THE END

This is the last, final, end of the road posting for the 16-17 winter blog. We are safely sitting at home waiting for tomorrow's snow to reveal what we missed. Just send a email if you would like me to expand on anything posted. Most things have additional photographs. What's next? We have no idea. I will let you know.

Kentucky Horse Park

We took a break on the trip home, as it turned out a NEEDED break, do not drive when Michiganders have to get home from spring break, and visited the Kentucky Horse Park. It is a large and diverse program covering the subject and worth the time and money.

To your left as you enter is a walk to the grave of Man O War. The park does lean a bit to the $$$$ of horsey stuff and this guy was sort of the grandfather of the modern era.

The non-money aspect is not neglected. The draft horses in the Big Barn are interesting. We were told that tail braiding is NOT one of the first areas of training these fellows.

The show of the different breeds is neat. Usually the riders are in related costume to the horse. The weather put a hold on that but it is still worthwhile.

PASO FINO

QUARTER HORSE

SHIRE HORSE

Finally, by themselves outside the Big Barn, three little guys doing what they do best.

WARNING!

If you plan to be on the road , April 1-4, stay clear of our route, AL-TN-KY-WV-OH, home. The 3rd maybe relatively safe as we are spending a day in Lexington, KY at the Kentucky Horse Park. I have every intention of posting photos so if you like horsies check the blog later that week.

The horse park and maybe some final wisdom will be  wrap for this blog. We have absolutely no idea where to waste money this summer but I will let you know when and if plans are made.

Blog the Bog 2017

At the end of November I posted an entry about the Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog. This afternoon we returned to find renewal. May it continue.

OK, get outside, look around, then sign an on-line petition, write or call your brain-dead congresscritter, and/or make a donation. The muckers are in control, send up a flare!

Flower Power

One of the joys of snowbirding is the early spring and an environment that encourages flowers.

The Bottle Brush plant (callistemon) is one we became familiar with during previous stays in Georgia. Rumor has it that it attracts butterflies.

In Georgia they resembled small trees. Here they look like a bush. I decided to call it a plant as after repeating bottle brush bush three times I perceived a danger to further speech.

And then there are roses

And then some things on the wild side

Jean, the better half of the management couple, has a nice display dominated by this flowering tree.

Close-up

Finally, 'The Rose of Alabamy." For 10 points, what movie can be connected to that?

Third and Final, I think.

Across Mobile Bay from Fort Morgan, the subject of an earlier post, is Fort Gaines and we may have enjoyed this one the most. WHY? you ask. Because it is the smallest and consequently less walking. Strange how your values change with age. Fort Gaines is in relatively good condition and, aside from one late 19th-century exterior artillery battery, everything is within the walls.

Everything is as you would expected it. The officer's quarters face the "parade." It was a three-story building but US Navy guns remodeled it as they damned the torpedoes and sailed into Mobile Bay.

Like Fort Morgan and Fort Pickens, the US Army coastal Artillery updated things a bit before the Spanish American War with the addition of "hidden batteries."

During the Civil War the artillerist was a tad more exposed.

Unique is not a term often associated with the military yet the "kitchen courtyard" behind the officer's quarters had this stone wall. The outdoor kitchen, outdoor being a climate adaptation in the south, was well equipped with a fireplace and oven.

This may be the end of the FORT SERIES. Perhaps we will swing into spring with some flower photos or something equally peaceful.

Boating in Alabama

I/we cannot pass up steam locomotives and battleships. The USS Alabama (http://www.ussalabama.com/) is our third. The North Carolina and Massachusetts being the others. What can you say? OK, big.

The highlights/facts and since they are on a plaque they must be true.

I dare say that we history reenactors who have played with cannons would expect some compensation for providing our own powder in this situation.

This is the required artsy-fartsy photo.

Big guns may be important but what really floats your boat is food. The orientation film did show the baking of bread. The vertical "compartments" on the left below are the ovens.

Below is a model of the CSS Hunley the rebel submarine whose remains are in Charleston, SC.

Which leads us to a later version of a submersible warship the USS Drum.

As Denise comes below she has yet to see the passage that will have to be taken to complete the tour. This is facing aft in the forward torpedo room. She did very well and next time we will try running to battle stations.

Panorama views are a tad difficult inside a submarine so I thought I would settle for "movie" angles. If you are a fan of WWII submarine movies the "station" pictured below will look familiar.

Aft torpedo room.

The source of many a joke in submarine movies. My hunch is that it not funny,

AND some other toys they have scattered around the place.

The park is well worthwhile but I suggest a very early arrival and plan for a full day and a lot of walking.