Bama Ed's Retirement Camping Thread For Spring 2021

[Bishoparc]

@bama_ed, I still want to be able to write trip reports like you when I grow up. Always a great job, plenty of pics and lots of detail!

 

[bama_ed]

@bama_ed, I still want to be able to write trip reports like you when I grow up. Always a great job, plenty of pics and lots of detail!

Arc,

Thanks for the compliment.

I always wonder if people are reading or is the click count just me going back every time to fix a typo or a dangling participle....

Now that I'm retired and I am spending more time with my trophy wife (seriously), there is less time to devote to trip report entries. Granted, when at FW I am more prolific (multiple posts per day) because that's like throwing red meat to the wolves. But at non-Fort, non-Disney related trips, I figure folks are less interested (given the focus of the DIS Camping Board is on the Fort). For example, I did only one sunrise photo set at Jetty Park but I was up early enough to see three. At Gulf State Park (because a number of DIS'sers have been there - yourself included) I've done more.

Next trip on the calendar after a trip to Gulf is to head north to the MidWest DISMeet that Teamubr teed up in mid-May. I feel a little guilty at luring him and others down south to Gulf in the Spring for several years (the beach is the main lure) so I feel like I should return the favor and travel up to the frozen tundra of Illinois in May, put on my mid-west Ohio accent for a week, and camp with our DIS buds from that region. Plus I have some family in Chicagoland that I can visit.

June is a big trip I have planned but not written extensively about (after our Pigeon Forge hoedown - btw have we picked a name?). I'll be headed west, some days you will roll your eyes at me and mutter, "again?". But we don't get a lot of stuff from that direction so it will be good.

Hey, I'm retired now so going to watch Day 1 coverage of The Masters on ESPN.

Bama Ed

 

[friendofeeyore]

I enjoyed your trip reports. Please keep them coming. I am unable to travel very far now & reading your trips, I am enjoying the trip with you & Mrs. Ed.

 

[bama_ed]

I enjoyed your trip reports. Please keep them coming. I am unable to travel very far now & reading your trips, I am enjoying the trip with you & Mrs. Ed.

Thank you, @friendofeeyore/Gloria. Your comment means the world to me.

Won't be long till we hit the road again. Fixed some things on the Aliner this week (hinges on cabinets) but a few more minor things still to go. Loving this low stress time in spring/April but we will be packing up soon.

Ed

 

[Sjm9911]

I think i was following along ed, but sometimes the site dosen't update stuff. So i dont get the notifications if i do not look at it in a specific time frame. Its not that i dont want to read it, it just o donr know its been updated. Who wouldent want ro see your pics....

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Ahh The extraordinary adventures of the famous Bama Ed, they will be told to children for ages to come.

. . . told as awe

We are proud of Ed.
We are happy he did so much for DIS camping and planning.
We are pleased the efforts are passed to TiggerDad.
We are happy he will carry-on Ed's traditions.

I am enjoying my retirement of 19-yrs (since age 53).
We wish Ed well in his retirement and time of leisure.
I did a lot of business travel, but it's more fun with the wife.
Am having a good time showing my favorite foreign haunts.
And finding new countries to explore along with her.
I am certain Ed and his wife will enjoy the extra time together.

NOTE:
. . . I very seldom buy souvenir knick-knacks.
. . . Eventually, some break from dropping or mishandling.
. . . We usually buy pictures or other wall hangings.
. . . They don't break and require very little dusting.
. . . But, we are running out of wall space.
. . . Have decided ceilings are probably next for locating.
. . . Nowever, we will have to remove some of the mirrors!

 

[Stratman50th]

I always enjoy a trip report @bama_ed
I don't really care where it's to as I enjoy trips. I live vicariously through others and it gives me ideas as to where I may want to go. Keep them coming.

 

[tiggerdad]

. . . told as awe

We are proud of Ed.
We are happy he did so much for DIS camping and planning.
We are pleased the efforts are passed to TiggerDad.
We are happy he will carry-on Ed's traditions.

I am enjoying my retirement of 19-yrs (since age 53).
We wish Ed well in his retirement and time of leisure.
I did a lot of business travel, but it's more fun with the wife.
Am having a good time showing my favorite foreign haunts.
And finding new countries to explore along with her.
I am certain Ed and his wife will enjoy the extra time together.

NOTE:
. . . I very seldom buy souvenir knick-knacks.
. . . Eventually, some break from dropping or mishandling.
. . . We usually buy pictures or other wall hangings.
. . . They don't break and require very little dusting.
. . . But, we are running out of wall space.
. . . Have decided ceilings are probably next for locating.
. . . Nowever, we will have to remove some of the mirrors!

Try as I may, I don't have the attention to detail that Ed has. Not sure I could ever come close to his level of presentation.

No need to remove the ceiling mirrors. Double sided tape works well for pictures in this case. Was told this by a friend...

 

[bama_ed]

When you read a Rusty post like post 86, you wait .....

.... because you know something is coming ......

.... In basketball lingo, Rusty inbounds the ball slowly (he opens with flattery <for me and tigger dad>) ......

.... And he walks it across the mid-court line with no hint of pressure (he puts you at ease <with "retirement talk" and "travel">) ....

... At the top of the key he shifts hands on the dribble and makes his move on me (on defense) like I'm an oak tree (but then he segues into the REAL purpose of his post with the NOTE) ......

.... He quickly glides down the lane and takes off from the free throw line .... floating effortlessly as time stands still ..... and finger rolls in a beauty of a shot. (after the setup comes the punchline).

.... And tigger dad is the trailer who comes in right behind him and hangs on the rim! <post 88>

I'm in awe. I shake my head in amazement they make it look so easy ......

It's worth the wait too.

PS - I knew something was coming and I was helpless to do anything about it.....

 

[Bishoparc]

Try as I may, I don't have the attention to detail that Ed has

At least we have something to aspire to

 

[bama_ed]

The Rusty Scupper posting in my thread ....

.... only it's a slam dunk and not a finger roll ....

 

[bama_ed]

Hey DIS Camping Community Board ....

Bama Ed

 

[Sjm9911]

When i was a kid they had a hostess factory close to home. They sold all the broken and squished stuff for like 75 percent off. Still never saw or ate a zinger. They did have chcodiles.

Now what puzzle do you have under there? I see zingere, a puzzle and the puzzle board? Do i see a trip in the near future?

 

[FtW Mike]

As I recall from prior Bama Ed TR's mornings tend to be most active Communal Puzzle time. If my suspicions are confirmed and you are planning to hop everyone up with a major sugar high in order to complete this particular puzzle in record time , you will obviously need more and a better variety of ZINGERS. Would it kill you throw in a few TWINKIES while you are at it?

 

[bama_ed]

Now what puzzle do you have under there? I see zingers, a puzzle, and the puzzle board? Do i see a trip in the near future?

 

[bama_ed]

Hey DIS Camping Community Board:

We're headed to Gulf State Park today.

Bama Ed

 

[DL1WDW2]

Descibe Primitive.....

 

[tiggerdad]

View attachment 570191

Descibe Primitive.....

They have a couple tent sites. They are in woods, have I think a fireplace and flat pad for tent.

Back deep in park you can reserve a canvas cabin to stay in. Has 12v hookup via solar power, outdoor shower, fire pit, hand pump sink for cleaning.

 

[bama_ed]

Sitting outside on Site #16 against the lake across from the "tiggerdad" campsite on the corner for those who have been to our Gulf DISMeets. Clear beautiful night, a little breezy, and I can hear party music from the GSP Beach Pavilion across the lake and highway (a wedding reception? a high skrewl party?) It only adds to the background noises of frogs, crickets, and Lord only knows what else.

So yes, I gave you short notice like Road Runner does to Wile E. Coyote that I was hot-footing it down to the beach. It was time for the annual spring visit (now that the May Gulf DISMeet is in hiatus status) which is not to be confused with the annual fall visit (later this year). Two week long stays is about right for us.

This was the first trip to Gulf SP in the new-to-me YukonXL. I strapped on the bikes to the back of the Aliner (DW likes to ride bikes at GSP but oddly not at home). No waggle while driving what.so.ever. My old Suburban, when carrying bikes on the Aliner, would at certain speeds/pavements/orientations (uphill, downhill) sometimes let the tail wag the dog.

Rain came through overnight and into this morning so I let it pass before we left out at 1030am. Tried a new route down I59 to Meridian and then down Hwy45 into the Mobile area. Come across the Causeway to the Eastern Shore and then up onto I10 for the run over to Buc-cees and the Baldwin Beach Express.

This is what we looked like all lashed up:



The nice thing about coming in this way is that on the Mobile Causeway there are so many fine restaurants you have to stop at one for lunch. You can't miss - like shooting fish in a barrel.



This location of the Original Oyster House is the original Original to its cousin in Gulf Shores. And equally worthy of a visit for a soft shelled crab po' boy.



This section of the Causeway get blown away with every passing hurricane so most all the restaurants are up on stilts (Meaher State Park here is close to I10 and a nice stop when the bugs aren't out).



A total 5 hour drive not counting the meal stop to GSP. It's still a little breezy tonight (20mph with gusts to 30mph) so I put up the EZ up frame to hold the new rope lights but left the cover off.





I think I blew a fuse on the 3-way fridge when I turned it on when we were setting up (it "buzzed" at me and the lights on the control panel went out-its plug in back still has power-checked it with a plug in fan). Call into a mobile repair guy.

So a quick run tonight to WalMart for a styrofoam cooler, some ice, and minimal groceries. Left the lights on.





Will have time to solve this in the next day or two.

Nice weather (high 75F, low around 60F) the next couple days through Wednesday at least. But heck, it could change. Hope to get one good sunrise pic set though.

Bama Ed

PS - oh and tiggerdad, that alligator is still cruising here in the lake just off the shore for handouts in the evening

 

[bama_ed]

As I recall from prior Bama Ed TR's mornings tend to be most active Communal Puzzle time. If my suspicions are confirmed and you are planning to hop everyone up with a major sugar high in order to complete this particular puzzle in record time , you will obviously need more and a better variety of ZINGERS. Would it kill you throw in a few TWINKIES while you are at it?

Mike,

I'm saving the Twinkies for a future trip. Follow me now ....

1. Jetty Park last month with Raspberry Zingers
2. Gulf State park this month with Chocolate Zingers
3. MidWest DISMeet next month with Teamubr and plan on Vanilla Zingers
4. About the time I see you in Pigeon Forge it will be time to move on to the Twinkies

Dude, this is SERIOUS research. Each flavor filled mouthful must be carefully chewed, digested, and reflected upon. It would incredibly harm the results to have a bite of Zingers followed by a bite of pepperoni pizza. One must allow the palette to not be influenced by contrary flavors and textures.

You folks up in Delaware may play fast and loose with your snack food choices but as the obesity statistics show, down south we take our snack food choices SERIOUSLY.

So BACK OFF, MAN. I'M A SCIENTIST!

But Twinkies sound good.

Bama Ed

PS - oh and my puzzle box is a 5-er of a 750 piece, two 500-piece, and two smaller ones. More variety this week.