The Gulf State Park Tradition...

[bama_ed]

Gonna try a practice tow with the new-to-me Toyota Sequoia this afternoon.

ED

Well made it around town this afternoon just fine with only one little oooopsie.



I noticed a couple things.

1. Now the camper (hitch to spare) is LONGER than its tow vehicle. Before each was about the same length (18.5') and now the Sequoia is about 1.5' shorter.
2. Some of that length came out of the wheelbase. Meaning I can make tighter turns now which make backing up even more of a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!
3. It took a while to get the trailer brakes warmed up to calibrate the brake controller (Tekonsha Prodigy P2). I still had the bc manual which explicitly stated that brakes had to be warm (partially used) in order to calibrate properly. So I didn't panic, followed the advice, and it eventually all worked out fine. They don't grab and help the tow vehicle.
4. This trip to Gulf Shores will be a test case of my towing gas mileage (relative to my highway mileage with no tow). I haven't done a long highway miles trip yet to test if I get the stated Hwy MPG. So I'll get a feel for towing MPG this weekend and have to wait for a longer trip (no tow) to get the comparison number.
5. My one "ooopsie" was I had a belt and buckle holding the top of the battery box down (even though it has snaps on it - I've lost one with snaps before so I use the strap). And in getting ready for this test tow I undid the strap and didn't redo it before pulling away. So now I'm in the market for a new strap.
6. I think my OE battery (~12 yo) has seen better days (based on recent past performance). Gonna get a new battery before I head to the beach.

Gonna start packing and putting sheets on the bed tmrw. Gonna be COLD here Thursday night (18F currently) and I want to get away early on Friday morning so I BETTER be hooked up, packed, loaded, and ready to simply warm up and pull out in the AM on Friday. I won't be camping near our May/June DISMeet location but I will get over there on Live Oak and Sumac Roads to provide pics for the sites our group has booked.

ED

PS - Pro tip for coming to the beach. Don't buy gas locally Friday-Sunday (plan around it). Weekend trips especially Saturday or Sunday departures mean the gas stations know people tend to fill up before starting the long drive home. Prices DROP (relative to the weekend rate) on Monday morning and through Thursday.

PPS - they do the same thing here in Titletown on fall home game weekends. And they did it again here for the men's basketball Bama/Auburn game (#1 vs #2). Gas was $2.78 Saturday night and $2.58 today (Monday morning).

 

[Teamubr]

Well made it around town this afternoon just fine with only one little oooopsie.

If that was your biggest ooopsie, you're good.

I noticed a couple things.

1. Now the camper (hitch to spare) is LONGER than its tow vehicle. Before each was about the same length (18.5') and now the Sequoia is about 1.5' shorter.
2. Some of that length came out of the wheelbase. Meaning I can make tighter turns now which make backing up even more of a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

I always found a longer trailer pin to axle made it easier to back in. A jet ski trailer behind my long bed crewcab was a huge pain. The 48 ft race trailer was a breeze.

j

 

[bama_ed]

Well, that's probably very true, @Teamubr .

The other change to adapt to is the 2016 Sequoia has a MUCH smoother, easier turn/wheel handling as opposed to my 2012 YukonXL. It almost feels like I'm driving a race car (in terms of handling) as opposed to a 1960s John Deere tractor.

Backing into my driveway on my narrow street (platted out when the Model A Ford was the vehicle of the day) had always been difficult (but doable) before but now with the tighter turn radius, one more extra "shimmy" to get lined up pays a WHOLE lot of dividends (easier to back down my narrow driveway).

Towing the Aliner with this new-to-me Toyota is literally like learning how to drive again.

ED

 

[tiggerdad]

Oh the memories of @Flametamr getting chewed on by the gate security at NAS Pensacola!

@Teamubr was treated like a foreign spy

Folks think I can get in some trouble...

 

[bama_ed]

Well, Tiggerdad, DW and I are down here for a little 3-night weekend trip. This was the first tow with the new-to-me TV and the Sequoia did fine. It truly does not hardly know the camper is back there. I got 14.5mpg on the way down (regular highway mpg is 17) of course something less but my prior YukonXL got about the same 14.5mpg but its regular highway mpg was 21). Made the trip in a splash over 5 hrs. I go T-town to Bham on I59 then take I65 south to Baldwin County thru Montgomery. Not the direct route and adds 5 minutes but its all interstate speed/cruising for 4 hours.



Leaving at 7am and getting into the area, I rolled over the (former) toll bridge off the Foley Beach Express and into Orange Beach (Canal Road) and hung a right into Gulf Shores for our traditional arrival day lunch at Original Oyster House. It's DW's favorite restaurant in town here.



Many restaurants like OOH have a Lunch menu separate from the Dinner menu which is less expensive so we will be doing lunches here this trip. I got the Friday special of Flounder Pontchartrain for $12.99 which comes with one side and sweet tea.



I liked the fresh sauteed slices of bell peppers and onions on top. It added a little crunch to the meal. DW got a cup of gumbo (on a health kick currently).

I've got a spot on the interior along Rabbit Road right next to a Comfort Station. It was a mostly sunny but crisp (52F) afternoon.



There was a group of snowbird campers across from us having a party/lunch with Mardi Gras decorations (green/gold/purple) and talking amongst each other having a big time.



After setting up I went for a 4-mile walk while DW took a nap and went by our corner of Live Oak and Sumac Roads where we will be staying in May/June 2025 for the DISMeet.



Here are pics of our campsites:

#1.



#2.



#3.



Then I turned around and took a pic of the Oak leaning next to the Comfort Station.



Will roll into a new post for more pics.

Ed

PS - and regarding my towing mpg, the Sequoia has more torque/horsepower than the YukonXL did and an axle ration of 4.30 vs 3.90 on the YXL.

PPS - in reading about towing capacity, axle ratios, etc. I learned that altitude affects towing capacity. For every 1000' of altitude you lose ~3.5% of capacity (air density changes the higher up you go). At 10,000' that means you only have 65% tow capacity. This is for gas engines and diesels lose less but still some in the same manner. Did not know this before.

 

[bama_ed]

I took a pic of #17 on the lake side because I have a reservation for it (another 3-night weekend) in the fall. That will be the first time in #17 but have stayed in #15 next to it several times.



Now on the other side of the Comfort Station along Sumac Road for campsites.

#60 My site during the DISMeet.





Puzzle time most mornings right here. Bring your own folding chair and coffee.

#61.



#62.



#63.



#64 which I don't think is part of our group but it has some shade so I took a pic of it for future reference to remember to choose it possibly in the future if need be.



Headed to DW's favorite used book store up in Foley this morning then maybe the GSP Fishing Pier this afternoon. Nap, walk, lunch, yada yada. As the Rusty Scupper often says, "TTFN" (Ta Ta For Now).

Ed

 

[Teamubr]

Wow! They look like they really cleared out a lot of brush down Summac. Thanks for the pics. My site (3) looks a lot more open than I remember.

@Teamubr was treated like a foreign spy

I was just telling that story to someone at work. The MP gate guards weren't taking anything from anybody. I bring my passport now.

Have a great weekend.

j

 

[4077]

I'm headed down to GSP this weekend for a 3-nighter. Given the cool temps (but no rain in the forecast), I'm NOT taking a lot of the normal beach camping stuff (bikes, EZUps, Blackstone, etc.).

What I AM taking is the electric blanket and space heaters.

Gonna try a practice tow with the new-to-me Toyota Sequoia this afternoon.

ED

Congrats on the “new-to-you”!

 

[wabbott]

Been a while, but we've dined at OOH. Good food.

 

[bama_ed]

Lazy day here is Gulf Shores. Weather was beautiful - crisp, low 60s, blue sky with high clouds, sunny.

Went to the bookstore in Foley this morn (DW's favorite) and killed 90 minutes. Then went to lunch at the new location of Duck's Diner in Gulf Shores next to the WalMart Supercenter (the old Hazel's location). DD has had a place in Orange Beach for 20 years but recently started this location. Their thing is breakfast-lunch service only and breakfast is available all of their hours. Lunch is mostly burgers, sandwiches, and salads; also a meat-and-3 type offering.



I got the Reuben and fries for $12.50 (LOVE me some crinkle cut fries) and DW got a 3-veg plate (healthy). Here is my meal.



The food took a while to come out of the kitchen but our server was good. The sandwich, while well made, was a little on the small side but with prices and such these days I shouldn't complain. We hope to come back for breakfast (DW's favorite meal of the day) Monday on the way out of town.



Went for a walk at the campground after lunch. But first I reserved this weekend for next year (also 3 nights). Hey @Teamubr, I got my 15% discount (finally eligible)! (or will be when I arrive next year).



Pretty day on the walk. Tried to stay in the sun when I could.



Coming up to the checkin building on my walk.



Here is the site I reserved for next year. If you drive down Sumac Road to the far end where the 2nd Comfort Station is, it's across Live Oak where the white pickup is (left of the Yield sign).



No shade but no care. Not in February.



Dinner back at the camper tonight. Up early for my 14th Half Marathon tomorrow.

ED

PS - low/mid 40s here for lows at night mitigated by ceramic heater during awake hours and an electric blanket while we sleep. The Aliner has a heat pump which works down to about 42F and below that is ineffective. It cools fine in summer though. Thing is it is right under our bed and I can put up with the noise if cooling but if not heating, nope. But we are comfortable.

PPS - getting 22mb/s downstream on the campground wifi. adequate.

 

[jbrostek]

@bama_ed You are right on those numbers for a NA gas engine. Turbo gas is about half at 1.5% due to compressing the induction air. A turbo diesel being a much more efficient burn so I would expect it to be around 0.5% loss per 1000ft.

Man seeing those sites I wish I was joining you all.

 

[bama_ed]

Rain sprinkles and 50F here before the start.

 

[tiggerdad]

Wow! They look like they really cleared out a lot of brush down Summac. Thanks for the pics. My site (3) looks a lot more open than I remember.


I was just telling that story to someone at work. The MP gate guards weren't taking anything from anybody. I bring my passport now.

Have a great weekend.

j

Yea, about 2 years ago they started clearing it out. Now on the front end of Sumac you can see the lake. Kinda weird now being on site 62 and waving and clearly seeing everyone on the sites on Live Oak.

 

[wabbott]

Went to the bookstore in Foley this morn (DW's favorite) and killed 90 minutes.

If ever you're over at the Ft Walton/Navarre/Destin area, here's the go to bookstore.

https://www.facebook.com/BookRackFWB/

 

[bama_ed]

So cloudy and 50 at the start of the Half. Rain sprinkles during mile 4 and mile 7. Radar map had green rain all over us and Baldwin County so I guess it didn't always make it down to the ground. Finished with a time that still is inside Disney's 3.5 hour cutoff for its half runs so I am satisfied.



Went back to camper, showered up, and headed to lunch at Desoto's.



Standing room only and waited 15 minutes for a table but it was worth it.



I splurged on the Stuffed Shrimp dish (broiled in butter, stuffed with crabmeat, and wrapped in bacon), fried green tomatoes, and au gratin casserole (and lots of refills of ice water and diet Coke).



While we were eating the steady, cold rain came and won't stop till morning. The rain for today had been in the forecast even as of yesterday to arrive about 2pm today. Obviously it showed up early and is staying late. We went to our favorite ice cream shop (decades of memories there with the kids) called Scoops on Hwy 59. It is next to Papa Rocco's Pizza.





I got two scoops of Chocolate Moose Tracks and DW got one scoop of vanilla with hot fudge syrup.



Then back to the camper for a long, needed afternoon nap.

Gonna listen to the rain and sleep well tonight.

Home in the AM. Back next with the DIS gang for the Meet in 3 months.

Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

Lazy day here is Gulf Shores. Weather was beautiful - crisp, low 60s, blue sky with high clouds, sunny.

Went to the bookstore in Foley this morn (DW's favorite) and killed 90 minutes. Then went to lunch at the new location of Duck's Diner in Gulf Shores next to the WalMart Supercenter (the old Hazel's location). DD has had a place in Orange Beach for 20 years but recently started this location. Their thing is breakfast-lunch service only and breakfast is available all of their hours. Lunch is mostly burgers, sandwiches, and salads; also a meat-and-3 type offering.



I got the Reuben and fries for $12.50 (LOVE me some crinkle cut fries) and DW got a 3-veg plate (healthy). Here is my meal.



The food took a while to come out of the kitchen but our server was good. The sandwich, while well made, was a little on the small side but with prices and such these days I shouldn't complain. We hope to come back for breakfast (DW's favorite meal of the day) Monday on the way out of town.



Went for a walk at the campground after lunch. But first I reserved this weekend for next year (also 3 nights). Hey @Teamubr, I got my 15% discount (finally eligible)! (or will be when I arrive next year).



Pretty day on the walk. Tried to stay in the sun when I could.



Coming up to the checkin building on my walk.



Here is the site I reserved for next year. If you drive down Sumac Road to the far end where the 2nd Comfort Station is, it's across Live Oak where the white pickup is (left of the Yield sign).

Ed, we stayed on that site Easter Weekend 2022, not bad at all, except if sitting outside at night, headlights coming down Sumac could be annoying at times, but not a deal breaker.

 

[garneska]

Congrats on the race @bama_ed too bad about the rain but 50 for race start sounds nice.

We are in ohio this weekend. The spring trip to do the taxes. We drove all day on Saturday but only took 10.75 hours with stops, that is pretty normal. Whisky is enjoying the snow while she has it. Ohio was quite cold when we got here but there is rain tomorrow and warmer temps (though not warm) so the snow will be gone.

Taxes are not completed yet. Worked on them all day Sunday (minus a mid day cold run) and then Bert's cousin came for dinner on Sunday night. I have to finish up the taxes tonight. Head back to Atlanta on Saturday.

 

[bama_ed]

Taxes are not completed yet. Worked on them all day Sunday (minus a mid day cold run) and then Bert's cousin came for dinner on Sunday night. I have to finish up the taxes tonight. Head back to Atlanta on Saturday.

I hear you, (Bert and) Kris.

I have done the taxes for my parents the last couple years; not complicated but an extra step. The benefit is that I can see my future 20+ years ahead when the time comes.

 

[bama_ed]

I found a Gulf Shores news website to pass on. It aggregates articles from various feeds.

www.gulfshoresnews.com

Now before I put the news item out there, let me tell you what i/we are up against.

People (in a general sense) are more familiar with the Florida Gulf Coast than the Alabama Gulf Coast. For one thing, Florida has a long continuous stretch from Pensacola past Panama City, Destin, Fort Walton, 30A (where the 'beautiful people go'), Apalachicola, etc. But because Alabama has very little Gulf Coastline (Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in the west, Dauphin Island to the east), it is not as well known and therefore looked down upon as "inferior" because if it was "superior" then more people would know about it, right?

I'm not suffering from a chip on my shoulder. The Bama Gulf Coast is mockingly referred to as the "Redneck Riviera" (which I embrace, by the way, having been to the French Riviera 3x in my life [thus far]). But Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have, for decades, been trying to improve the life of their citizens and be a FAMILY destination.

One thing they have in their favor is a small airport in Gulf Shores (Jack Edwards Airport). While nearby Pensacola has an airport with service from airlines including SouthWest, JEA has been planning and building for the day that it can provide passenger service to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach (south Baldwin County) area. News of that is coming closer with two rental car companies setting up for service when Allegiant Airlines starts service in May.

https://www.obawebsite.com/gulf-shores-airport-adds-hertz-and-dollar-ahead-of-new-flights

@Teamubr, it says Allegiant will have service from St. Louis/Bellville Airport to JEA in May also, possibly that might be a direct pipeline for you from your home in IL to our little corner of paradise down here.

https://www.obawebsite.com/gulf-shores-airport-adds-hertz-and-dollar-ahead-of-new-flights

Maybe you could take that direct flight to check on your retirement home here in LA (Lower Alabama) before you transition down here full time? Just sayin' .....

Bama Ed

 

[wabbott]

Been going to the Gulf Coast ever since I was a six-year old in 1956. The first trip was Pensacola Beach, and we've been to just about every beach from one end to the other, from Dauphin Island to Port St. Joe.

We leave in 2 1/2 weeks for Destin and PC Beach. The entire coast is the most beautiful stretch of beach anywhere on Planet Earth.

Period.