The Gulf State Park Tradition...

[tigger92662]

Today was beach day and we saw a dolphin swimming nearby. Couldn't get a good pic though

 

[tiggerdad]

Beautiful morning. Ed already reported on the puzzle. The bike ride afterwards wasn't hot at all. The trails here for most part are well shaded, level, and either paved or raised 2x6 decking which produces a rhythmic clicking sound as the tires roll over it.





By the time we got back my crew was finally waking up and had their sites set on the beach.


Was planning to take pics of the aircraft as they went by but the only flybys were the local wildlife.


We had leftover turkey with dinner rolls for lunch. The girls then broke out our ancient blender (we bought a new one for the house so the hand me down from my grandparents ended up in camper.


Strawberry and pineapple were tonight's options.

 

[tiggerdad]

Oh, today's haul from the beach "mines"

 

[bama_ed]

Yesterday afternoon turned out pretty well for us.

I researched how to do a pan fried oyster po-boy. In the end, I followed the instructions on the side of my pint of Gulf oysters.



P&E Seafood is a small firm between Mobile and Dauphin Island on the "western shore" of Mobile Bay in Irvington.



Let me say I had no idea what I was doing. I'm not a big "fry guy" although I know the basics. But I had plenty of paper towels, paper plates, clorox wipes, and time on my hands. Here was my process - drain and dry the oysters:



Use an egg wash (2 eggs and a little h2o) and cornmeal mixed with a touch of flour with Old Bay, salt, pepper.



One difference in my pint container instructions from the other recipes I'd read was to double-roll in the cornmeal. As in oyster goes into the cornmeal mix, then roll through the egg mix, then BACK to the cornmeal. Set out to dry slightly.



I got my Texas Toast buttered and browned at this point.



My corn oil from home came to the beach with me so I heated it up (about 3/4 inch) and fried the oysters for about 2-3 minutes per side in two batches.







I think I had 17 oysters total.

To make the sandwiches, I had shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, mayo, and lemons. Some dill pickles would have been nice but didn't have any.



The build out and the taste test in the next post.

Ed

 

[bama_ed]

The double cornmeal roll method produced crisp (but not too thick) breading on the oysters. I could only get 4-5 on each sandwich.





It was DARN GOOD!



The bonus for last night was that @SouthAlabama5er came by the state park after dinner with DW and visited at @tiggerdad's site for a while. He had taken his boat out for the day and was on his way home. It was good to sit and listen to him talk. @Flametamr came by and joined in. Randy and DW are coming back over today for the Pensacola NAS Museum/Blue Angel visit.

So like I said, it was a good day.

Ed

 

[4077]

Yesterday afternoon turned out pretty well for us.

I researched how to do a pan fried oyster po-boy. In the end, I followed the instructions on the side of my pint of Gulf oysters.



P&E Seafood is a small firm between Mobile and Dauphin Island on the "western shore" of Mobile Bay in Irvington.



Let me say I had no idea what I was doing. I'm not a big "fry guy" although I know the basics. But I had plenty of paper towels, paper plates, clorox wipes, and time on my hands. Here was my process - drain and dry the oysters:



Use an egg wash (2 eggs and a little h2o) and cornmeal mix with a touch of flour with Old Bay, salt, pepper.



One difference in my pint container instructions from the other recipes I'd read was to double-roll in the cornmeal. As in oyster into the cornmeal mix, then roll through the egg mix, then BACK to the cornmeal. Set out to dry slightly.



I got my Texas Toast buttered and browned at this point.



My corn oil from home came to the beach with me so I heated it up (about 3/4 inch) and fried the oysters for about 2-3 minutes per side in two batches.







I think I had 17 oysters total.

To make the sandwiches, I had shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, mayo, and lemons. Some dill pickles would have been nice but didn't have any.



The build out and the taste test in the next post.

Ed

Impressed so far with how the oysters look at the end of this post... onward to the final sandwich result to see....

 

[bama_ed]

The puzzle results after morning #4.



We had lots of people helping today. We are DEFINITELY on the downhill side now.

Ed

 

[tigger92662]

On the ferry from Ft. Morgan to Dauphin Island

 

[tiggerdad]

Today was trying our best to get the group together over at NAS Pensacola to watch the Blue Angels. Each time we have tried something has managed to happen at the front gate to mess it up. This year, unfortunately, it happened again. Just because you have a photo state drivers license it does not guarantee entry on base. This regrettably prevented some of our friends from being able to attend.

We decided to watch the BA perform and skip the museum which my family and I have actually visited before.

To start the show was "Fat Albert" the c130 who accompanies the Blue Angels. Starts off with normal takeoff.

For a big plane they make a quick altitude climb

A couple flybys for Albert

Once Albert was back on the ground the BA started taking up positions. The two solo planes taxied down to our end of the runway.


The diamond 4 then took off, doing a few sets of maneuvers.


Our pair then took off to join the show.


Close pattern flying by the diamond group.

 

[tiggerdad]

More of the show


Unfortunately part way in the #3 plane developed complications and had to pull out of the group so we went to planes.


Several stunts of coming in tight then fanning out

 

[tiggerdad]

Still showing, some really close "let's meet up at the same place" kinda flying.

There were many more pics but they just don't do the pilot's justice.

 

[tiggerdad]

As I'm outside people watching one of my friends came by to visit.

 

[bama_ed]

Nice day today with friends. I love listening to the just-sit-around-and-talk-and-tell-stories part.

For supper tonight I cooked a red snapper filet in butter, olive oil, and blackened seasoning (Zatarains this time) in the skillet. The filet was $8-9 at Blalock's and turned out really good. I put some microwave herbed rice and canned peaches with it (and the obligatory pinot grigio).







In the morning I plan puzzling for morning #5 and another long walk around GSP and the yuge trail system. Then maybe my last run to the grocery store while here. Chance of a quick rain shower overnight so I'll drop the easy-up tonight but the amount of forecasted rain is small so at most a quick moving brief shower. Winds were gusty today 25mph and was strong while puzzling and tomorrow is expected to be the same.

Ed

PS - and for the record, @4077, our @SouthAlabama5er/randy came over again this morning with DW to visit the Blue Angels and he did put some puzzle pieces into our current project before we headed out. I got misty-eyed knowing that our four original puzzlers had all puzzled again this year along with all our other DISbuds like Jim and his DS. It was actually CROWDED around the puzzle table this morning.

 

[4077]

and for the record, @4077, our @SouthAlabama5er/randy came over again this morning with DW to visit the Blue Angels and he did put some puzzle pieces into our current project

...noted

 

[bama_ed]

It is finished on morning #5. Michael and I wrapped it up today.

 

[tiggerdad]

Yesterday we went to the pier for some evening viewing. Looking towards Gulf Shores


This was east with the Gulf Coast Lodge then Orange Beach further down the beach


Was actually crowding up pretty good for evening fishing.


From the end of the pier I took a pic looking back into GSP


Final pic of Gulf Shores before it got too dark.

 

[North of Mouse]

It is finished on morning #5. Michael and I wrapped it up today.

Love it!! I'm a big Eeyore (and his friends, of course) fan! Also a big puzzle fan -
Have been following y'all's Dis Meet and have enjoyed it vicariously very much!

 

[bama_ed]

Today turned out to be a really beautiful day. We did get some light rain early this morning (we had puddles on the pavement at sunrise) and it was cloudy and overcast at first but it got better during the morning.

The puzzle worked itself out for us and I'm glad we got it done today. Gives me a chance to do some other things tomorrow morning.

After the puzzle, @tiggerdad and I went off on a bike ride again. This one was 12.6 miles and we tried to choose different segments than those we chose in the first ride a few days ago. We did run over the boardwalk/bridge that had been closed to us previously. Fresh new lumber on both sides of the railings and floor boards. Here was our track:



At the highest point (in elevation) of our ride about mile 2.5-3.0, there is an overlook across the tops of the trees toward the ocean, condos, and the blue water tank. You can see condo buildings well into Orange Beach.



The Rosemary Dunes Trail crosses the waterway connecting Middle Lake with the smaller lake to the NE. An elevated board walk gives a nice view down toward our campground and then 180-degrees in the other direction up toward the smaller lake.





Past mile 12 we passed a gaggle of kayakers in the water. They made for a colorful picture.



After hydrating post-ride, I went to Blalock's Seafood again and got some flounder filets for dinner tonight. After lunch and cruising the internet, I got my book and sat in the shade in my hammock and read until I dozed off. Did I mention today was a beautiful day? Let's look in the direction of @tiggerdad's camper.



I ran the flounder through my egg wash and coated them with italian bread crumbs and cooked them in the electric skillet in melted butter and olive oil. I paired them with the leftover canned peaches and spanish rice. Yummy.



Tomorrow is my last full day here and dinner will be whatever is left on the pantry shelf before I load up.

Ed

PS - last night I sat outside listening and talking with @tigger92662/Joe and @Teamubr and their families. Ilsa, Joe and his DW's little dog who barks at me (and many others and bares her teeth) was in @tigger92662 DW's chair in a blanket and she was at least quiet. I still made faces at her when she picked her head up and looked at me. Ilsa punches above her weight class, I'll tell ya.

 

[tiggerdad]

Ed is correct, beautiful day indeed. Spent most of day around camper lounging. We did venture out this evening to The Yard. Our neighbors daughter came down to stay rest of the week and had never been. She and my youngest DD got the s'mores.


I got Cereal Killer, as I'm actually a Fruity Pebbles fan.


Went back to Souvenir City and then the pier before coming back to the camper.

Girls wanna do AlligatorAlley tomorrow and mini golf so we'll head up north to Summerdale in the morning and work our way back south.

 

[bama_ed]

It's about 6pm local time and I have packed up the outside stuff and hitched the trailer to the truck for a quick getaway tomorrow morning. It's been a great visit getting to visit with folks.

- @tiggerdad, thanks for breaking down my puzzle today. Take care of your girls.
- @Flametamr, you came by today to work puzzles but since it was done, we had a great chat.
- @tigger92662, I said goodbye tonight and good luck with your future plans. Hope to see you soon.
- @Teamubr, thanks to you, DW, DS and friends/family for coming to the Gulf Coast. Come back soon!



No sunrise picture this morning because it was much cloudy (see above). Not unusual as the moisture builds up overnight (creating clouds) and then they burn off during the daytime heat for a pretty day. Here about 5pm, it was beautiful (again) over @tiggerdad's trailer.



Not much is left outside. I have loaded the bike on the front trailer bike rack, hitched onto the trailer ball:



And you can see in the previous pic I've cranked UP the front jacks (trailer resting on the hitch ball) and only have the rear jacks down:



Plus the 30amp plug and chocks to put away. This is how I roll into Lake Louisa State Park near Fort Wilderness for a 1 night stay prior to FW arrival. LLSP is about $35 to roll up and plug in (staying hitched, dropping rear jacks, and plugging in). It makes for a quick getaway to the Fort in the early morning. In a similar vein, I'd like to get home around noon tomorrow because things are happening over the weekend and next week.

A HUGE thank you for everyone who came to visit us, ate with us, talked with us, puzzled with us, and laughed with us. We hope to see you all again real soon.

Bama Ed

PS - @tiggerdad/Michael, thanks for you and DW arranging this DISMeet starting over a year ago and being the hub of activity. We appreciate your leadership.

PPS - 6.2 mile walk before lunch today in the morning heat. Straight up the main campground road and parallel trail/boardwalk, out the rear (becomes Catman Trail), turn around at the glamping Outpost tents, back home.