Mobile 3/30/2019

This week we spent  a few days in Mobile, AL while we stayed at Meaher State Park. The campground there is situated directly on Mobile Bay where the Tensaw and Mobile Rivers empty into it. We found this place last summer when we passed through here, and knew we had to return.

On Tuesday, we headed to the Gulfquest Maritime Museum, an interactive museum dedicated to the historical, cultural and economic significance of the Gulf of Mexico. The entire building is designed to resemble a container ship, with exhibits that focus on topics from hurricanes, shipwrecks, sailing, offshore drilling, fishing, and so much more. There are over 90 hands-on exhibits like piloting a ship into a loading area, using latitude and longitude to figure location, using wind to sail a boat, using pulleys to lift weights, and lots more. Located on the rampways on either side of the container ship are common sayings with maritime origins highlighted on individual panels.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here, which was enhanced by the fact that there were hardly any other visitors that day.

On Wednesday, we visited Bellingrath Gardens, where we missed the amazing azalea displays by about a week. Nevertheless, the gardens and wooded paths were still a delight, and a peaceful soul-calming experience. The weather was perfect, in the 70s and sunny, clear and dry. We stopped in to the Boehm Porcelain gallery at the garden. The building that houses the collection  was originally designed in 1939 as a six-car garage with guest quarters above. The gallery was created in 1967 to house this collection  and represents the largest public display of the works of the American sculptor, Edward Marshall Boehm.

Photos of Bellingrath are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JJCQ24u4YKg8v5n77
A few of the maritime phrases are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/gAjvAQQZj69j5f9b6

On the road again 3/25/2019

This time we're heading north with the intention of ultimately getting to see the full glory of the cherry trees in Washington DC. Peak bloom is expected next week. On the way, we'll have stops in Mobile, AL and Congaree National Park, and on the way back, Wilmington, NC and Charleston SC as well as a Florida state park.

The ride north was uneventful, and the weather great--temps in the 70s and 80s and dry. About 35 miles west of the I75 and I10 junction, Google told us that traffic was stopped ahead on I10 for a car crash, and recommended we get off the Interstate and take a back road that would take us around the backup. We have not been disappointed by these reroutings before, so we took it, and are so glad we did. Oh my, what beautiful country! When taking rural roads with which we are not familiar, there's always the chance of finding ourselves on narrow, snaky routes, or on those with low clearance bridges. Thankfully, that was not the case here. The route took us by gorgeous rolling green hills and fields, peppered with majestic huge live oaks dripping with spanish moss. What a treat!

Once back on the interstate, we headed west. I10 runs across northern Florida from Jacksonville to Pensacola and further to Mobile. In the Tallahassee area we started to see evidence of Hurricane Michael that blew through the panhandle back in early October of 2018. There were downed trees all along the road. We passed huge areas where the trees were snapped off like twigs 15-20 feet above the ground. Billboards were rubble. Road signs were twisted and bent, many on the ground. Large tracts of trees had been completely removed, leaving an open hillside where once forest stood.

When we arrived at our stop for the night in Cottondale, FL, a rural town off I10, about 120 miles east of Pensacola. I had called the campground owner as we were driving west to see if she had any spots available for the night, and she did. When we arrived, she greeted us as she stepped out of her trailer, followed by a baby goat. She explained that after her husband passed away late last year, she wanted a bit of companionship, and came into possession of this goat. He now follows her everywhere. The sites here are clean and flat, and the water pressure and electricity are good. But the road noise from the Interstate is loud.

Here are a few photos of the tree damage.: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QKW45ooKPnyvNoteA

We head to Mobile next.