of Gulf Shores, greeted me with a grilled shrimp salad and breakfast food when we arrived on Monday.

Yesterday was a great day of golf and late lunch with Deb, then a nice long walk with Teddy in the afternoon. I went to the fire pit gathering for a while in the afternoon.

Big storms were predicted overnight but seem to have missed the mark a bit. The rain is just beginning this morning. I'm going to straighten my kitchen cabinets and get ready for a grocery shopping excursion. It will be a good day for chores and maybe a show.

My hot water heater is not working. After checking everything I found a wasps nest deep in the intake tube. I cleaned it out as best I could but it still isn't sparking so tomorrow morning have a repair man coming out.

Last winter in St. Louis was like living in a deep freezer and I shoveled more snow and ice than I had in years. That's when I decided to head south this year. The weather in St. Louis this year is as warm as here! But...I can't sit on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away at home!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN MISSISSIPPI WHEN

When every other car that passes you is pulling a muddy four wheeler on a trailer

When you smell the sickly sweet odor of the pulp paper mills

When there is an armed security guard at the rest stop

When you see the signs for boiled peanuts and boiled cray fish

A New Adventure...Running Away from the Cold!!

We are on the road for the first time in 2012 heading south searching for warm weather and sunshine. The winter at home has been unusually mild and had I not made these plans months ago I might have stuck it out until spring. But the plan was set and the draw of friends and outdoor activities has us headed down Interstate 55 with Gulf Shores, Alabama as our destination.

I am planning to stay in Gulf Shores through February, so am towing a car behind Saffire for the first time. My kayak is loaded on top, my bike on the back.

My kayak is banana yellow and a little girl in Kristin's neighborhood asked if the car was a banana car! Kind of looks like it perched up there.

The first leg of our trip was uneventful save for the drunk on the highway. I found out the hard way my braking system on the car works! I saw the car coming down the onramp and as I was fairly far behind didn't move to the other lane. The car pulled into the lane and then almost stopped! There was another car coming around on my left so I put the brakes to good use.

This idiot continued down the highway weaving from lane to lane for several miles before they drove through the median and headed back north! I called *55 and hope the patrol got them pulled over before they killed someone.

We are settled into a Drury Inn for the night and hope the rest of the trip goes as smoothly as the first leg!