Places We Have Called Home In 2020

Home Is Where We Park It:  Escapees Rainbow Plantation, Summerdale, Alabama

September 2, 2020

Temperature 89 Degrees

Welcome Center

A Cruise On Mobile Bay

Today was our day to run the roads, or to put it another way it was time to go sightseeing.

When we awoke it was a picture perfect day and we were anxious to get on the road.  Ms. Barbara quickly made some sandwiches for a picnic lunch, we filled the thermos with ice tea, I grabbed the camera and away we went.

This was our first stop.  In the past we have found that such a center usually offers a wealth of information regarding an area you want to visit.

Now how neat is this?  This dolphin sculpture is the first thing you see when you turn into the parking lot.

Another interesting sculpture on the lobby wall.

A very unique turtle sculpture on the floor of the lobby.  And that is it for the Welcome Center.  The remainder of it is shut down due to the COVID-19 virus.  Yes, the front desk was staffed and we were able to obtain a few brochures, but oh the treasure trove of goodies that was roped off.

Time to move on.  There were two objectives we wished to accomplish today: visit Fort Morgan Historical Site; and, take a cruise on Mobile Bay.  The first I’ll share with you tomorrow.  The second I’ll share with you now.

Since our Alaska Cruise has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus I promised Ms Barbara I would find a way to make it up to her.

Perhaps not quite as exotic or glamorous but all in all we would still be taking a cruise across Mobile Bay.

Ms Barbara at the window to obtain our cruise package, i.e. our tickets for the ferry trip.

Our cruise ship, the ferry Fort Morgan.

Waiting with other passengers to board.  A nice thing about a cruise such as this is you can travel light.

Now as we were waiting to board we noticed that there didn’t appear to be any benches or seats of any type.  Since this was going to be a round trip of over an hour that could be an issue.  Ms Barbara was already tired and I knew standing that long would be hard on her.  But not to worry, I was able to secure for my sweetheart

the last and only outside cabin with a fantastic view of the bay!

A sailing we will go!  Oh what a glorious day.  The waters were calm.  The sky clear blue.  And a wonderful breeze coming off the water to keep one cool.

Structures like this are found in numerous locations on the bay.  I did a little internet digging and discovered that they are gas wells.  There are no oil wells on the bay.

Passing our sister ship on the way to Dauphin Island.

The Coast Guard station on Dauphin Island.

Entering the slip at Dauphin Island.

Loading up at Dauphin Island for the return trip to Fort Morgan.

Heading out of the channel for the return trip to Fort Morgan.

Over and now going back everything had been picture perfect.  Then Bud came into the picture.  Striking up a conversation with him we discovered he was there to fix the steering system.  What!  Not to worry he said It was just a minor issue and we shouldn’t worry about a thing.  I guess it was because we did return home safe and sound.

 There is something about being on the water that is just so soothing.  Even a ferry cruise can calm and refresh the soul.

Our welcoming committee when we returned to Fort Morgan.

OK, more to come tomorrow when I’ll share with you our trip to Fort Morgan.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  The best part of the whole day?  We enjoyed it together.  Yup, hand in hand we sailed the waters of Mobile Bay.  So what say you?  Did I keep my word to my sweetheart?  A cruise is a cruise regardless of the vessel or the waters it sails!

Thanks for joining us today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the day that God has given you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

PS:  We’re still going on our Alaska Cruise, we just don’t when

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

Home Is Where We Park It:  Escapees Rainbow Plantation, Summerdale, Alabama

September 1, 2020

Temperature 93 Degrees

Foley Centennial Park

House Keeping

So for a moment we’re going to go back to yesterday and our visit to

In the middle of Foley is the delightful six acre Centennial Park that we first discovered last year when we were here.

The park is home to the Foley Depot Museum and Model Train Exhibit, as well as Centennial Plaza, built to honor Foley’s centennial in 2015. This park and its picturesque pavilion are used throughout the year for many of the city’s annual events.

These are just some of the plants that make up the Camellia Walk.  Unfortunately, they don’t begin to bloom until the beginning of November.

I pulled a stock picture from the web to give you an idea of what they would look like.  They come in all different colors.

We may not have them, but we do have some other really beautiful flowers.  Take a look.

Off to one side of the park is this delightful fountain.

That is Ms Barbara coming back from the other end of the park.  The park is a really great place to get one’s daily walk in.

This is the train museum off to one side of the park.  Of course it is closed and they even have signs discouraging anyone from climbing on the engine and the cars.

So we’ve come to the end of our sightseeing yesterday.

As for today we spent the day doing odds and ends – we did our routine housekeeping, we filed some paperwork, did some route planning for next year and being it is the first of the month it was also time to pay bills.  A real exciting day, hey?

That was our day on The Road of Retirement. It was a really laid back, easy going day for both of us.  Just our kind of day.  Tomorrow if the weather cooperates we’ll run the roads again.

Thanks for joining us today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the day that God has given you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

Home Is Where We Park It:  Escapees Rainbow Plantation, Summerdale, Alabama

August 31, 2020

Temperature 79 Degrees

Two More Projects Completed

Lunch At Stacey Old Tyme Soda Fountain

Just A 20% Chance

I awoke this morning a man on a mission.  It was time to get serious and finally resolve once and for all two issues that had been getting the best of me.

This is our washer/dryer in its designated cabinet.  As I’m sure you can see it is impossible to get to the back of it from here.  There is no room on either side nor by going over the top.

But get to the back was my mission.  Why?  Because the pesky dryer vent hose had come off again.  Yup, that is it way in the back, you can just see a little bit of it, it is the silver colored tube way back there.  This time I was determined to get it on once and for all and make sure it didn’t come off again.

This is the access door in our clothes closet and the only way to get to the back of the washer/dryer.  The drill goes something like this:

empty this end of the closet and push all the clothes down to the other end,

climb into the closet, once in stick your right arm in through the little door and shake it all around – wait no, that is not it – but you do have to stick your arm in through the door,

feel around until you locate the vent tube on the other side of the machine and behind all the water hoses which are in the way

 now carefully slide the vent tube on to the collar that it is supposed to be fastened to,

finally using a screwdriver that is about a foot long tighten the clamp and you’re done.

Trust me, it is easier said then done.  But I believe I have it securely fastened this time.  Next load or two of wash will let me know.  When it comes off our bedroom becomes a sauna – really hot and humid.  You know immediately what has happened.

Next project was getting rid of this.  It is a tank for a reverse osmosis system.

It used to sit right about there.  It was installed by someone before me and I could never find out how it worked.  I wanted it out because it was blocking my access to all my kitchen water lines.  So this morning, away it went.

Two more minor projects completed.

Time for lunch.

Stacey’s was established in 1929, and is known far and wide for its

its old time soda fountain.

 When you walk into the door of this historical building, it’s like stepping back in time.

But, unfortunately, it is not the same as it was last year when we were here.  On Feb 25th of this year after over 100 years in business the pharmacy which was located in the back of the store closed for business.  And when it closed a lot of the really neat decorations that were here, there and everywhere got packed away for good.

I did a little investigating and I found everything shoved into a room in the back.

What did it used to look like?  What were some of the neat things that were here?  Take a look.

 

One thing, thankfully, has not changed

They still know how to make a great BLT and a Root Beer Float!  Yes, the store may no longer have the pop that it once had but it is good to know it is still a great place to have a delicious sandwich.

OK, one more stop which I’ll share with you tomorrow, then we headed home.

Know what this is?  This, in Alabama is defined as 20% chance of rain!  Oh come on now I don’t believe they ever get the forecast right in these parts.  As soon as we opened the car door and headed for our front door the heavens opened up.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We enjoyed ourselves from start to finish.  I got a couple of things accomplished.  We took a trip back in time and had a great sandwich at the same time.  We listened to the thunder roll and as the rain fell we were reminded of the showers of blessings we continually receive from God’s hand.  Ah yes, tis a great life that we have the good fortune to live.

Thanks for joining us today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the day that God has given you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!