Hi, All.  We’ve decided that this will be our last day on the Gulf.  It is kind of bittersweet as we have a lot more to see.  However, the Florida panhandle where we are is a zoo this week because of spring vacation.  Plus we are starting to get a bit homesick for our AZ home and just home in general.

As they say “Lord Willing” we will do a trip specifically to Florida and give it the time it deserves.  There is so much to see it is mind boggling.

Today we just drove around the city of Gulf Shores.  We got a Starbucks (our first in a long time) and visited Ft Morgan a Civil War site.  The fort is located on a finger of land that juts out into Mobile Bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other.  What a spectacular place for boaters.  The Olsons would go bonkers if we all lived here.  We saw every kind of boat imaginable.  Mainly big open water boats with a couple of Yamahas for power.

This part of Al is beautiful with an abundance of pine trees and their beloved live oak trees (see pic).  Everything is green and the area is full of beautiful golf courses.  Cindy don’t let Leo read this last sentence :)

Here’s another observation:  all along the way except for a couple of high end parks we stayed in we continue to see “work campers” living in 5th wheels mainly.  You can almost bet that a trailer with a white pickup sitting outside is an itinerate living there.  In this park there are several.  We also just found out that there are a few couples (families) that were displaced by Katrina.  That’s very sad.

I had this thought earlier today that anyone that is working should “hug” their employer and be thankful their paths didn’t lead to construction work.  Pretty sobbering.

I also got to thinking how blessed we all are for good health and happiness.

We’ll write next from Tuscaloosa.

Love y’all.

Grandpa