Sweet Home Alabama - 2013 - 6

Braking with my right hand



Still on a high from the zip line adventure.  Muscles in the arms and shoulders were a little tender the day after the zip line course.  I'm also nursing a sprained ankle that happened as I was getting unharnessed at the last zip tower.  Grandma needs Advil today!!

We went to visit the grand Swift-Coles home in the historic fishing village in Bon Secour.  It began in 1882 as a four-room dogtrot, a style of home in the South.  There were two rooms on each side of an open "dogtrot" or breezeway.  Two knowledgeable volunteer docents provided the history of this carefully preserved and furnished tidewater mansion which is now a 16-room premier historic home.  The home was added on to accommodate 11 children.  It encloses 6,000 sq. ft., has 10 fireplaces and 3,500 sq. ft. of porches.  We could not believe they let us enter most of the rooms, walk on the carpets, and even touch period clothing laid out on beds.  Any other museum or preserved mansion docents would have been horrified.  Although we were not allowed to take any photos inside the house. 

Swift-Coles Tidewater Mansion
 

The last owner of this home was an antiques dealer who furnished the mansion with many of his period pieces.  Nick Coles long admired this estate and was able to purchase this house from the Swift estate when the last member of the Swift family to live in the house died in 1976. He restored the home to its original grandeur.   He bequeathed the house and its furnishings to Baldwin County Historical Society. What a save for this area!

Spanish moss in the heritage live oaks

Beer and pizza was a nice break from all the shrimp I have been eating.  The Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers opened in 1974 by three college students  serving pizza, calzones, hoagies and salad. We tried a "Philosopher Pizza" with a garlic and olive oil base, grilled steak, Portobello mushrooms, artichokes, Kalamata olives, feta, and mozzarella on a hand tossed crust -- Feta cheese and Kalamata olives...greek ingredients, as in Greek Philospher? 

Planet Beach is automated massage therapy. I tried these services -- a luminous facial, saunatox, dry hydro therapy, and red light therapy and a hydro therapy capsule.

Sweet Home Alabama - 2013 - 5

On the Harbour

It was quite a project removing one of our blinds in the coach.  What should have been a simple grab, lift and flip turned into removing the entire valance.  Dale and Karen of our WAW group requested Le Roy's assistance to remove three more blinds in their coach.  In return, they were kind enough to take our shade to Red Bay, AL for repairs. 

Yachts Anchored Off Inter coastal Canal at Lulu's

There was a welcome cocktail party for the Prevost Oyster Rally as 13 of these upscale coaches were due to arrive.  We counted only 7 and no oysters were served.  Several of us decided to return to El Paso for those half-price margaritas only to get there and not be seated.  Guess everyone else heard about the drink special.

Inter coastal Canal

Bella Terra keeps the pool at 82 degrees so as the weather is warming up so is the use at the pool.

Joined John & Alice at the Tin Top Restaurant, a local favorite, to enjoy the old-time supper club ambiance of a well known neighborhood establishment.  I even tried grits with cheese and discovered that they are really good (of course you have to like the texture of Malt-O-Meal on your tongue).  

More swimming in that wonderful pool.  Talked to a gal from Indiana who travels with just her mother and daughter.  She does all the driving and hooking up by herself.  I have a lot of respect for these RV jockettes.

Coming out!  Press the 8!  Better odds behind the Pass Line! Shake it but don't break it!  Yo!!!!!!  Saturday night was Casino Night at the Clubhouse.  Bella Terra brought in casino dealers along with Blackjack, Roulette, Texas Hold 'Em and Craps tables.  Our friend Jude was HOT on the craps table.  We couldn't believe how fast three hours passed.  In addition, there were drinks, hor d' oeuvres and lots of giveaways.  A fun-filled evening all for only $20.  Le Roy and I won an oil change, free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, bowling and shoe rental for 4, a man's haircut  and a zip line certificate.  We traded the oil change for a Planet Beach spa week, two sessions per day for seven days.

Lulu's

Happy St Patrick's Day!

A Dog Parade around the Park was shortened due to sprinkles of rain.

We headed off for "lupper"(in-between lunch/supper) at LuLu's.  Lulu's is owned by Lucy Buffet, Jimmy Buffet's sister.  Had a great time with Ross and Mary sitting in the sunshine, drinking adult beverages, and listening to live music on the inter coastal canal.

Us with Ross & Mary (the Kiwi)

After seven towers and six zip lines over the length of one mile,I am officially a Zipper.  I can't believe  I was actually going to soar over land, sand and sea only after climbing up a 90' tower, especially on a windy day. 

90 Ft Tower, oh boy!!!

Hanging Back

Dick and Judy came along for support so I couldn't chicken out in front of them and LeRoy.  After a brief "jump school" where we tried a short zip and learned how to apply our brake (a heavy leather looking like a taco on your dominant gloved hand) we climbed a rope walkway up and then to the top of the first 90' wooden tower.  There were three families and I was alone so I held back only to discover that the last one up onto the deck of the first tower would be the first one off.

Here I go........Geronimo!

I can do this...WHEEEE!

Just Short

 I once heard "if you're not living on the edge, you are taking up too much room" so I zipped off the wooden deck, holding my breath and hoping my heart wouldn't give out on me as I sailed through the air.  A high five to my guide and being told by others who joined me on the second tower that I made it look easy.  One little girl was crying so she came over last in tandem with the guide.  By the time we had zipped to the last tower, she wanted to be first.  The Hummingbird Zip lines is an unforgettable experience.  I had a great vantage point to take in spectacular views of the white sand beaches and crystal clear waters at Gulf State park. 

The End

Sweet Home Alabama - 2013 - 4

We stopped in for lunch in Gulf Shores at DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen and family restaurant.  Decor and ceiling tiles reminded me of 1960s.  On the menu?  Shrimp, sweet potato casserole and okra.

Japanese Plum on bush on our site

The movie "Argo" was playing at the Clubhouse.  This current release is based on the true story of a covert rescue mission during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. 

We hosted a dessert get together and served Key lime pie.  Did you know that Columbus is credited for bringing the Key lime to Florida? This lime, different from a regular lime, flourished in the Florida Keys, hence the name Key lime.  However, a 1926 hurricane wiped out the lime groves except in the Keys.    The Key lime is smaller and seedier with high acidity -- more aromatic and intense.  Hmmm...tropical paradise in a Key lime martini?

Sweet Home Alabama 2013 - 3

It's daylight savings time!  Can spring be far away? 

Sunday -- We went to Ryan's where they have been advertising a hibachi grilled chicken/shrimp/beef special. We missed Mimosa Madness at the Clubhouse as I needed to rest my table muscle and LeRoy had to strap in for a NASCAR race.  We took a bike ride and ended up at Hebbe's for late afternoon cocktails and a few laughs.

Monday -- Met fellow WAW members at Craft Farms restaurant for lunch.  No, it's not a farm, but rather a golf course surrounded by many upscale subdivisions.  Had a coupon for onion rings -- they were huge...and shared.   I suggested we opt for the site next door if we ever return here, but after the rain, the entire patio area was covered with 3" of rain although 4 hours later it was almost dry.

Tuesday -- Took a drive to Pensacola, FL to Joe Patti's Seafood Market. This is a world famous fish monger that sells a carnival of seafood at wholesale prices. There was a 100 foot seafood '  counter of a plethora of fresh caught fish and shrimp, everything from fish fillets, sushi, lobster, cheeses, wines, gourmet deli and gelato.  There was constant motion with people were coming and going.  There is a protocol: bring a cooler, browse the seafood counter, get a number from the security guard to be served at the seafood counter and wait for your number to be called.  Be ready or you will lose your turn.  You get your order from an associate who will walk you from item to item while giving you preparation tips.  You take your booty of fish to the back counter to pay and have it packed in your cooler.  So many fish, so little time.

I was introduced to beignets, deep-fried triangular pastry (like an elephant ear at the Fair) and sprinkled with powdered sugar.  Of course, you could also get them with a raspberry filling or Bavarian cream filling.  We ate delicious grilled shrimp at Sam's Restaurant right across the street from Joe Patti's.





We drove along the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola.  The Gulf Islands protects 5,842 acres of public land and 18,953 acres of water along 52 miles of Gulf and bay shoreline around Pensacola.  Mississippi shoreline is also included but no Alabama shores, which were originally considered and as of 2009, is part of the national seashore.

White sand blew and drifted across the paved road and the on the stairs to the boardwalks.  the boardwalks help protect growing plants on the sand dunes and make it easier to access the beach. The sparkling white quartz sand, sometimes called "sugar sand" creates what some say is the world's whitest beaches.  While we walked the beach and picked seashells, the surf crashed onto the shore creating its own thunder.

Sweet Home Alabama 2013 - 2

Saturday, March 9, 2013

A slight delay in blogging as I had to take more pictures.  Two full weeks on vacation is a long time but I am no longer feeling guilty about sleeping in every day, going out to eat every day or having cocktails any afternoon. 

We ate once again at Lambert's, the only home of throwed rolls.  It's a nationally known rstaurant for 70 years where they will toss a HOT softball size roll to anyone with their hand up.   

A sunny day presented an opportunity to dine surf-side at a place called The Gulf.  The restaurant was made of blue shipping containers with a menu written on a huge blackboard.  To keep the birds away from the diners on the patio, heavy fishing line was crisscrossed about 14' overhead.  The sun was hot, the sea air was fresh, the food was good and the white sand beach all made for a great dining experience.

New to Gulf Shores is a zip line course. We spotted 7 wooden towers up to 90' high on the Gulf highway. These towers were constructed since October 2012, after some licensing issues, for a one mile zip line course.  The course goes over several bodies of water, takes about 2+ hours and reservations are suggested.

 

 

We visited the Railroad Museum in downtown Foley.  It is a train lover's delight where young and old can view a model train exhibit that has a 24' x 60' layout and 1/4 mile of track, a mile of wiring, with12 different railroads running in every direction.  The best part?  It is FREE. 

The Wisconsin RVers were all invited to a gathering at the Clubhouse for introductions and coffee.  One afternoon I went to the Clubhouse to watch the movie, "The Master", only to have to come home and "google" what the movie was about.  Hump day wine and beer party mid-afternoon on Wednesdays.  There was a coffee talk presentation by Richard Parker, America's RV speaker and author.  His schtick was that we invest our IRAs in sites at Bella Terra to maintain our cash flow and net worth.  Sure, OK, we will get right on that.

Today we were invited for fresh farm eggs and bacon with Dick & Judy Hebbe.  They have a small hobby farm and brought along 8 dozen eggs.  After helping them out by eating some of those eggs we were off to Lowe's for some herbs and palms.  Once again, at 4 today, we are invited for cocktails and hors d' oeuvres at a fellow WAW RVer.  And to wrap up tonight, a couple staying at BT is giving a talk with slides of their recent trip to Guatemala.    

As we made our way around the Foley and Gulf Shores area, we spotted many RV parks, even toured a few, everything from a state park to luxury beach house/class A motorhome sites. For some reason, I like BT, away from the madness yet close enough to go to huge outlet malls, supermarkets, fresh fish markets and beaches. Gotta love the palm trees!
   

 

Sweet Home Alabama 2013 - 1

BELLA TERRA in Foley,AL
March 2013

It has been over a week since we left for Foley, AL.  It was snowing when we left Rib Mt and drove in it until south of Portage.  Two overnight stops, one in Marion, IL and one in Canton, MS.  We missed all the bad weather on the trip south.  However, we ran out of room on a merge ramp in Mobile, AL when a semi screamed by the side of our bus almost causing us to hit the curb.  I could see the wall of the tunnel coming my way as we were wedged between the passing semi and the wall.  Other than that we only missed one ramp and ended up on a service road that took us back to the highway.  

We arrived at Bella Terra Monday and laid low for a few days.  Part of the RV Park is under construction as the owners received over $1M from the BP oil spill that happened 2 years ago.  Roads are being put in, sod has been placed  and palm trees are being erected.  That reminds me, I need to pick a palm tree out for Jade.

The soil here is bright orange clay.  The water in the small lake in the complex has turned brown as no soil erosion screening was put up.  With the fountain blowing and the red clay seeping into the water, I doubt it will be clear before we head for home.

Le Roy was hungry for BBQ ribs so we found a little rib shack not far from the RV resort.  The ribs were tender and not overcooked.  Stopped at a local fish shop and bought some royal reds (deep water shrimp that are huge) and red snapper.  The local Piggly Wiggly claims to charge only 10% over cost.

Several members of our Wisconsin Allegro group are staying at Bella Terra so we all went out for Mexican Food at El Paso on Tuesday evening.   Made a note that Margaritas are half price on Thursday nights.

Wednesday -- our Minocqua friends arrived around 6 pm so we went out for dessert with them.   Afterwards we watched the movie Zero Dark Thirty.

 

Thursday --We took a drive to the west side of this peninsula to Point Clear and Fairhope then headed south to find the shrimp boats.  We located Billy's Seafood in Bon Secour and were amazed at the xx large shrimp. 

 

The old weathered guy behind the fish display suggested stuffing the shrimp with jalapenos and cream cheese, wrapping them in bacon and grilling them until the bacon was crisp.  I bought some Cobia fish to try.  We cooked fresh shrimp and steaks on the grill with Trapps and later went to a concert in the Clubhouse where a crooner named Matt sang tunes from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. 

 

 Saturday -- It is cold in the south, but at least it is dry.  The gulf stream is making it cold all the way down to Miami, FL.  We went to a Seafood Festival in Orange Beach, just a few miles toward Gulf Shores.  It was cancelled last weekend due to 8" of rain.  I think they could have cancelled today due to cold temps and a blustery wind.  What do you think of the "rat rod"?



Sunday -- Krispy Kreme is alive and well in Foley, AL.  We took a drive along the beach road and saw white sand dunes and beach houses built on stilts. It was cold and there were few people on the beach.  There was a 2:00 call at the Clubhouse for Bloody Marys.  The WAW couples got together for a bratwurst cookout at the Clubhouse about 5:30.


Monday -- There was a gathering of all the folks from the Badger State.  Introductions with pastries in the Clubhouse for about an hour.  We left to take a ferry ride from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island where there is a sea lab where biologists are dispatched for dolphin, pygmy whale and manatee rescue.  I talked to two employees who were returning from a beach where a dead dolphin was located.  Just off shore from Fort Morgan were natural gas rigs that look like oil rigs.  We counted at least 35 rigs that could be seen in the not too far distance.  A large fruit and vegetable stand drew us in for some fresh strawberries and peaches.  Shrimp and clams for a late lunch or an early dinner at 4pm -- oh my gosh, we're turning into real SENIORS!