Tumbling Tumbleweeds-Movin' On: The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly

Do we miss the cold wind and snow in Medina???

N-a-a-a-a-a-a-a!
Larry enjoyed a morning on the beach with his metal detector. Found nothing. There could be a good reason for that. More about the reason later.
This area of the beach is part of the Gulf State Park. There is a great pavilion here, frequently rented for wedding receptions and parties.

Under normal use, it has great shower and changing areas and a snack bar. (Yes...you are seeing the girls' bathroom....)
Since it is January, the beach is not too crowded and neither are the "facilities."

We also have been continuing our exploration of the bike trails in and next to the park. They are all paved and very beautiful. Our second ride was about 10 miles.

The Back Country Trail is a designated National Scenic Trail that runs for three miles from this large sport complex to one of the main roads in the Park (Sorry I cut off the top of the pic. Bad LCD screen when the sun is out)

This lovely trail winds up and down, traversing the lowland terrain, greeted by live oak trees festooned with Spanish Moss. I am sure that springtime blossoms create a Mardi Gras of color. Benches, swings and informative kiosks have been places all along this and the other trails as well. Many of the placements indicate that they were donated in honor, or in memory of persons from the colder, northern climates who, for years, made this area their winter home.

Long, wooden bridges are constructed in several places to protect the fragile environment of the bayou.

This is all definitely GOOD!

Our friends, Jim & Myra invited us to visit historic Fort Morgan. It is one of many such shoreline forts built in the 1800's to defend our country against an attack by sea.
Over time, water passing through limestone has created mini drip formations within some of the structures.

Extensive restoration of brick work is in progress.

Stairs to different levels of the structure are extremely steep and very scary!

Don't do it Larry!!!

We enjoyed the afternoon.

THE BAD - Influenza!! We arrived here on New Year's Eve and spent the evening with our friends, Myra & Jim, at their motor home. At that time, Jim said he was feeling a little congested. I woke up on NYDay with a migraine and stayed on the couch while Larry went to J&M's for traditional dinner of turnip greens, hog jowls, corn bread, black-eyed peas and peach cobbler. (it was really quite tasty) He came back with plates of leftovers for me and the news that Jim was not feeling well. On Sunday, our plans were postponed because Jim was in bed and intended to stay there. After that, it became a week of "Who's next to get sick?" It hit Larry on Tuesday afternoon after we came back from Fort Morgan. At one point, his temp was about 103. Today, Thursday, his fever decided to go away about noon, but he says he feels "worn out." In the meantime, Myra is now sick in bed. At this point, I seem to be the only survivor...knock on wood, cross fingers, etc.. Larry and I only have one more day here in Alabama and we are hoping that everyone is well enough to at least go to lunch. Since so many of our plans were cancelled. I guess we need to reserve another year here in Gulf Shores.

The UGLY!! We have not heard too much on the media about the oil spill in the Gulf lately. I guess it's "old news." Guess what...the OIL is still very much here! The long stretches of beautiful, sugar-white, pristine beaches are broken only by scattered shells... and chunks of congealed oil!

Clean up continues with huge, excavating machinery and workers dressed in HASMAT gear.

The workers place stakes then mark off the beach in huge sections with hazard tape. Next, dozers push several feet of sand into piles where shovels scoop it up and dump the sand into trucks. The sand is then transferred to machines where the sand is filtered and the oil lumps separated.The sand is then returned to the beach. (I wonder who gets any "treasures" that appear?)

After a couple days, the tide brings in more....

This guy must be contacted by radio when someone has to "go." All he seems to do is drive up and down the beach.

Here's the really crazy part. A lady who lives here in Gulf Shores says that oil on the beach is nothing new because the oil rigs always are having mini-leaks. It was not until we traveled to Fort Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay that I understood what she was saying. I always thought the drilling was far away from the shoreline. These shots from Fort Morgan show the reality of oil in the Gulf.