Drifting Dweller's Travel Blog: On The Road Again

Hello everyone. We are in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Alabama for the month of February. We had a great time in Corpus Christi and met so many dear friends. Our time in Port Aransas and Corpus Christi were wonderful. We met so many great people and established some wonderful friendships that will last for a life time. Ernie & Linda Black were our awesome neighbors at Pioneer RV Park and they made sure we were included in all the Thanksgiving & Christmas festivities at the park. Ernie hand delivered our mail at times and was always there to help out while Bruce was recovering from hip surgery. Then there were Jim & Laura Arnold from Texas who we enjoyed spending time with. We had lunch and dinner with them a couple times. One day Jim offered a beautiful prayer/blessing prior to Bruce going in for hip surgery and we know the Lord heard Jim's prayer. Bruce's hip surgery and recovery went better than expected. Thank you Jim. We spent most of January at the N.A.S. Corpus Christi RV park where we met TJ & Diana Kelly. What a sweet and charming couple. TJ is an Air Force retiree (Surgeon) and Diana a retired nurse. The Kelly's live an exciting life. When they're not RVing they are sailing the Bahamas and the coast of Florida on their 80' yacht. That's twice as long as our motorhome. Nice..... Since both were in the medical field, they were always asking how Bruce was doing with his hip recovery. We also met Skip & Linda Evans from Colorado Springs. Skip is also an Air Force retiree and was assigned to the Air Force Academy. We have so much in common it's almost scary. Air Force retirees and live in Colorado Springs. Skip had hip replacement in May at the Air Force Academy. Same doctor Bruce met with while we were in Coloroado Springs. Skip and Linda have been married 42 years, like us. I believe they married in April and we in May. Skip and Bruce both enjoy fishing. The Evans tow a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk behind their RV, exactly like the one we did our first two years RVing. We have made it a point to see them in April when we're back in Colorado Springs. Looking forward to seeing them again. And finally, there were Kevin & Jodi Corrigan. Kevin and Bruce went to high school together in Lake City, MN. Bruce joined the Air Force and Kevin joined the Navy. Kevin came to our wedding in Key West, FL in 1974. Kevin and Jodi truly made our stay in Corpus Christi a wonderful experience. They and Kevin's daughter Nicole and Nicole's husband John invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas Eve dinner. We went out to dinner a couple times as well. They were like family when we were so far from home. Thank you Kevin, Jodi, Nicole, and John. Love you guys. Before arriving here in Foley, AL. we stopped off at Matagorda, TX. to check out the beaches and the area. We do plan on going back there when time permits. The area and beaches are very nice. We then made it to Dauphin Island, AL. Again, the beaches are beautiful. Dauphin Island is on the very southwest side of Mobile Bay. Across from it is Gulf Shores. A ferry can take you across the bay for a small fee. We have a beautiful RV site here at Bella Terra RV Resort in Foley. Bella Terra Resort has a pool and hot tub. Bruce uses the fitness room each day for his physical therapy. Only Class A motorhomes are allowed in the park so it's nice talking to everyone about their motorhomes and issues they've had. Whether you're in a million dollar motorhome or several hundred thousand dollar motorhome, we've all had issues of one kind or another. We've gone down to the beach a couple times already and had great time relaxing in the sun. Roberta took her little shovel and immediately began digging for sea shells. She has nearly 3 one gallon ice cream buckets full already. We have met some really nice folks on the beach, also digging for shells. Roberta will be heading back to Colorado Springs for a few days to be with her mom and the grandkids. I will stay here with Trent and chill. The hip is nearly fully recovered so I'll be taking care of a few RV maintenance items and maybe even take a little bike tour around the island. We've met several couples we knew from our trip here last year. A couple we met in Corpus Christi are also here. Small world. It's been fun catching up on the past year's travels with them. Below are some pictures taken since leaving Corpus Christi. Enjoy.....

Sunset in Corpus Christi before dinner at Snoopy's.
Love our selfies.

Fishermen coming in at sunset after a day at sea.

Lone Pelican enjoying the sunset too.

The bridge in the background connects Corpus Christi with Padre Island.

It can't get much better than this.

Or can it????

Dinner with Kevin & Jodi Corrigan who live in Corpus Christi.
Bruce and Kevin went to school together in Lake City, MN.

Lunch with Skip & Linda Evans from Colorado Springs. Met them
at N.A.S. Corpus Christi. Look forward to seeing them when we are
back in the Springs. We had so much in common. Neat neat couple.

On the way to Orange Beach we stopped off at Matagorda, TX.
to check out the beaches.

Camp site at Matagorda. Very nice place.

Sun setting over Matagorda Bay.

Beaches at Matagorda. Nothing like Corpus Christi or Orange Beach,
but not bad either.

Roberta and Trent on the beach. Yes, it was a pretty cool evening.
Trent is wishing he had worn his little sweater.

Having a great time.

Bruce and Trent strolling the beach at Montagorda Bay, TX.

Found this small whale on the beach. Thought it was a dolphin,
but it's head looks more like a whale. Not exactly sure what it was.

Roberta hiking the beaches and crossing one of the boardwalks to another beach.

One of many granite jetties. The size of each of these granite blocks
will amaze you. HUGE.......

Roberta walking the jetty and hoping to avoid a big waves.

I love the beaches, but where is the sun??????????????

On the road again. Heading for Dauphin Island, AL. for a couple nights.

Stopped at Tiger Truck Stop for a little diesel fuel and met this guy.

Beautiful sight.

Nice little bump in the road ahead. Dauphin Island, AL. is just over the hump.

Lunch at the golf course on Dauphin Island with my sweetie.
Enjoying to Florida sunshine

On Dauphin Island there is an old fort, Fort Gaines. It protected Mobile Bay.
Very interesting history.

One of many views inside of Fort Gaines

Time for a selfie.

A look across Fort Gaines from the top of one of the walls.

One of many tunnels leading to another side of the fort.
Everything was made out of red brick and the walls were 3' thick.

One of the kitchens at Fort Gaines.

Selfie time.

Bruce using his cane to fight off the enemy.
What about the cannon in the background Bruce????

One of several ovens used to make bread. I'm sure a pizza or two
came out of these ovens.

This was interesting. Thank God for the tides that came in and out each day.

12 poop holes. Privacy wasn't an issue here. Bruce enjoying a little
light reading while he takes care of business.

Having one of these during the 4th of July would be fun.
Good for shooting potatoes across the yard.

Interesting stuff. Bomb shells.

We made it to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. Stopped at the visitor's
center to get all the scoop on Mardi Gras parades in the area and other things to do.

The beaches down here on Gulf Shores/Orange Beach are awesome.

Roberta and her new friend Laura digging for sea shells.
Laura was nice enough to invite Roberta over since Roberta's
first hole wasn't producing much for shells.