In search of sunshine...

We spent the winter at home and were grateful for the mild temps and lack of white stuff.  By March we were both ready to hit the road again.  April fools day we headed south, hoping to find some sunshine and warm breezes on the gulf coast.

We stopped at Gunter Hill campground an Army Corp of Engineer park outside Montgomery, AL for a couple nights.  Not expecting anything special, just a good place to catch our breath before continuing south to the coast.  Glad we did because we enjoyed two evenings listening to the Montgomery Dulcimer club.  There were approximately 40 musicians, with just about as many different kinds of instruments.  They only get together a couple times a year and they just gather at campgrounds and sit around and play.  It was a real treat!

 This is called a cigar box guitar.  The man that made this was there.  He had several for sale.

The large one on the right is called a marimbula, like a bass fiddle only with paddles instead of strings.

 Here you can see a couple hammer dulcimers

                                                        a mountain dulcimer

There were all ages, but regrettably we fear it will become a lost art.

April 4th we arrived at Davis Bayou campground, part of the Gulf Shores National Seashore, just outside Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  Very nice small ground, only about 40 sites.

Our site surrounded by some magnificent magnolia trees

Our cousins Mike and Michelle MacLain live in Biloxi and they came over one evening for a cookout, forgot to get their picture, darn!

Rog behind the camper in the vegetation

One day we took a ferry out to Ship Island. What fun.  Nice ride, beautiful weather, great scenery.

The ferrys

The harbor

Ship Island is a National Park.  Fort Massachusetts still stands, built in the early 1800's.

 Jack was our tour guide in the fort, you could tell he loved telling everyone about this (his) national treasure.

This cannon was never actually fired.

 On the beach on Ship Island

It was a great day, and yes, we had to buy the picture.

We spent some time walking within Davis Bayou, spotted some interesting residents.

Yes, that is an alligator.

Can you find the gecko?

 and turtles

We took some nice bike rides, met with our snowbird neighbors Bernie and Debbie over in Gulf Port for lunch at the Cajun Crawfish, didn't have crawfish, it was fun to have lunch with them and watch the ocean.

Rog had crawfish the next day though,,,shouldn't play with your food,,,ha ha

We were there a week, last Monday the 11th we headed here to Fort Pickens campground on Santa Rosa Island off the coast of Pensacola.  This is another of the campgrounds associated with the Gulf Island National Seashore.  Kennen and Terri are here with us, till Saturday, then they are headed back home.  The weather hasn't been the best, rained alot in fact but we have still managed to have a good time with them.

Anita and Terri on the beach

Our campsite with our own pond.

We've been over to the Pensacola Naval Air Station. The Blue Angels practice couple times a week.  We were able to watch a little of a practice, but the weather got cruddy so they stopped.  We enjoyed the Naval Air Museum.  We will post some pictures from there next time.  We've found a great seafood restaurant in Pensacola Beach, called Peg Leg Pete's,,,if you are ever here, don't miss it!  There is a fort here as well, Fort Pickens, built in the 1800's by slaves.  We are hoping to get some sunshine next week and get some good pictures of it. Rog hopes to fish someday soon when there isn't a monsoon outside.

It's been a great trip so far.  Hope everyone is well!  Keep Grab'n life!

Rog and Nita