Week 4: Alabama Highlights
It’s been so relaxing to stay put in one spot these last couple of weeks. Gulf State Park has been a lovely basecamp for spending time with family and exploring around the area. It turns out our dogs are not great in cars. Poor Mickey pants and shakes, and Dobby is bonkers trying to chase cars that drive by. And, they cant anticipate bumps like humans can and every bounce and jolt throws them off their nap or feet. At the end of a driving day, they are exhausted. So, they have loved this relaxing downtime, too.
The tiny Dauphin Island Ferry - there are dolphins out there….
Its November, and even here in Gulf Shores, there is winter even if its pretty darn pleasant. We’ve had some sunny days with shorts and flip flops. I’ve been able to do my yoga practices outside on the sand at our campsite. And sunglasses and sunscreen are requirements of each day. We’ve had a little rain too, and some hair-raising humidity, but it has been a welcome change from the snow of the west.
The nice weather has made it easy to get out and about in the area. Phyllis and Dick have been the best tour guides and have taken us to all sorts of neat sights and places. Here are a few of the highlights.
Dobby the Dolphin on Dauphin Island
Dauphin Island - The ride over included dolphin sightings just off the boat, so it was pretty awesome from the start. Fourteen miles long and less than two miles wide, it didn’t take long to drive Dauphin Island, end-to-end once. Perhaps the sunniest, warmest day we’ve had, it was perfect for strolling the beach after a lunch. One of the best parts—the beach was nearly empty, so the dogs got to run and frolic free. Watching them zoom in the sugar sand, dip their toes in the water, and feel the breeze on their fuzzy faces was good fun.
Play day on Dauphin Island
Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog - Though it wasn’t high season for the pitcher plants, we saw many blooming while walking along the boardwalk at Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog. These carnivorous plants attract bugs into the pretty tubular flowers, then trap them with sticky hairs that act like fly paper. And then the plant digests the stuck bugs. Its wild! We even saw one with bugs in it!
Fairhope - On a warm but drizzly Saturday, we popped over to Fairhope to stroll its charming downtown and window shop. Of course, I immediately found the bookshop, Page and Palette and did more than look in the windows. Its one of those idyllic spots with a creaky wood floor, packed shelves and tables, and wonderfully knowledgeable staff who provide the kind of recommendations that make me wonder if they’re telepathic. We also found a delicious bistro, The Hope Farm, that grows their own produce including mushrooms in greenhouses behind the restaurant (they were nice enough to sell us ‘shrooms in bulk for our dinner).
A good looking bunch!
Week’s stats:
GOOD THING | Sunny days on beautiful beaches.
BAD THING | Humidity = mega-frizzy hair.
CRAZY THING | Carnivorous plants!
GRAND TOTAL | 3,050 (194-ish this week + 2,856 previously)
Yum.