Who Wants To Try a DIS-Meet At Gulf State Park In May-June 2016?

[tiggerdad]

Good deal, she and my oldest are same age.

 

[Teamubr]

Question for those that have been to GSP. How far is the beach from the cg? I'm bringing down our bikes, but DW is really not a bike rider. She's actually terrible at it, but bought a bike with her friend 2 years ago. It mostly stays in the shed, but it's coming with us to GSP.

You may actually see me riding it. When you're going a short distance or out for an easy stroll, it's easier to ride her ladies model beach cruiser than it is my big dollar road bike.

j

 

[bama_ed]

Question for those that have been to GSP. How far is the beach from the cg? I'm bringing down our bikes, but DW is really not a bike rider. She's actually terrible at it, but bought a bike with her friend 2 years ago. It mostly stays in the shed, but it's coming with us to GSP.

You may actually see me riding it. When you're going a short distance or out for an easy stroll, it's easier to ride her ladies model beach cruiser than it is my big dollar road bike.

j

Jim,

From your site to the beach at the intersection of State Park Road #2 and the beach highway which is Hwy 182 it is exactly 1 mile. There are two ways to get there which differ for the first half of the trip and are common for the second half. The distance is the same either way.

From your site #70 on Sumac, you can walk/ride right out the main road by the check-in/check-out/office building to Park Road #2 by the big blue water tank, hang a left, and walk/ride to the beach. There is a sidewalk on either side of the bridge across the canal and there is a 1-2 foot paved shoulder on both sides (and grass further over for walking) of the road other than the bridge.

The alternative route does not take you out by the campground office but over by my site #4 and out the canal pull-through sites. The map shows a circle/cul-de-sac on the end but there is a locked gate across some gravel and a wooden bridge across a ditch for walkers and I take my bike this way all the time since I like to stay on the lake or across from it when I can. Then you come out on Park Road #2 and get to the beach the same way. It is easily traversed by walkers or bike riders.

Personally I have no issue going either way - it is "six" one way and "half dozen" the other. I usually go down the second way past the pull-through sites simply because it is a more direct route from where I usually am.

If you look at the aerial Google Maps satellite there is a small sand parking lot at the intersection of Hwy 182 and Park Road #2 on the west side with room for about 8-10 cars. There are buttons on the red light posts to operate the crosswalk for walkers/bikers across the highway. On the beach side of this "upside down T" is a boardwalk to the beach. At the start of it is a bike rack in case one is biking along with a flag pole that will indicate surf conditions (sign next to it).

Short answer: you can walk or bike to the beach from where you are. The distance is exactly 1 mile. There is a big Beach Pavilion to the east on the Beach Hwy about a mile down the road with bathrooms and picnic tables and chair/umbrella rentals (free parking for campers if you have your dashboard campground sign) which is further on down. I like the beach at the end of Park Road #2 myself because it is not as crowded but we go so often we spend at most 2 hours at the beach and often less. It's good for a walk or a visit - but it has no facilities.

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

Short answer: you can walk or bike to the beach from where you are. The distance is exactly 1 mile. There is a big Beach Pavilion to the east on the Beach Hwy about a mile down the road with bathrooms and picnic tables and chair/umbrella rentals (free parking for campers if you have your dashboard campground sign) which is further on down. I like the beach at the end of Park Road #2 myself because it is not as crowded but we go so often we spend at most 2 hours at the beach and often less. It's good for a walk or a visit - but it has no facilities.

Thanks Ed,

Looks like I'll probably be driving most trips to the beach. DS and I would be fine with the bike ride. For DW, it is probably a little far, plus, she likes to take a bag or two worth of beach stuff.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

Got started on my campsite decorations

 

[tiggerdad]

So I just got off the phone and completed my early check-in. The intent is to help move the large numbers of campers into GSP quicker over the holiday weekend. Currently they are promoting it on the busy holidays but she said you can now do a full early check-in on any reservation if you wish.

Before, when you arrived at GSP you had to get out of your vehicle and go inside the building and stand in line and then pay off the remaining balance, give a driver's license number, birth date, and auto tag number. Then they put together your packet and handed it to you. Sometimes it might only take 10 minutes, sometimes 30 depending on the lines. Now you will be able to go in, show your DL at a separate check-in line for those of us who did the early check-in, and your packet is already put together and you're out the door. Pretty simple. I'm glad to see them doing this.

Also, I found out yesterday that I can take another week in July for vacation so I went ahead and booked Sumac Road again for July 17-23, site 63 I believe.

I even asked some questions on the new road closure and plan there. The intent is to use the existing park road 2 for a trail, but also to maintain it for use by trams. She said the intent is to be able to service the convention center when it is rebuilt and they want to use the road to facilitate trams to move guests and not have to deal with regular traffic. She said that plan is really early and not well detailed at this time, but they wanted to go ahead and get started on the trail upgrades and have them in place ahead of time.

Deep down I can't help but wonder if they were really looking for a reason to close that road because it was proposed to make another access road through the park from Canal Road to facilitate getting other vacationers out of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The original proposal considered using part of park road 2 for that access. May never know, either way, I'm glad to see more trails.

 

[Teamubr]

I got a call yesterday. Even though I'm coming in Saturday afternoon, I figured anything that speeds me up getting to my site and the beach is a win

j

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Sounds good Michael,

 

[Flametamr]

I also did the early check in. When I asked if we had to come inside she said no. They would have my packet ready when I arrived. Maybe I misunderstood but I told her this was a good idea because I hated going inside and waiting. So I guess we'll have to see how they really handle it when Michael arrives Thursday.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

I shared this Michael today, just trying to get him ramped up for GSP. He insisted that I shared it on here.

It's nice video other than the Auburn items I seen, but atleast it's not that "other" Tiger from the down on the bayou...

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

No need for a cruise to enjoy a zipline, Gulf State Park has a very nice setup for those thrill seekers, me, I like to keep my feet on the ground.

 

[bama_ed]

Whew, that zipline is expensive Randy. $79 per adult.

I'll get my folding chair out in the parking lot and watch you do it.



Those Cajun Tigers give you problems? Just remind them of their last time in the sun in the Rematch:



And don't worry about the video using Auburn fans. You have to kinda feel sorry for them playing Clemson first game of this coming season. The Fighting Dabo's will be angry at the SEC still and poor Gus won't know what hit him.



How many days till kick-off? At this point in the year, every team is undefeated and optimistic about their chances.

Bama Ed

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

I know this is a pretty long video, but the Gulf Quest Maritime Museum is one of Mobile's new attractions. I haven't been myself but my DW and DS have been and they enjoyed it. I had planned on going there while I'm home. If I'm not mistaken it's around $30 a person and teachers get in free. (My DW is a 1st grade teacher)

I just wanted to share incase anyone was trying to plan something to do.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Ed, there is 105 days 1 hour and 22 minutes until the 2016/2017 College football season. (Gotta love Google)

And at $79 a person there will probably be alot of us sitting in our chairs was no one zipline.

 

[tiggerdad]

Not this guy.

Last year I promised my oldest I would take her on the ziplines, but then my wife had to come home for two days for work so we missed out on our chance. No way she is letting me off this year.

So, bring your chairs and I'll provide some entertainment for all of you.

I wonder, that one zipline goes over the lake right? I wonder just how many alligators have been sitting there, just under the surface, repeatedly getting all excited as potential snacks went by overhead.

 

[tiggerdad]

Just for the record, the cover came off the camper yesterday.

Oh, I tried something out. I looked online and found some LED replacement bulbs that I thought might be a good idea for putting in the camper for better light and less watts. These were the listed bulbs to replace my current 921 bulbs that my camper uses. Not a good move. They actually put off significantly less light and it didn't take me long at all to put the old ones back in.

So, if any you see some Hot System LED bulbs, my advice is save your money.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Thanks for the heads up on the LED lights, I wanna change them out too because of the heat that they put off.

 

[tiggerdad]

Maybe another brand is better? I don't recommend these things unless you are just wanting to reduce pull on the battery if you are dry camping.

 

[Teamubr]

I've been thinking all weekend... 2 more weeks and we'll be at the beach. We are camping in central Illinois this weekend. It was low 70s yesterday. A front went through last evening with some pretty good rain and winds. Woke up this morning and it was about 40 with 25mph winds. Wind chill was low 30s... I've had a sweatshirt and jacket on all day. The high was 53. And I just kept thinking I'll be on the beach soon.

j

 

[bama_ed]

I've been thinking all weekend... 2 more weeks and we'll be at the beach. We are camping in central Illinois this weekend. It was low 70s yesterday. A front went through last evening with some pretty good rain and winds. Woke up this morning and it was about 40 with 25mph winds. Wind chill was low 30s... I've had a sweatshirt and jacket on all day. The high was 53. And I just kept thinking I'll be on the beach soon.

j

Jim,

At this stage (2 weeks) before a beach vacation, I start peeking at the Accuweather forecast for Gulf Shores. I know, KNOW that it's not very accurate at 2 weeks but it helps give me something more to look forward to. Here is what it says for Gulf Shores as of this morning:


When I see the big yellow orb most days, the little spatch of words underneath doesn't really matter. This is why I like going this time of year.

Bama Ed