March 24,2014 Travel Day Home

We left the park about 8:30 am and headed home today. We didn"t get in any hurry and made an uneventful trip home. We made about 3 stops (breakfast,fuel, just to walk around)  and arrived home at 4:30 pm. Its always nice to get home even if its hard to start that way. I got the trailer set up and then mowed the front yard. The grass really growed while we were gone and I didn"t get anyone to mow. I will mow everything else in the morning before the next rain comes in. We had a good trip even though it was a rough start. It ws the first time ever that we broke down on the side of the road somewhere. The second and third time were because the first repairs were not done properly. Our Good Sam Roadside Membership paid for its self on this trip for the next 3 years.  Ever since we hit the road after Christmas we have had some nasty weather this winter. We look forward to nicer weather in April and May. We only have one small trip to Fredricksburg in May so there will not be many updated blogs till June. We plan to take the granddaughters somewhere for a week and then we will hit the road north for the summer. This year we plan to go to New Mexico,Colorado and Wyoiming., 

March 24,2014 Day Trip to Dauphin Island

We got up this morning to much cooler temperatures. It stayed cloudy with a brisk wind. We decided to run over to Dauphin Island, Alabama.  We had no reason , just looked at the maps and decided to go check it out. One thing for sure is you just don"t happen to get there , you have to want to. It is linked to the mainland by a very long bridge. It turned out to be a nice little place. In the west end there were a lot of houses on the gulf side and the bay side. The island was about 500 yards wide here for a long way. On the east end there is a ferry which crosses Mobile Bay. Kinda pricey as the auto rate was $16.00 a car.  There is also  historic Fort Gaines which was built about 1821. There are several places to fish and charter boats. We ate at the Sunset Grill & Bar. A very laid back place with maybe the best seafood we have eaten on this trip. All in all we had a pleasant day just wandering around.

Bridge to Dauphin Island

Fort Gaines

At the Sunset Grill & Bar

March 23, 2014 A Good Day in Mississippi

Ocean Springs is a small town just across the bay from Biloxi.  Davis Bayou Campground is a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore which starts here and ends in Florida. We like to stay here when we are traveling because its a small campground with places to ride bikes, kayak and fish if you want to. We really had good weather yesterday as it warmed up and the rain showers missed us. While riding around we found a little festival set up in the old downtown section of town. Not much that interested me but Susan found several things she liked. When we got back I almost had Susan convinced to go kayaking but the alligators sunning themselves changed her mind. For supper we drove to Biloxi and ate at Shaggys on the beach. It started getting cool when we left with winds out of the north about 20 mph. Hope to have another nice day tomorrow.   

Downtown Park

Festival

A good booth

Getting a suntan



Campground entrance

Our camping loop



Shaggy"s

March 22, 2014 Travel Day to Davis Bayou Campground

It was a travel day for us. Of course the weather was foggy and humid. We got on the road about 9:15. We stopped at a subway for a late breakfast.  We really didn’t know where we were stopping at for the night.  We only made about 3 hrs. as we decided to try a campground we like in Ocean Springs, MS. The campground is a first come first serve so we were afraid we might not get a spot because it’s a weekend. Turned out since we shut down early there were several spots to pick from.  As the evening wore on the campground filled up.  If the weather holds I am going to do some kayaking in the bayou. I don’t think Susan will go because of maybe seeing alligators.  We will probably stay till Tuesday.

March 21, 2014 Our Last Day in Florida

This was our last full day here in Florida. The weather was perfect. I rode my bike and walked the beach,. The water was calm and crystal clear, still a little too cold to get in and swim. Its easy to see why people want to live here. Tomorrow we pack up and start heading home.

March 20, 2014 Another Great Day

Great beaches



Evening Fire

We had another great day here in Florida. We didn’t do much today. We did drive the length of the island which is 26 miles of white sandy beaches. For supper I grilled grouper and asparagus. It’s pretty relaxing here.

March 19, 2014 A Pretty Day at the Fort

Today was just a pretty day. I cooked breakfast outside this morning and we sat in the sunshine for awhile. We drove to the historical section of Pensacola just looking around. We found a great seafood market and bought some grouper, shrimp and scallops. We may have to go back before we leave. When we got back Susan did some sewing and napping. I rode my bike to Fort Pickens and climbed around the old walls. There is a really good bike trail here. When I got back I took a little nap also. Maggie and I took a nice walk ton the bay side. She really wasn't impressed with the water. I cooked the shrimp and scallops for supper. We had just another relaxing day.


Seafood Market



Road to Fort Pickens

Bike Trail

Freshwater Marsh

Sewing away

Inside the market

This is as close as  Maggie will get to the water

Taking a break