Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Loaded my new Nissan Murano with my suitcase and camera and drove to my sister's to meet them for our trip. While they finished getting ready, I went outside and took some pictures. There were birdhouses in various shapes and sizes, filled with bird feed, atop tall poles, along with wind chimes and deer antlers.
Standing next to a mailbox, I saw a bicycle covered in purple flowers; its basket was filled with pink flowers.
Sitting next to a gate and next to a pink rose bush with some faded and crumbling blooms,
sat on a wooden bench that read School Bus.
On top of the fence post, overlooking See Rock City, stood a birdhouse, surrounded by red rose bushes on both sides.
A flower bed with several greenery plants, stepping pads, a wooden bench, a wagon wheel, a pot, and water flowing from a small pump down a wooden plank into a bucket.
All this was enclosed, and the ground was covered with mulch, a birdhouse, and a fence on the back side. There was a brick path leading up to the home. Next to the path stood another flower bed, a tall pole with a birdhouse, a wooden sign that read HOME, and, atop, a big black dinner bell. All around the home were flowerbeds dotted with greenery and orange/yellow tubed blooms. In the distance stood an outhouse with a washtub hanging on the side. A cabin with wooden steps on two sides, two wagon wheels, a dipper, cowbells, a bucket, and other paraphernalia hanging from the porch. A black mailbox, number 146, is standing next to the steps, waiting for delivery. Jumping, playing, and hiding among the tall flowers was their bulldog puppy.
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| Red Roses |
We have had lots of rain during April and May, and today was no exception.
It started to rain and rained most of the day. The rain lessened the further south we went.
We enjoyed lunch at Dairy Queen in Northport near Tuscaloosa. We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Foley for dinner. It was getting late when we arrived at Island Winds East. Unloaded the car and headed to the beach. My niece and her friend had never seen the ocean or the Gulf and were very excited. The water was still very turbulent from the storm that had come through a few days before.
There was a full moon overlooking the Gulf the night we arrived.
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| Full Moon |
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| Bird, Clouds, and Turbulent Water |
Wednesday, May 30
Around six AM, I walked to the sand-covered beach. There were a few people out and about, some watching the sunrise, some looking for shells, and some walking and wading in the water.
It looked like a fire breaking through the clouds as the sun began to shine. It was going to be another hot day.
Everyone enjoyed playing in the Gulf. It was too hot in Gulfme, so I got into the swimming pool and later went back to the room.
Around seven, I walked down to the concrete boardwalk to watch the sunset. There were several tarps above concert benches with palm trees around each area. Footprints covered the sand, and silence filled the air along the beach.
As I neared the Hangout, I could hear a band playing.
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| Sunrise |
Thursday, May 31
With my camera, I walked to the quiet beach around 7 A.M.
There, I saw a few white & pink clouds floating above the Gulf as the sun began to rise.
A few birds were feeding, and a few people were setting up for the day, but it was still very quiet. Going to be another hot day.
Around noon, we went to OWA, a theme park in Foley.
The ground at the park was covered in Concrete, making for an even hotter day.
We rode several rides, but had the most fun in the kiddy area.
Enjoyed a banana split Ice Cream at Hershey Ice Cream Parlor.
At Wahlburgers, everyone ordered hamburgers and fries, and I ordered chicken fingers.
Katie enjoyed the splash pad, where buckets of water splashed over her head.
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| OWA Park |
Friday, June 1
Up and down to the beach at 6 A.M. to watch the sunrise. A few clouds covered the sky, the waves were not quite as turbulent, and there were not as many birds. The storm had brought high waves, and in those waves were schools of fish.
The sun was up, and it was getting hot as my sister and I walked down to the Hangout, stopping to take a picture in the BIG BLUE chair.
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| Gulf Shores Hangout |
Everyone enjoyed another day at the beach; not me —I went sightseeing.
I drove to Elberta to see dinosaurs and arrived around 10 A.M. I stopped at a Marathon Gas Station in Elberta to fill up and buy a Coke and cookies.
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| Dinosaur Park |
I drove to Fort Morgan and toured the Museum. I saw the Mobile Point Lighthouse, an Order Fresnel Lens (1873-1966), a 32-pound Carronade, a picture of Admiral David Farragut, Civil War Artillery at Fort Morgan, & Last Campaign Federal Operations at Mobile, March through April 1865.
There were war signs posted along the walls, "I want you for the US Army, Join the Army Air Service, Help Them Keep your war sayings PLEDGE, Tell that to the Marines Men wanted for the Army, and etc."" Army returns to Fort Morgan 1989, A gallant officer and gentleman, Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Stewart. The Big Gun Corps at Fort Morgan had several uniforms and guns. I walked around the Fort and drove around it. It was just too hot to stay for very long.
I drove to Foley, where I toured the Train Depot and the L & N Red Caboose, which is stationed outside the Museum. The Museum has a statue sitting on a long bench, a bell, a set of faded blue luggage, and a stove with a metal kettle on top. I saw an empty trunk, a closed trunk, and a Piano with a songbook opened to the song DEAD MARCH IN SAUL on page 87.
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| Song Book at Train Depot |
I saw a wheelbarrow with a sack of Hollywood-washed potatoes, two old-style telephones, the sign"o Longer a 'ONE CROP' Country, a couple of washtubs, a Mother's Best Flower sign, a ringer Washing machine, an Ice Box, and a Potato Grader.
I walked across the street and toured the Holmes Medical Hospital Museum.
There I saw wheelchairs, hospital rooms, a doctor's office, examining rooms, medical equipment, bedpans of every shape and size, medical books, an X-ray room, medicine bottles, scales, a skeleton, a sink, a washtub, an Incubator for infants, and so much more.
I walked up the street to the Art Museum, and flowers were in bloom everywhere. Painted on the Foley Coffee Shop was a man standing next to a red truck, a train engine # 1701, with smoke coming out of an airplane flying overhead.
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| Mural |
I walked to the overpass, took the elevator up, crossed the road to Heritage Park, stopped at the Visitor Center, and drove back to the Condo.
We ate dinner at Desoto's Seafood; the place was packed.
Saturday, June 2,
Up early once again to white clouds with the sun trying to break through. The beach was quiet, and the sand was covered in footprints. It was going to be another hot day.
I drove over to the Wetlands and walked across the wooden bridge. Two young people from Texas were fishing. I took a few pictures as I walked along the bridge.
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| Wetland Bridge/Boardwalk |
Rode back to the Condo, packed, and drove home.
