The Gulf State Park Tradition...

[Teamubr]

I had not clicked on the al.com link quoted above until today.

Did you see the stair wells 75ft up in to the air to walk across the IC? Who is going to want to climb those stairs?

I didn't click on the link either until now, but 2 interesting things.

The article says the "detour ... moves northbound Orange Beach traffic along East 22nd." No specific mention of southbound traffic. In the picture showing the barrels and detour sign, it isn't clear, but it almost looks like the southbound lane is open. I wonder if the 90 degree turn will become one way (southbound) and northbound get the zig zag.



And the pedestrian bridge looks really nice. I have seen people walking northbound on the 59 bridge, but I'm not sure how many of them will come over to this new one.

The article did say, near the bottom, that the pedestrian bridge would have both stairs and elevators. While 75ft of stairs is not fun, I'm not sure an enclosed glass box in 90 degree sun is a good idea either. Maybe for $24 million, it will be air conditioned.

"When it is completed, the bridge will have a stair and elevator towers on both the north and south ends. Each stairwell has 144 stairs. Each tower also has freight-sized elevators large enough to accommodate at least three bicyclists and three people at once."

j

 

[bama_ed]

 

[Teamubr]

Safe travels. Hopefully you miss the storms and let us know when you get there.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

The squirrel has landed!

He's soaking wet because it has rained hard non stop all the way from Meridian to site 61. Once it stops we'll get setup and some pics

Jim,
That ugly turn left into GSP is actually much better! They've cleared the brush back so you can see back around the curve and tell what's coming now.

 

[tiggerdad]

We are set up now. I kid you folks not. It has been raining non stop all day and literally 5 minutes before @bama_ed pulls in here the sun comes out shining. Unbelievable I know, but total truth.



Site 61 with tons of room.


They have really opened up the woods behind the site so you can see the lake from here.




I got sketchy looking fella behind me with an odd rig. Will have to keep an eye on him.

 

[4077]

It's beginning!

 

[bama_ed]

I think @tiggerdad and I both had a fun-filled ( ) drive in this morning during some hard rains. Mine lasted 4 hours till I got down I-65 to get off at Bay Minette (leaving a little more than an hour to the beach). Slowed down to 50mph at times, drove with flashers on at times, but kept driving.

Gassed up at Buc-cees on the Baldwin Beach Express and it was a complete ZOO inside. Tons of people and cashier lines back to the bathroom entrance.

But the rain had stopped and cars were out and about. Jim, I went over the old toll bridge and turned left (wished I hadn't). Big back up to make the right hand turn onto the connector.

But got set up at Gulf State Park in #60 across from the Comfort Station on Sumac Rd and made a run to WM for some initial groceries and an extension cord. This site has good all-day shade protection.

Here is my set-up from the front:



And my set-up from the rear:



@tiggerdad invited me to go along with the family to the traditional 1st night dinner place at Gulf Island Grill on the Beach Highway and I got the GIG Ya-ya again:



Their menu describes it this way:

GULF ISLAND YA-YA $23

Shrimp, chicken, Andouille sausage, peppers, onions, and
tomatoes covered in our rich garlic cheddar sauce on a bed
of Caribbean rice. Served with garlic bread.

I had enough left over to take back to the camper for lunch tomorrow.

It has really turned out to be a pleasant evening (no more rain so far today) although we still expect a little bit tonight and tomorrow afternoon.



Main thing on my agenda tomorrow is to get a haircut. Puzzling will begin on Saturday morning.

Just waiting for more DIS folks to arrive on Saturday.


Ed

PS - the shaved ice truck vendor is making the rounds with some happy Caribbean music playing.




PPS - campground wifi running at 10-12 Mbps both up and down. Of course the campground is full.

 

[Teamubr]

Glad you both made it in safe and sound. Sounds like I may skip the old toll bridge and jog over to 59 before the big turn to the bridge. Looks like Jerry (1), Joe (2) and my site (3) are all occupied. We don't plan on being in until mid afternoon Saturday, so should be good.

The week forecast for GSP looks great. I saw there was a tornado warning this morning for north Mobile/North Baldwin Co. It seems the rain has moved north to me. I don't think we were supposed to have much rain today. They said maybe a scattered shower late this evening.

Naturally, it's been raining steady since noon. 60s all day. Supposed to be gone after midnight and dry and 70s tomorrow.



j

 

[tiggerdad]

Had lunch at Gulf Island Grill. Ed joined us and good conversation was, as always, had.

Had the usual Ya-Ya which is always enough for 2 meals


After myself and family walked down to the beach.


Gonna start the morning at the dreaded outlet mall but at least that scare will be over.

Oh yeah, on walk back from the beach

 

[tiggerdad]

I saw there was a tornado warning this morning for north Mobile/North Baldwin Co.

Yes, two of them actually. The first was in Saraland, we were close enough to get the text message but we were actually behind the storm. The second was on Mobile Bay Bridge and Spanish Fort. Again, we were just behind the warning but no damage that I'm aware of.

 

[Flametamr]

Glad everyone made thru the storm. The rain has put me two days behind packing. But I will be there Saturday by lunch regardless. I’m going to have to make several trips home anyway for va medical stuff. See you guys soon.

 

[tiggerdad]

For the first time in a few years the cats are camping with us. Day two they are finally settling in.

Dewey is perched in the window waiting for Ed to return to his site


Hewey can be seen in the back corner of the lower bunk while Lewey has chosen the high ground.


Kids thought it nice to give them fireside dining


If you notice the cat shaped hole on the right, I replaced the wood panel there with 1/2" stained wood and put that in. That's an under the bed storage area. You access it by lifting up mattress. Under there is their litter box and an air purifier.

 

[Teamubr]

Very nice. Don't give Donna any ideas. She always feels bad when we leave ours at home.

On a route note, Is the Canal left turn at Tacky Jacks open for Southbound (towards GSP)? I couldn't tell if it was just Northbound that was rerouted.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

Very nice. Don't give Donna any ideas. She always feels bad when we leave ours at home.

On a route note, Is the Canal left turn at Tacky Jacks open for Southbound (towards GSP)? I couldn't tell if it was just Northbound that was rerouted.

j

Jim

They have you turn left one block before Tack Jacks then you can take the first right and go back over and then continue south. I was able to make the turns with no trouble.

 

[bama_ed]

It's been a good day here so far. Weather is warm, a little humid, breezy, and light small clouds in a big blue sky.

This morning started off with finishing with set-up things like blowing the site clean:


And hanging up Old Glory:



After a morning church service, I headed to my Barber-at-the-Beach building and dang it - it was closed for refurbishment. So I had to scramble but found a barber who would take a walk-in (had to go to Orange Beach where he was and you KNOW how I feel about that).

Back for some left-over Ya-Ya at lunchtime then hung the string lights around the EZ-Up and strapped it to the picnic table (prevailing breeze is from the rear of my site toward @tiggerdad across the road (from the SW). I was ready next to go out and about on my trusty two-wheeled steed (bike) so I mounted up and road down to the Camper's Beach (across from the turn-in off the Beach Hwy to GSP Campground by the big blue water tank). Technically it is name Branyon Beach for Hugh Branyon, the former GSP Superintendent for several decades, who retired some years ago.



Yellow flag surf conditions and breezy but the wave action was pretty slight.



On the boardwalk and over the dunes we go.













Time to head back to the bike and set off for destination #2.

Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Sadly, this fella didn't survive trying to cross the Beach Hwy.



I was headed for the recently reopened Fishing Pier, FINALLY repaired after a hurricane blew out some boards and a few entire sections. I did not get over to the Pier on my last trip in February. As a campground guest, Pier access is complimentary but you have to take a photo of your dashboard parking pass and show it to gain access. Your parking pass also covers parking in the paid Pier lot.







I came across 2 teenage boys who had just each caught a spanish mackrel (with minnows).







Then I got to the end of the pier.



Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Some fellas were fishing straight down (rather than casting out) to catch whatever was swimming around the pier legs.



The new "upper deck" on the end was locked off.



The far end of the pier is a busy place with lots of anglers at the rail.



There was a shark down in the water and a manta ray jumped out twice to tease us. But you have to be careful out here. There are thieves who will try to steal your bait.





The guy at the rail in the straw hat has NO idea what is happening behind him.

Headed back to my bike, here is what was being caught today.



With all the fisherman, bait, sharks, and other aquatic life immediately near the pier, there is a sign at the pier beach area (EVERY PERSON walks past it to get to the beach) saying to stay 100 yards away from the pier if you get in the water. Makes sense since your pinky toe could like like a small bait shrimp on a hook to a shark. Note sign lower right and pier leg middle left.



Of course, folks ignore the sign.



I guess they come from the shallow end of their family's gene pool.

Back to the campground on my steed I go. Still warm and breezy.



Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I have to brag on ol' @tiggerdad.

He put on a shrimp boil tonight that was delicious.







The conversation was great and the company even better.

Tomorrow I hope to get up early enough to get some sunrise photos and then the 1st puzzling morning. It will be the boring seperating-the-straights-from-the-non-straights which usually take one morning. Then in the afternoon lots of folks will arrive and Sunday morning we can get down to some serious piece-work. I hope everyone arrives safely.

ED

 

[tiggerdad]

Spent the morning shoring up the local economy in Foley at the outlets. Just me, 14 shopping bags, and my Pina colada.


I actually took a midday nap today. Honestly cannot remember when I last did that. I woke up to find Dewey, completely exhausted still looking for @bama_ed .


The shrimp boil went great with enough left for lunch tomorrow. Plan to catch sunrise as well in the morning but possibly on the bike. Will join Ed in separating the puzzle pieces and then spend the day on the beach.

Safe travels folks.