2/9/22 Mississippi-into Alabama

 2/9/22 Wednesday

Blueberry pancakes this morning at the campsite, yum. Glad we had heat last night because it was 31 degrees this morning with frost on the ground!

We head back down to the coast and pass the Pascagoula lighthouse just before going into Alabama. 

 Rather than I-10, we take smaller roads across Mobile bay. Past lots of pecan orchards. A variety of housing as we travel through some industrial areas and then more small towns.  How rural?  

Beth had heard of Fairhope over the years and thought it might be an interesting stop. It was founded in 1894 as a Geologist "Single Tax" colony. They hoped to create a model community, a kind of utopia and attracted artists, intellectuals and others.  It now seems a kind of affluent suburb of Mobile with nice homes, lots of shops, restaurants, etc. close to Mobile Bay. They had beautiful flowers around town and a nice museum. very busy.

Jubilee is an event that happens on the shores of Mobile Bay occasionally when crabs, shrimp and fish flock to the shallow waters waiting to be scooped up by locals.  It has something to do with oxygen levels but is not predictable and can last only several hours.

Lots of majestic oaks.

 We were surprised at how close to shore some of the visible oil rigs were, all along the Gulf Coast.

Lots of homes along the water.

   

From here we decided to go take a look at Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan on the coast. We stopped at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge but found their Visitors Center and Boardwalk closed.  We did walk the four mile  Pine Beach Trail.

Heading east again, into Florida the coastal area was pretty busy.  Not much in the way of camping, so we settled for the Walmart in Pensacola. Quiet night but still pretty chilly!