Alabama in November

A word from AL

     This post is divided in two. The first section is mine, and since Lulu has a different writing style, her blog follows. So, don’t stop with mine because you are sure to get a laugh with Lulu’s experiences.

    We hope that you all will forgive us for not staying in touch. I have been putting off our blog for more time than I should have.  But, to be honest, there really is not that much to write home about. We are still having the time of our life, and, we are not bored with our journey. The reason for having a lack of writing material is that I have found that this area to be similar to the Pasco County area of Florida. It is very interesting to see that there is another part of the world that relies on the existence of snowbirds.

     We are in the Gulf Shores area of Alabama, about 20 minutes West of Pensacola, Florida. We are in a one-hour different time zone than our old home area and about a 12 to 14 hour drive away. If we were to go in to the waves of the beaches here and keep swimming in a Southeast direction, we would be at the shores of Hudson beach within several days. Or not, if you swim like me. Our campsite is a 15-minute drive to the beach and sits on a quiet rural road between all the action.

  If you have ever been to Pasco County, Florida, you would know that, like here, many businesses look forward to the return of snowbirds at the start of the winter season. Although the resident Floridians dread the increased traffic congestion, and the noticeable longer lines at the check-outs, it is a very important part of Pasco Counties revenue. Snowbirds spend money and give people jobs. Without the snowbirds, the area would be much different, and the residents would be burdened with having to consider alternative methods of revenue.

     We are currently experiencing part of this area’s “slow” season, as the snowbirds will start coming in within the next few weeks. Then, the area will experience the same snowbird effects that are shown in Pasco Florida. One of the effects are that the spaces in the campgrounds will be getting filled up. As it stands, there are few residents here, so activities are few. Although this gives us the area all to ourselves, it does not give us work. Few snowbirds means no money to hire outside entertainment, so work for us has been slow in emerging. We are expecting a couple of gigs later this month, but we thought we would have been a little busier.

     The closest city to us is Foley, Alabama, which hosts about 15,000 residents, and is surrounded by RV parks and campgrounds. There are the two major roads in Foley, highway 98 and highway 59, which splits the area in four parts. Highway 98 gives us access East and West and we can be in Florida or Mississippi within minutes and highway 59 travels North and South, and is our runway to the beaches. It is also the major road which has many, if not all, of our necessary outlets, grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment.  If you like to eat out, then this is paradise. There are restaurants of all kinds for miles and miles. If you know our lifestyle, this does not phase us. Although we like to try out new restaurants and experience different styles of food,  we prefer to eat in. It is not only healthier for us, but it is an important part of our budgeting.

  Driving further South on 59, we drive right in to, probably some of the best beaches we have ever seen. These beaches are miles and miles of clean, soft, white sand. Although the water is a little cold for us at this time of the year, it has its moments of calm, wading conditions, and then bold, challenging high surf, for the more experienced swimmer. Either way, time on this beach is well-spent for this time of year, especially if you prefer the quiet, open space. We have had some splendid days of catching some warm sunrays, and just laying around. I know that I would not like this place during spring break or when everyone else wants to spend his or her time here. I prefer the quietness, over the busy, radio blaring, kid screaming and volleyball competitions that we have experienced at Clearwater beach in Florida.

     At the middle of Foley, we catch Highway 98. Driving to the East on 98, passing the Lazy Acres RV park, where we are camped out for two months, we arrive at Pensacola Florida. We went to Pensacola twice, so far. The first, time, to get a pair of tires for our truck at Sam’s Club and the next time to watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight squadron practice their routine. We were here during the Angel’s homecoming and Veteran’s Day 100 year of Aviation show on November 11 & 12, but we chose to not go to the actual show and settle for the practice routines that we saw. Not only was it free, but it was one of the most thrilling and unique experiences I have ever had. We also went to the museum for free,  which was a great educational experience.  As for the rest of Pensacola, can you say Tampa? Although, Tampa gets a higher rating for its’ parks and downtown. Pensacola has some catching up to do.

    Our stay at Lazy Acres has, so far, been a satisfactory experience. We have not had any problems or issues that would give them any negative reviews. The site itself is roomy, clean and trouble free. Due to the lack of residents, there have not been many activities, which we are told will change within the next few weeks. They already have started up bingo, which is one of Lulu’s passion, and an occasional football game tailgate party. Lulu will be doing a performance here later this month, as well as at Magnolia RV Park on the other side of Foley, which is where we will be staying at when we return to this area in January.

     We have been to a few restaurants, which I will not bolster about, only because it is not my thing, and we have been to several festivals, which we enjoyed. The Foley Heritage Days Festival, Elberta’s German Sausage Festival and Gulf Shore’s Shrimp Festival are just a few that we attended. The entertainment was entertaining and the food was abundant. Mostly festival junk food that you would expect at every outdoor festival you see. Fried dough, seafood, soda, hot dogs and hamburgers are just not something you can brag about.  And, as for the craft shows, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. They are usually the same folks with the same stuff, or someone that has similar talents, selling over-priced trinkets that we really don’t need.

     Have you gotten the hint yet? We love the beaches. And, we could stay living on one, if we were allowed to. But, around here, the closest you can get to live on one, may be a very pricey campground, a few miles away, that we would never pay what they ask for. As for sightseeing, there is nothing like the breath-taking views of mountain ranges and valleys that we have seen up North. And it may be because we have lived in Florida for the past six years that we are not surprised at what we have found around here. It is pretty much the same thing. In fact, if we were to switch out the people, we would feel like we were back in Pasco County. The weather sure beats the cold of up North, but it is slightly cooler than the warmer climate of Gulf Coast Florida, which we would prefer.

     One last thing that we seek out everywhere we go is a church that we can attend. It is nice to know that we have a wide variety of churches we can pick from, especially being a Christian. However, it becomes challenging when we look for one that is uplifted, energetic, positive and has a pastor that not only knows how to speak well, but knows what he is talking about and can back it up with references to the Bible. We love hearing and praising with modern Christian music, and prefer to see a church that celebrates with singing, clapping and dancing. Not one that people think they are in a library or one that they sulk, complain or are afraid to praise with joy and happiness, which is what the bible tells us to do. We have been fortunate to always find such a church, even though it may take us a couple of tries before getting there.

     We are still happy to be doing what we are doing. There is still nothing like opening your front door and looking at a different front yard every month.  We still enjoy the peace and quiet of the campground atmosphere, and just having that freedom to pick up our home and moving it, if we don’t like our neighbors. Which is something we have yet to encounter, and hope we never do. We have met nothing but very nice folks, who are always willing to offer a helping hand, if we need one. They are also full of great advice on how to go about living a stress-free full-time RV life. And we have been running in to more and more people doing the same thing, all of whom have not had any regrets doing it, as do we.

     Another month, and we will be placing the “Free Spirit” in storage for 4 weeks, and we will be taking that 14-hour drive to Pasco County Florida to do our Christmas season gigs. We look forward to seeing all our old friends that have been a very important part of our lives. They have played an important role in Lulu’s singing career. Had it not been for those folks, we could not be doing what we are doing now. So, in a few short weeks, Lulu and I will be entertaining back in the town that gave us that big break and opportunity.  We will see y’all real soon. I will be emailing out a schedule very soon. Stay tuned!!

Gulf Shores Beach in Alabama during Shrimp Fest 2011

Food, food and more fried food. Can you say, plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is?

The cotton picker at work. Just like shoveling snow.

Blue angels jet. Not the pilot in front.

The Free Spirit's screen house.

A peaceful , deserted beach.

A few words from Lulu

I write these to give you a few laughs, and as promised to keep you up to date on what is happening. Today I’ll be telling you about our current location at “Lazy Acres RV Park” in Elbeta, Alabama. Are you familiar with the saying, “If the shoes fits, wear it”? If you are and are a little creative, then you could probably put together a catchy country tune that would tell our story that I am writing about today.
Here in the Gulf Coast area of Alabama, we’ve done a little fishing. The park has beautiful little pond that is speckled with old tree stumps and turtles that love to sun bathe. If you are ever in the area, you can still see the fluorescent shiny fishing lure that my husband cast out and got imbedded on to one of the tree stumps. I actually got a few bites, but, not from the fish. It happened that I was standing on an anthill and the resident fire ants were not too happy. So we are not destined to be fishermen. We would just have to get in the truck get our fish from the local seafood market.
Driving out in to town, I thought we were in Pasco County Florida, except not on Highway 52 and 19, but rather, highway 98 and 59. There were restaurants upon restaurants and gas stations galore. There were plenty of fast food joints, but to my dismay, not one Dunkin Donuts. How disappointing. But, this is a quaint little town with lots of thrift shops, flea markets and yard sales. Nearly every weekend there is some kind of festival. In fact, we did the polka at the Elberta German Sausage fest. Yes, a real live polka with a real live polka band, which we waltzed to the beat of the three-piece oopa-loopa band. (Not their real name).
The weather has been beautiful here in New Port Rich…… I mean Elberta. It has been so nice that we get to stay outdoors as much as we can. Every day, I frequent this spot, surrounded by pine trees in the middle of the park that has a swing set, with my I-pod and rehearse to my music. I will sit, swing and sing until my legs go numb from lack of circulation. It seems that these swings were designed for 5-year-olds and not 55-year-olds. But the saying goes, it’s not over until the fat lady ”SWINGS”. Which reminds me of another outdoor activity that I can tell you about.
We are trying our best to stay healthy. Some of you may know that Al used to teach spin and fitness classes before we started our journey. Well, we brought along a heavy- duty spin bike that my husband promised to sell if we used it for a clothes rack for more than a month. Although Al has set up the bike inside the screened in patio and has been peddling away, I, on the other hand, decided to unchain my “real” bicycle and take it for a ride down the dirt road out to highway 19…….., I mean 98. Here is where the country song chorus comes in. About a mile from the RV to the main road, I’m peddling along, riding by “Hampton the Pig”. I wave at the folks sitting on the porch of the country store and I see Lynx and Frank the cats rolling around on the dirt road, maybe getting ready for their cat-naps. Just outside the camp grounds, I’m on a paved street, with a corn field on the left and a cotton field on the right. About a half a mile up the road, sits a country farm- house that has a big black Labrador retriever who decides that he wants to make my rubber tire on my bike a giant chew toy. I’m scared, but I yell out, “Go away Emma”. Because I learned her name from the owner yelling, “no, no , Emma!!”. Needless to say, that was the end of my bike trail journey until we find a real bike trail to go on.
Whatever happens, and no matter where we go, it always seems like we are on a real vacation every day, but, we don’t have to worry about packing up to go back home. Our home IS the “Free Spirit”. (In case you didn’t know, Free Spirit is our RV’s nickname).
We are heading to Florida in December and will be doing several performances while there. We can’t wait to see you all then. Until then, God Bless you all and have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!!