A day trip to West Florida

We are only 40 mile from Florida so we crossed the border for the day.  Bought our annual Florida park pass which just went from $80 to $120 several months ago, but we will use it. Today we visited Tarkiln Bayou Preserve and Big Lagoon S.P where we saw a bald eagle.

The highlight of the day however was the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola.They have lots of planes including sea planes I've never seen before. Everything from a Curtis Jenny and a Sopwith Camel; Zero, Hellcat, and Corsair; to a MIG15, Tomcat, & Intruder. Also covered lighter than air, space exploration, and a Ford Trimotor.  The morning started out at 75F but the cold front moved through today so we are probably looking at low 60F for several days.

Gulf Shores State Park

Looks like this may be the last 70F day until next weekend so we took advantage of it.  Walked the Oak Ridge Trail and got to see our 1st gator from about 125', probably a 6-8' one. He is in the water near the center far shore.

Then after our packed lunch it was time for some beach combing down by the pier.

Black Friday

No shopping today, we made it a laid back day.  We did take an eight mile bike ride along the lagoon. Found a vacant housing development (all the infrastructure but no houses).  Looks like they may have been ready to build about the time the 2004-2005 hurricanes struck.  It reached a low of 32F early this morning and the day was overcast keeping temperatures at about 59F. Still no major complaints since Ohio is looking at possible snow flurries.

Happy Thanksgiving

We just returned from the Thanksgiving Feast; six turkeys, three hams, roughly 80 covered dishes, and 165 old codgers and maybe six young kids. Karen made Carleen's yams and we have no leftovers. It took about 1 hour to get everybody full.  No southern cooking as these people are from Canada, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Illinois etc. A nice group.

We have had several laid back days. Main time was spent Xmas shopping so we don't have to do it in late December. Finally got the bikes rolling, and tried the tennis court  (Karen is about the same while I have some catch up to do.)

Daphne Alabama

Another exploring day in southern Alabama. The first stop today was Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog, the most extensive pitcher plants we have seen compared to Wisconsin. The native park desk person actually brought up Old Woman's Creek in Huron Ohio.

We had lunch sitting on a fishing pier overlooking Mobile bay then on to see an alligator boardwalk (still have not seen any).

Final stop of the day was a large oak tree which was a plantation property marker prior to 1800. Andrew Jackson stood in the tree during a speach to his troops during the 1812 Mobile campaign.

Mobile International Festival

For a change of pace we spent the day at the Mobile Civic Center. The event was entertainment, food and culture. The best part was the entertainment. At least 50 countries were represented. Entertainment included an Irish bag pipe band, Japanese drummers, Trinidad steel drums, Chinese martial arts, Kenyan acrobats, Aztec, Central American , Greek, and Thai dancers. Irish and Spanish instrumental groups. A very diverse group and an interesting day.

A fine day on the Gulf Coast

Decided a morning walk on the beach would be the best way to start the day. No crowds and a light jacket felt good.

The local fishing perch was busy this morning.

For the afternoon, we moved back to the lagoon for a mile hike through the buffer zone.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Area

Another fine day in Alabama. Took a leisurely afternoon drive on the sandbar out to Ft. Morgan. A little bit of everything out there. The pennisula provides half the protection for Mobile Bay. Quite a few oil rigs. Some flat sand with $600K condos waiting to blow away but mostly coastal buffer areas of fresh and salt water lagoons with wild growth and lots of white sugar sand.


You would never know a weak hurricane passed through here a week ago.

The Gulf Shores area is very nice and evidence of a significant number of snowbirds is obvious. These birds however are pelican gargoyles on the local mall.

Finally Alabama Snowbirds after several years planning

Now located at Gulf Breeze RV Resort in Gulf Shores Alabama for the next month. Made a good choice in locations. Have not seen Earl, Randy, Joy, & Darnell yet!

Looking out the other side of the RV we have a small pond about 100' away where the egrets have lunch.

The day just kind of slipped away. Didn't see any meteors last night (Leonid shower) but only stayed up till 11PM.

Checked out the local area with the highlights being a free tour of the 1920's Foley hospital museum and also stopped to watch peanut harvest and pecan picking. Splurged alittle and ate supper at Lambert Cafe where they throw your dinner roll to you (throwed rolls). Anyone for liver and onions, hamburger, sweet potatoes, fried okra, black eyed peas, fried apples, and a Coke?

Back in Georgia and Alabama

We have been without internet for several weeks but are finally back in civilization. After a quick weekend home we returned to Gainesville Ga. for several more days. Sat out the rain from hurricane Ida before it became Norida. Visited Amacola Falls again (a great falls) and spent a day at the Atlanta Georgia Aquarium. The largest fish tank in the world holds 6.3 million gallon, has 40,000 fish including four 20' whale sharks and two 12' wing span Manta Rays.
The main tank is as large as a football field and has 24" thick acrylic window walls.

Atlanta is a monster with roads matching Chicago. A challenge for a green RV driver.

Moved from our park like setting to the Bar W ranch in Auburn Al where cows had the right of way, coyotes howled at night, and a bald eagle flew over the RV at breakfast. Spent a day at Tuskegee Institute visiting the George Washington Carver Museum and Booker T Washington's home. Also saw the Tuskegee air squadron field. Nice college campus and interesting men but Tuskegee comes across as a poor rural community. Very contrasting to Auburn University area only 20 miles away. Central Alabama as a whole looks best suited for small ranches with quite a bit of logging and some cotton. One site being excavated had red clay top soil which had the consistency of an unbaked brick.

Our son always thought we were tricking him when we looked for pumpkin men at Halloween. You decide?

Providence Canyon SP near Eufaula (you falla) Al. is a prime erosion example. Formed in 150 years from poor farming practice its sand base has all the colors of the rainbow.

Rural Alabama and Georgia looks pretty poor at first glance but also has gleaming new KIA and Hyundai plants while GM is loosing $1B! Time to move to Gulf Shores Al.

Busy times in Georgia Oct 29-Nov 4,2009

We were at River Fork Hall County (Gainesville Ga) for the last week. Great secluded campground winding down for the season. On a secluded peninsula with water on two sides. The only down side was no internet, sewer, or cable. Life is rough. The up side was that the week of prime fall colors just disappeared. This area has world class water. Three days were allotted to exploring Northern Georgia's best waterfalls (Taccoa/Tululah/ AnnaRuby/ Amicalola) and one day for the Georgia State Botanical Garden in Athens. Now in Ohio for the weekend (Ella's birthday). Squirrel had it easy being towed by Moose but somehow an additional 1500 mile will be on her odometer by next weeks end.