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.
WHEN? Sunday · February 22 · 2:30 PM
WHERE? Mobile, Alabama
WHAT? Joe Cain Parade
WHEN? Fat Tuesday · February 25 · 10:00 AM
WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama
WHAT? Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade
WHEN? Fat Tuesday · February 25 · 1:30 PM
WHERE? Orange Beach, Alabama
WHAT? Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade
We've put up two Photo Sets on Flickr featuring these three parades. You can check them out at:
WHEN? Monday · February 16
WHERE? Perdido Key, Florida · find us on the map
WHAT? Gulf State Park Florida Point
Neighbors have been telling us about this public beach they go to ever since last year, but we had not been there. We've passed the turnoff for it many a time and really wondered about it, but just did not check it out. Since the weather was good, though cool, we decided it was time for an outing in the sunshine.
As the map shows, Alabama Point is on the west side of the Perdido Pass bridge, and Florida Point is on the east side, which is the state line location between Alabama and Florida on Highway 182. As their sign indicates, it is part of Gulf State Park in cooperation with the city of Orange Beach, Alabama. Florida Point has lots of parking, a bathhouse, a covered picnic area, and the beach runs the length of the pass and around to the Gulf. It has four boardwalks over the dunes and sea oats if you want to go directly to the Gulf.
Until a person has been here awhile, it is hard to even know how many beach locations are part of Gulf State Park, which has over 5 miles of beaches available in both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. All areas in Orange Beach are free of charge to everyone.
Hurricane Ivan struck this area in September 2004, causing extensive erosion damage to the this beach on the east side of the pass. When we arrived in this area in early 2008, it appeared that the environmental restoration was still underway, which included dredging approximately 560,000 cubic yards of sand from the shoaled navigation channel and placing it on Florida Point.
I am not knowledgeable of maritime terms and such, but I am learning some. The photos of piled up rocks that go out into the water are jetties. A jetty is a protective structure of stone or concrete which extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away.
Honorable Mention:
Although it's a slightly further drive from our home than other area beaches we've visited, this is the only free-of-charge public beach we've found so far that that has real restrooms.
To check out our photos on Flickr, click on Florida Point Beach Access Gulf State Park
While walking along the beach, we encountered a young couple from Bowling Green, Kentucky on the beach and asked them to take our photo together and we did the same for them. I hope we hear something from them because I have forgotten information that might allow me to find their Christian work on the web.
WHEN? Wednesday · February 4
WHERE? Mobile, Alabama · find us on the map
WHAT? Fort Condé
Today's visit to Fort Condé came about because we weren't hungry enough for lunch when we finished with a VA appointment. A friend in Mobile suggested visiting this downtown museum before she joined us for lunch.
Several school buses were parked outside the fort, and we were joined by students on a field trip. Since it was a cold day, we concentrated on the fort's indoor artifacts, including many historical photos, some of which were from early Mardi Gras and the reign of King Felix III, the first royalty associated with this annual festival. You'll notice in our Fort Condé photos on Flickr that the decorations for Mardi Gras were everywhere we went.
This fort has had many names and was much larger when it was needed for protection. As it now stands, what visitors see today is what was recreated for Mobile’s 1976 United States bicentennial celebration. To learn more about the fort's history, visit Fort Condé on Wikipedia.
WHEN? Monday · February 2
WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map
WHY? LuLu'S at Homeport Marina
Many is the time we have noticed this landmark as we were crossing the Intercoastal Waterway on Highway 59 in Gulf Shores, but we had never gone inside. So it was high time we did. There was a small crowd when we arrived there around 4:30 PM. This will not be hard to understand since the date was Superbowl Sunday.
As we came in, Greg Brown was playing a James Taylor song, and we took a seat at the bar and ordered drinks. It was a beautiful day weatherwise, so it was a good day to get some photos. We listened to several songs, and then I asked if Greg knew anymore JT songs. He did and played Carolina In My Mind.
While sitting there we glanced over the menu, and Smitty said you'd better bring your wallet when you came here. When you look over all the real estate, furnishings, etc., it is not hard to understand the prices. There's lots of overhead here.
As LuLu'S website tells you, their first location was on Weeks Bay, much closer to where we live, but being located right on the waterway means they get lots of pleasure boat traffic, and the atmosphere here is worth a lot, and live entertainment as well.
You can check our our photos on Flickr by clicking on LuLu’S.
WHEN? Thursday · January 8 through Sunday · January 11
WHAT? Carnival Holiday Cruise
We took our first Caribbean cruise almost twelve years ago. It was on a much smaller ship with Commodore Cruise Line, no longer in business. We took a bus from Jackson, Mississippi to New Orleans and stopped in several ports on the cruise. It was a very enjoyable experience, but last week's cruise to Cozumel was better in several ways.
| It was fitting that we left on the cruise one year to the day from when we arrived in Lower Alabama last year. Little did we know then that we would settle here after being on the road fulltime RVing. |  |
Our assigned-seating dinner in the Four Winds dining room was the best way to dine, in our opinion. Open seating was available for breakfast and lunch in the Seven Seas dining room. Both places were very much like dining in a restaurant, where we were given menus and each person made their selections. There was a buffet on the Lido Deck, but we much preferred the dining rooms.
Friday evening's dinner included an "elegant dining" dress code. I balked at this at first, but it turned out to be fun. Since our group was among the best-looking guests on the ship, we naturally turned lots of heads when we arrived. Although it's impossible to choose a Best Dressed among us, Jan certainly deserves an Honorable Mention for her head-to-toe coordination, which included a fashionable scarf and clever shoes that matched her dress perfectly. And Cheeryo in his authentic Scottish kilt was, of course, the Holiday's most originally dressed diner that evening. I encourage you to click on each thumbnail to really appreciate how spectacular we all looked.
Most of Saturday was spent in Cozumel, beginning at Carlos 'n Charlie's. Then we moved on for a time at Jimmy Buffett's Marguaritaville on the water. Several photo ops were in Cozumel as well as some typically tropical scenery. One lady almost missed the ship's departure. They actually had to pull back in a short distance so she could get back on board. Two other bigger cruise ships were docked at Cozumel also. They left first, and then the Holiday pulled away.
Sunday was another day at sea as the ship was on the return trip to Mobile. The first thing I noticed that morning was the beautiful sunrise, which reminded me of a traditional folk melody, I See The Morning Breaking.
It is truly amazing what it takes to entertain and feed this many people on a large cruise ship, yet the staff do it so well. We recommend your checking to see just how affordable these trips have become.
The Fun Ship's drink of the day
Our favorite pole dancer
WHEN? Sunday · December 14
WHERE? First United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas
WHAT? Gloria by Vivaldi ~ Christmas Music Program
This classic music was performed in Latin. The two videos below provide a taste of this splendid program:
WHEN? Saturday · December 13
WHERE? Theatre Arlington
| A very funny and entertaining show! We had front row seats, right beside the pig that blew up. That's because we have a "pure heart". |  |
From Artistic Director B. J. Cleveland:Fruitcakes is a celebration of Jamie and Jack who, during a Christmas season of confusion, hurt, and loneliness, find in each other the strength to reach out to those they love the most. The story also touches on how chance encounters change our lives -- change them as much as a visit from a mystical angel might change them. As Miss Alice notes in Act Two, "Perhaps we're all angels."
WHEN? Tuesday · December 9
WHERE? First United Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas · find us on the map
WHAT? Taps 'n Tunes Dancing Dames Christmas Program
My sister Ella is a member of a church ministry called the OWLS (Older Wiser Laughing Souls), and invited me to join her at their December luncheon. This month's event included an outstanding performance by the Dancing Dames, an area group dedicated to providing entertainment to the community. The Dancing Dames are in high demand by Ft. Worth and Arlington audiences, and at least two of their annual performances are dedicated to area seniors and physically challenged.
WHEN? Sunday · November 23
WHERE? Spirit Center at Foley United Methodist Church
WHAT? Coastal Chorale Christmas concert
- Recent reviews:
- "Fabulous ... unbelievably good."
- maedeans
- "In a class with Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians and The Ray Conniff Singers. They sing with a masterful blend of their voices."
- The Perpetual Vacationers
- "Wonderful entertainment - even a little comedy thrown in - all for only ten bucks apiece!"
- WDS
This afternoon's Christmas performance featured many familiar Christmas songs along with several others we had never heard, and all were beautifully done. Although several numbers were performed without accompaniment, pianist Kayla Dowling and percussionist David White were like a fabulous two-person orchestra.
After the intermission, director Don Dowling made the most of Spirit Center's multi-stage design by leading the choir out on either side in almost total darkness, guided by a single light. He then told us to just close our eyes and listen as they sang Silent Night acapella before returning to the center stage. It was a unique and moving experience.
And you can bet I won't dare miss the Coastal Chorale's Snowbird Serenade next February.
Honorable mention:Advance tickets for this popular event's Sunday afternoon performance sell out quickly, but chorale manager Lee Timberlake made special arrangements for us to purchase the last two available tickets at the door in honor of my birthday. What a treat!
WHEN? Saturday & Sunday · November 8 & 9
WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map
WHAT? 8th Annual Heritage Harbor Days
The annual festivals in Lower Alabama continue to amaze us with the many features they include and the crowds of people who attend them. Although this festival began on Friday, it slipped up on us. We've promised ourselves to attend all of it next year.
What we saw:
- Mexican Folkloric Dancers from Guyton, Oklahoma. Here’s a video of the troupe's performance at another recent festival: Mexican Folkloric Dancers
- Foley's Little Rock Baptist Church choir
- The U.S. Navy Show Band
What we missed:
- One of my new favorites, Top Hat & Jackie
- Eli’s Jolly Polka Band from Elberta, who also perform each Spring and Fall at the Sausage Festival.
- In spite of being bluegrass music fans, we both overlooked the festival's Bluegrass Stage, which featured a Fiddlers Convention along with The Gary Waldrep Band.
The festival's final event, an evening fireworks display, was spectacular!
See our photos on flickr:
Heritage Harbor Days
WHEN? Friday · October 31
WHERE? Magnolia Springs, Alabama · find us on the map
Halloween was another cloudless day on the Gulf Coast, and it didn't look like it was going to be very scary in the daylight of the afternoon.
We did get out some to enjoy the beauty of the day.
We noticed a custom in Magnolia Springs at a convenience store. Children in their costumes were stopping by for a "trick or treat," when we stopped there. We had not seen this before.
Up the road a little further, we stopped by Magnolia River Bar & Grill because we knew they were having a costume contest. We didn't stay long, but just around dark we were able to see four people dressed in their costumes. They were all good, so we were glad we didn't have to judge who had the best costume.
As we drove on home, we noticed the slightest sliver of a crescent moon in the clear sky. Bet you did too if you were out Halloween night.
WHEN? Sunday · October 12
WHERE? Perdido Key, Florida · find us on the map
WHAT? Gulf Islands National Seashore
Today's visit to Perdido Key was inspired by last Spring's scenic beach drive with our friend Steve. Johnson Beach's white sand and deep blue skies hadn't changed, and lots of healthy sea oats still waved in the breeze, but the beachfront looked noticeably different. We learned from park brochures that this wasn't our imagination, since tropical storms and hurricanes are always at work changing the shape of these beaches and barrier islands.
Image courtesy of flickr member christie210
For current images, visit the Perdido Key BeachCam
Before leaving Johnson Beach, we picked up several park brochures and learned that this is one of many locations in Gulf Islands National Seashore. Instead of being a single block of land, it is a mosaic which includes 12 separate units that stretch from Cat Island in Mississippi, to the eastern tip of Santa Rosa Island, Florida, and includes some parcels on the mainlands of Mississippi and Florida.
- The Mississippi District includes:
- · Ship Island
- · Fort Massachusetts
- · Horn Island
- · Petit Bois Island
- · Davis Bayou
- The Florida District includes:
- · Perdido Key
- · Fort Barrancas
- · Fort Pickens
- · Naval Live Oaks
- · Okaloosa
click on map to enlarge
More:
WHEN? Thursday · October 9
WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map
WHY? 37th Annual National Shrimp Festival
From the website:"The Annual National Shrimp Festival is held each year during the second full weekend in October on the beautiful beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Festival is one of the nation’s premier outdoor festivals featuring over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, a retail marketplace and of course, SHRIMP!!"
We chose to attend this popular area event on Thursday to avoid weekend crowds. Attendance was reasonably heavy even before the weekend, so we rode the convenient Festival Shuttle, which put us out right at the front gate. How's that for good service?
The first booth that caught our attention featured Native American music and dancing, where we observed their art and dress with a large audience. Although it wasn't extremely hot, we certainly didn't envy them with so many clothes on dancing in the hot sun. We both recalled a similar performance at Devils Tower last summer.
It was lunchtime when we arrived, so we strolled down the booth-lined midway in search of food. We came across a friend who recommended a special seafood-on-French-bread sandwich that started with a P, and looked hard for it as we neared the Pink Pony, where it was supposed to be. Having not found it, we settled on a small basket of fried shrimp at Doc's booth. We went to the back side of the food booth where a boardwalk with benches allowed us to enjoy our shrimp while looking out at the beach and waves.
More:
| Since we hadn't visited the recently-opened Hangout right at the entrance to the festival, we stopped in to check it out. A huge ceiling fan like none we had ever seen caught our attention there, and we snapped this photo of it. |  |
| Wendell noticed this festivalgoer's t-shirt that shared her political message. For those who are unfamiliar with the whole Alabama scene, Sarah Palin's likeness is wearing a University of Alabama lapel pin and a Bear Bryant houndstooth fedora. Roll Tide! |  |
Best of the fest:
Just as we were thinking about calling it a day, live music began playing from a nearby beverage tent. Like following our noses, only in this case our ears, we quickly found Top Hat & Jackie. We took advantage of the folding chairs and sat down to enjoy them.
See our photos on flickr:
2008 Shrimp Festival
