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.

Lazy Summer Days

It is 80 degrees. There are readers who say "lucky you," but frankly it don't feel right. Yet, what does? I am not going on a political rant, although I am surprised I have resisted this long. Rather just some observations as an excuse for a blog post. "It's about time," sez you. Well, the weather has been questionable for travel and the wifi at the park has been unreliable. There has also been a strange lack of planning shopping trips and such which has wasted time. We retired people say "So what."

So, coming back from a shopping trip our route took us by the institution pictured below. It is what it says it is and not a lawyer's office. The entrance that Denise is heading toward does give some hint of the prices on the treasures to take home from Gulf Shores, Alabama

One of the first things that has become apparent is the tax situation. Denise had a co-worker who retired at about the same that she did. The woman was native Alabamian and the family home was available so it was Sweet Home Alabama. She also noted that state-employee pensions, including out of state pensions, are not taxed in Alabama. Good deal? No. The sales tax here and it includes groceries is 10%. Simple arithmetic and figuring Ohio sales tax at 7% we would be worse off in that particular item after we spent 500 bucks. OK, a little political. A progressive income tax is more equitable than a regressive flat tax for the VAST majority of people. When it is the opposite, where is the government for the people?

Observation number 2 for today. If the contract is fulfilled, the RV park's wifi should be fed via fiber optic lines in the next ten days. The current system seems to be having its problems and the management, understandably, does not want to spend anything on it. Please note "IF." The contracting company has not been in contact with the park. Prep work has been done. Utility routes have been located and flags and spray paint adorn nearby by roads and grass. The concern is that the management has had other projects that local tradesmen and companies want but then forget. In Canton I can call a company or person and they will apologize if they cannot respond within two hours. The manager tells me this is pattern often repeated. As we look for places to relocate we read glowing words from local governments but you never really see the little things as they are left unsaid, "Make sure you have oil lamps as it will take a month to get an electrician."

On the other hand, the local people, one-on-one, are great. I have had nice conversations about boats, fishing, farming, history, etc. I expected a lot more rebel flags and such but there may be more in Ohio. Lots of churches but no one is knocking on the door. It is politically Republican here but fewer yards signs than I saw in Canton. I think Baldwin county is not representative of all of Alabama. This is a tourist area and growing in that regard. Do not give people a reason to not spend money.

artsy-fartsy photograph (required)

Back to the Bay at Fairhope

We do a lot of our shopping in Fairhope as the stores are nicer and afterwards, or beforewards, you can take some time at the Bay. Fairhope considers the park and the pier as a "Town Square." It is a comfortable place. The wide spot that looks like the end of pier is a restaurant and it is only the halfway point.

This is looking across Mobile Bay at what are, I think, shipyards to the south of the city downtown.

This fellow kept diving but finally allowed a snapshot. I got frustrated later on the day not being able to ID what kind of duck it was. Many times I fished with them on northern lakes. I egret to admit this old coot is getting to be a bit of a loon.

Its all happening at the Zoo.. . .

Pleasant 70 degree day seemed appropriate for a visit to the zoo. Alabama Gulf Coat Zoo (http://www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.com/) is right in the heart of Gulf Shores. To be truthful, yes, even if truth is out of fashion, we had our doubts, as almost all zoos can be a guilt trip. My photos do not included caged animals as I find it depressing and the images in my opinion are worthless. This place has a lot of cages, they try their best but. . .

This African tortoise was a bit standoffish

but then said good morning.

The admission person suggest a 2 buck cup of feed. The animals you are allowed to feed surprisingly seem to recognize the container.

This zoo is a rescue facility (about which see their website). The fellow below is a "rescue" gator. I have heard rescue animals make the best pets but socialization for some requires patience and understanding.

This character just walked out of his hut and demanded to be photographed.

This lady said "Take your stupid picture." That is a rough translation from the Australian.

Finally, this duck along with two chums followed us through the final quarter of the zoo mostly because Denise fed them. One duck held back and seemed uninterested in food. I tried and he took the food from my hand which the others would not do. Then he got up and showed he had a broken wing. Later a brown pelican came to us at a fence and stuck his bill through for  a handout. He had a broken wing. You have to balance the good and the bad I suppose.