Bama Ed's Retirement Camping Thread For Spring 2021

[rocketmom]

Welcome to the neighborhood! I've been here on Gator Road site 279 for the past week. Leaving this morning for Fort Pickens, last stop on the 3 week "We're Fully Vaccinated and on the Road Again Tour" lol. If you're riding bikes over this way stop and say Howdy. Probably waiting until check out time to leave, it doesn't take long to get to Fort Pickens.. If I don't get to meet you, see you in the Forge in June.

 

[tiggerdad]

Ed, one day I wanna be like you.

Interesting you chose to come through my home neighborhood and then south on 45. Had I known I could've been at the I20/hwy 45 intersection with a sign. The 2 lane part is hit or miss. If you are unlucky enough to get behind a slow poke . Good choice on stop, we've done that before. I've always said I wanted to stop at Felix's but I was warned to take out a bank loan prior to going there.

Good choice on Zingers. Personally I prefer them over Twinkies. Not raspberry though.

You should have good kite flying weather.

I'm looking forward to sitting on 17 (my new home for July) sipping coffee and watching sunrise.

The Dismeet out west was bad timing for us since the DDs are still in school.

 

[bama_ed]

Sunday night update. Strap in - lots of pix ....

Welcome to the neighborhood! I've been here on Gator Road site 279 for the past week. Leaving this morning for Fort Pickens, last stop on the 3 week "We're Fully Vaccinated and on the Road Again Tour" lol. If you're riding bikes over this way stop and say Howdy. Probably waiting until check out time to leave, it doesn't take long to get to Fort Pickens.. If I don't get to meet you, see you in the Forge in June.

Sorry I didn't see your message earlier, mom. Sorry - I'll catch up with you in Pigeon Forge.

I saw they rebuilt the campsites at Fort Pickens a few years ago. Those beach barrier islands are fragile.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Ed, one day I wanna be like you.

Interesting you chose to come through my home neighborhood and then south on 45. Had I known I could've been at the I20/hwy 45 intersection with a sign.

Good choice on Zingers. Personally I prefer them over Twinkies. Not raspberry though.

You should have good kite flying weather.

I'm looking forward to sitting on 17 (my new home for July) sipping coffee and watching sunrise.

The Dismeet out west was bad timing for us since the DDs are still in school.

Tiggerdad, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. The storms on Friday night/Saturday morning were moving west-to-east so on Saturday morning I thought I could move in the OPPOSITE direction (east-to-west) to get around them and let them pass.

On top of Hwy 45 where you curl off I59 I blew off my hard-sided propane cover right there near the Jayco dealer on the right. I pulled over to the shoulder to got get it and DW said, "leave it, don't bother" and I said (in my best Teamubr voice), "WHAT? That cover must be worth at least ten dollars. I'm walking back to get it". Onto the shoulder, flashers on, walked back, grabbed onto it, walked back.

Good choice on Zingers. Personally I prefer them over Twinkies. Not raspberry though.

I have to admit, tiggerdad, I was disappointed last month with the Raspberry Zingers at Jetty Park. They were more like a coconut-covered purple twinkie (small "t"). Chocolate and Vanilla Zingers have the solid frosting on top (FtWMike would know this for shure) and thats what a Zinger should be. So I am trying work my way up the food chain.

You should have good kite flying weather.

Will let you know. Conditions are favorable for the next few days.

I'm looking forward to sitting on 17 (my new home for July) sipping coffee and watching sunrise.

I'll post some photos of #17 this week. A big Phaeton rolled onto it today. It has a clear unobstructed view of the rising sun area across the lake (I have a bush and a small tree to work around). You'll like #17 if your AC can keep up with the full sun in July.

The Dismeet out west was bad timing for us since the DDs are still in school.

I was in your shoes not long ago. School calendars, work vacation schedules, etc. You'll get there as I have. Personally I'm looking forward to seeing new countries like the People's Soviet Socialist Republic of Illinois where Teamubr, our Senior Soviet Comrade, has schedule 48 hours of fun and entertainment. But as I said I should return the journey.

Ed, one day I wanna be like you.

That's funny - one day I wanna be like you.

Ed

PS - let's get to today's activities. Too much for ONE post!

 

[4077]

Type faster...lol

 

[bama_ed]

I admit DW and I slept in today. But we got up and hustled off to church and lunch but not where you would think.

Folks come to the beach and they think everything is 5 miles off the coast or less. But the history and culture of the coast is not always on the shoreline (becuz they got blown away all the blessed time) but further off the coast under the old oak trees with Spanish Moss in safe waterways. In other words, places like Bon Secour.

Bon Secour is a French expression which, loosely translated, means "Safe Harbor". 100 years ago fishing boats used to head out of the Bon Secour River and Bon Secour Bay on the east side of Mobile Bay and head into the Gulf to shrimp and fish. They would stay inside the Bay to harvest oysters. But Mother Nature can be rough so they always prayed to Our Lady of Bon Secour to keep them safe and return to their families. Today we went to church and ate lunch in Bon Secour.

There are several fisheries and fresh-off-the-boat places in Bon Secour (Billy's, Aquilla, Safe Harbor, and Bon Secour Fisheries) that carry on the tradition. I wrote about Billy's in a past Gulf Trip report.

The area is old school. So we went to church today under the big oak trees (church on the right):



Then walked one house over to lunch at the Tin Top Restaurant (which had live music this morning with inside and outside dining).







They were pushing the Mimosas and Bloody Mary's but I had LUNCH on my mind. And then I saw it.



Right there at the top of menu (it was $17). Did you see it? The Tin Top Lunch Platter - Broiled.



DW and I often joke that whenever we go out to eat, her choice always looks (and tastes) better than mine. But not today. No SIR!

Good place.

Would recomment Tin Top.

It's off County Road #10 to the west of Hwy 59 on the way north to Foley.

More in the next post.

Bama Ed

PS -

Type faster...lol

Dude, DW said she wants me posting less on vacation. So just once per day/night (usually). But I have to continue to provide a FULL report...

 

[bama_ed]

After lunch and back at Gulf State Park, we went for a bike ride to work off lunch. I took photos to focus on us little campers. As in equipment little, so to speak.



Good things come in small sizes.



It's not the camper size that counts.



After all, we're here in April and May to spend time outdoors, right?



Anybody can drag their living room into the country.



But how can you see the country when you have the 60" tv in front of you?



I started out coming to Gulf in a tent in the 80s and 90s. Good times.



Does anyone know what these cabinets are around the campground? They all have a power meter next to them. Thought they might be wifi-related but they are not always near an antenna.



We'll get back to my campsite in the next post.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

After staying on this particular campsite last year at this time and nearly getting blown away, I came more prepared this time.

Strap it down, Ed.



Use these corkscrew stakes



and some rachet tie-downs to secure the awnings.



Let's see if that works better. The wind comes off the lake at a pretty good clip mid-day.

So yes I did set up the cover on the EZ Up.



And put out the DIS sign.



The view across the lake was beautiful this afternoon. DW really enjoyed it.



I started a puzzle. The bottom middle 500 piece one.



The edges/outline got set



Then I worked a little more until shutdown tonight.



Then the sun started going down.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Finally tonight, the moon came up over the lake.



Old Glory never looked better.



The sun set behind Arnold and Gloria's past DISMeet campsite #3.



It's been nearly a full moon the last day or two.



This is the same view I've shared before but it never gets old.



G' night all.

Bama Ed

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

Anybody can drag their living room into the country.

Without a "dragged" living room I don't think DW would like RVing, would never go on a trip with me, and/or divorced me by now. Plus, I don't mind a king bed and a full kitchen either.

 

[bama_ed]

 

[tiggerdad]

That's what I was looking for...

 

[4077]

That's staying (sort of) true to your "once per day" reporting.... you didn't do any trip reporting...you sort of just "dropped" that sunrise shot over there in the thread (well, after all, we want to see a sunrise in the morning, right?). Beautiful.

 

[FtW Mike]

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.

Ed very happy that are planning on brining Twinkies to Pigeon Forge. Now while I can't make any promises I will try to pick up a box or two of Ding Dongs and Ho Ho's when I pass thru DC on my way. I understand they are abundant there especially Pennsylvania Avenue.
Now as a transplant to Delaware originally from New York I can promise you that our snacking skills have only become more refined. Delaware in fact is an ancient Nanticoke Indian word that roughly translates to Land Of Fat People. Now I will concede my palate is not on par with yours. I doubt I will ever develop a taste for the Haute Cuisine fare of the RED TIDE CAFE but I will hit up HELEN'S SAUSAGE HOUSE for a Scrapple and Egg on toast at every opportunity.
Back in the day we used to believe it was okay to sneak across the precient borders to get some cheese Cake from Junior's or a Burger from Peter Luger's or some Hot Dogs and Knishes from Original Nathans Stand

 

[bama_ed]

That's staying (sort of) true to your "once per day" reporting.... you didn't do any trip reporting...you sort of just "dropped" that sunrise shot over there in the thread (well, after all, we want to see a sunrise in the morning, right?). Beautiful.

That was exactly the plan, 4077. My thing on sunrise photos is to post them as soon as possible - they should need no description. It makes no sense to wait until a night time update and show them when there will be another one in just a few hours.

Today was another beautiful day on the Alabama Gulf Coast but still frustrating in a sense. I hear Paula Abdul singing, "I take one step forward and two steps back...".

This morning we got out for a morning church service and came back to our site for breakfast, reading, puzzling, and biking.

Coming back in this morning I stopped at the check-in office and asked about these cabinets that are all over GSP.



And the answer is that those are the new power monitoring cabinets for electricity into the campsite loops. Hurricane Sally that came through in Sep2020 knocked out over half the power boxes in GSP. I was here in early November just after they had reopened and many loops were still closed at that time. So the decision was made to put in these cabinets around the park (20 of them) each with a meter to monitor electricity usage and increase the supply (summer AC usage, etc.) in an intelligent manner.

No wonder I'm paying an average of $55 a night at my little beach-side state park.

Tiggerdad said he is coming to stay at GSP this summer in the site next to me currently. The Phaeton that had been on that site left this morning so I walked over to check it out and #17 will have a GREAT sunrise view (unobstructed which is better than mine).



Later this morning I played cat-and-mouse with mobile RV repairmen seeing who could come out and look at my Dometic fridge that was on the fritz. One guy said he would "try" to send somebody over "later today". So I hung around the campsite most of the day hoping that I would get a call saying they were out at the GSP Campground entrance.

But I did eventually get a call after lunch that they were on their way. And they did show up. So as Paula Abdul sings, "One step forward" - yes, they did show up. But she also sang "Two steps back". And the repair guy didn't SOLVE the problem but he did IDENTIFY the problem. I need a new control panel thats on top of the outside of my Dometic 3-way fridge.



So the saga continues. Will be cruising the Net tonight for a replacement.

While I was pacing around and then later looking over the repair guy's shoulder, DW went to town on my puzzle. Honestly, she did so much there ain't much left to do.



Supper was some steak bits and vegetables (pepper, onion, mushrooms) with a little mash and steak sauce. Plenty of it.



Oh and Zingers for dessert!



DW said I got a lot of sun today (I'm afraid to look in the mirror). But heck, the damage is done so I'm ready to hit the beach tomorrow.

Bama Ed

PS - DW and I went over to the camp store/pool/laundry room area to look at the lake without the campsite view around/behind us. It was very peaceful. But there was an older couple nearby pushing a double-wide stroller. "Cute", I thought, "grandkids in the stroller".

Nope.

The older GUY was pushing a double CAT stroller with his DW walking next to him. There was a cat in each side with screen and restraining borders/velcro to keep the little felines in their stroller. His DW spoke to my DW that the cats get impatient and will "meow" if the stroller stops moving for longer than a few seconds.

I wanted to snatch his Man Card SO bad.

 

[bama_ed]

 

[bama_ed]

I have to ask @rocketmom:

Are things as beautiful over there as they are over here in the Yellow Hammer State?

(YH is the AL state bird)

Never been to Ft Pickens. It's in the CoE/recreation.gov website right? Got any pics or advice to share for camping over there?

Bama Ed

PS - after my trip to Florida last month, would like to pick up the Pensacola NAS Lighthouse on my checklist. Because Pensacola NAS is on my childhood camping list with Boy Scouts of America in the early 1980s. Pitching tents at the end of the runway on a late Friday night. And waking up only a few hours later to planes taking off right over our heads (it seemed).

And I have receipts.

 

[bama_ed]

 

[jbrostek]

@bama_ed Funny enough I saw that cabinet and knew it was a remote monitored "electrical substation". The plus side is that it will alert on a breaker trip. And depending on if they have remote reset or not can actually reset breakers. A good investment for solid power distribution and highly used in IT environments (though sometimes 3 phase power instead.)

 

[rocketmom]

I have to ask @rocketmom:

Are things as beautiful over there as they are over here in the Yellow Hammer State?

(YH is the AL state bird)

Never been to Ft Pickens. It's in the CoE/recreation.gov website right? Got any pics or advice to share for camping over there?

Bama Ed

PS - after my trip to Florida last month, would like to pick up the Pensacola NAS Lighthouse on my checklist. Because Pensacola NAS is on my childhood camping list with Boy Scouts of America in the early 1980s. Pitching tents at the end of the runway on a late Friday night. And waking up only a few hours later to planes taking off right over our heads (it seemed).

And I have receipts.

Fort Pickens is part of the national park system. The campground is a national park campground. The campsites have electricity and water but no sewer hookups. There are restrooms and showers and a sewer dump. It’s a beautiful place. Pensacola bay is on one side of the campground and the gulf is on the other side. I walked to the bay side of the campground this morning and watched the Blue Angels practice. You can see lots of planes from the Naval Air Station fly over. The recreation.govwebsite will let you make reservations 6 months in advance. I love it here. This is my 5th time camping here. The beach is so quiet and peaceful it’s almost like having a private beach. Fort Pickens is also here and you can bike or drive to it and tour the actual fort. Geronimo was kept prisoner there for awhile. Hurricane Sally took out one of the main bridges into Pensacola. We had to take a detour and it took us twice as long to get here from Gulf Shores as it usually does.