We began RVing in 2004, but this blog did not begin until we went into fulltime RVing in 2007. The blog has evolved to a time when we no longer have a RV, but we still consider ourselves vacationing on a perpetual basis.
Recently we have been reminded a couple of times about the Blue Angels visiting Devils Tower while we were there in 2007 as volunteers.Our previous blog posts about this amazing flight demonstration squadron may be read at:
WHEN? Sunday · March 20WHERE? Fairhope, Alabama · find us on the map
We missed this event our first year here in 2008, but have attended each year since. It offers over 200 exhibitors from across the nation. Live entertainment is included, along with many booths offering food and refreshment. All of this takes place on the streets of beautiful downtown Fairhope.
Official Artwork by Karen Faire
Admission is free to the festival, and the only expense for us was a dollar each way from the Bruno's parking lot on BRATS (Baldwin County Area Transportation System), plus our food and drink at the festival itself. A person could spend lots of $$$ on many interesting and unusual items and some great art, but we curbed our appetite for spending.
We discovered the back entrance to The Pub when we followed our noses where barbequed pork and chicken were being cooked outside the place. We had the pork, baked beans and potato salad for $8 a plate and a very welcomed seat at their outdoor patio bar – about $25 total, tip and all.
We chose Saturday again to attend this year, so as I'm posting this, things are underway for its third and final day. We encourage anyone reading this today to get on out and take in what is offered in downtown Fairhope.
We left the festival in a mood to continue enjoying ourselves and stopped at Magnolia River Bar and Grill in Magnolia Springs before we returning home. That night was a much talked about special full moon, so our photos for the day ended on that note.
Here's the assortment of photos we have to share with you from yesterday.
Couldn't resist adding this video to the post after it was already up. I do hope this festival always has the wonderful weather they enjoyed in 2011.
59th Annual Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival - Awards
WHEN? Thursday· March 17
WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map
We got in on our first pub crawl ever thanks to some friends who requested transportation to Papa Rocco's in Gulf Shores where the Gulf Shores Pub Crawl began. The pubs included were Mudbugs, Gulf Shores Steamer, Desoto’s, The Hangout, Pink Pony, Gulf Island Grille, Ribs ‘N Reds and Mikee’s. We must confess that we did not make the last three pubs. Instead, we began our walk back to Papa Rocco's, where our car was parked. At that point, our friends' ride home had arrived and we were pooped. We stopped along the way at The Shrimp Basket for sitting down and resting as much as for the Shrimp Po-Boys.
We had been told that Denny and Billy were playing at the Elberta VFW, so we felt rested enough to take in another St. Patrick's celebration there, where not only was there holiday entertainment with songs like My Wild Irish Rose and Danny Boy, they were also serving a plate of traditional corned beef and cabbage for a mere three bucks. We could not partake because of our Shrimp Basket lunch less than a hour before, but those who did proclaimed it was delicious.
To fill in on the pubs we missed in Gulf Shores, we stopped at Kelsey's in Foley and Magnolia River Bar and Grill in Magnolia Springs before returning home happily exhausted. It was a beautiful day for the all-day celebrations.
Three years ago, the Orange Beach Pub Crawl was begun at The Wharf, and includes Rafters, Shucker’s, Rum Runners, Guy Harvey, the Cigar Bar and Live Bait. A really young, ambitious partier might be able to make both, since theirs doesn't start until noon. The fact is, their times do overlap because the Gulf Shores Pub Crawl doesn't return to Papa Rocco's until early afternoon.
See more of our photos on Flickr
St. Patrick's Day 2011
WHERE? Webster County, Mississippi – near Eupora
Thanks to Terry Harpole in Maben, Mississippi, I'm able to share a brief trip with you. I love the video and audio sketches Walt Grayson of WLBT provides to people in his TV show Look Around Mississippi.
Two minutes well spent:
Old Cove with Walt Grayson
courtesy of Jackson's WLBT-TV
WHEN? During Mardi Gras
WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map
We took in two Mardi Gras celebrations as Mardi Gras was rapidly coming to a close: A party at Magnolia River Bar & Grill in Magnolia Springs, and the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade on Fat Tuesday, March 8. After the parade, we stopped by MRBG and found two of the people who had walked in the Gulf Shores parade and took a few photos there.
Photos may be viewed in two sets on Flickr at:
