Sweet Home Alabama - Parting is such sweet sorrow

Can't believe it is time to go.  Just getting to feel like "home", comfortable with the day to day routine.  The oil spill is looming and expected to arrive here on Monday.  It will hit Louisiana and Mississippi this weekend.  Our first planned stop was Gulf Island National Seashore in Mississippi.  We will see if there are any organizations that need volunteers for cleanup and will do that rather than take the leisurely scenic trip north.  I need to do something!  I have spent my time here cleaning the beach as I walk (empty water bottles, cigarette butts, wrappers, abandonned plastic beach toys, etc.  and hoped I was making a difference (be the change you want to see in the world.)  It seems so ridiculous compared to what is coming.

Off shore Oil Rig in Mobile Bay

The importance of the Estuaries that will be devasasted by the Spill

There are Alligators walking amongst us

Click on Video

On the 6th Hole Gary shanked a drive off to the left and the Alligator figured it was safer in the water.  My drive followed him into the water!

Sweet Home Alabama - Another glorious day!

Another spectacular day here on the Gulf Coast. We scooted back to Pensacola this morning to catch the Blue Angels one last time and also to see the Lighthouse. Gary had to work at the golf course at 11:30, I had the day off! Did some beachcombing and snapped some shots.

Sweet Home Alabama - Gulf State Park

The day before we are scheduled to leave Island Retreat, we get a call from the State Park looking for volunteers.  We accept and get a site in exchange for each of us working 2 days a week - plus free golf and beach access.

Gary works at the Golf Course in the Cart barn and I start out cleaning restrooms (what fun) until the Beach Pavillion Fee station opened.

Campsite at Gulf State Park

View of Beach Pavillion from Campground

My Office

Oprey Nest across the Street

Lake Shelby Picnic area

Owl Nest

Golf Course

Monkey Face Squirrel

View of Gulf Shores from Beach

Fishing Pier

Osprey Nest

Sweet Home Alabama - the locals

Sweet Home Alabama - The Little Zoo that could!

The Gulf Shores Zoo was swamped by storm surge and floodwaters by both 2004's Hurricane Ivan and 2005's Hurricane Katrina. All 270 of its animals had to be evacuated — to zoo director Patti Hall's Elberta home.

Lama

Baby Tigers

Crested Crane

Why Lemurs don't drive

Little known fact:  Wallabys are deathly afraid of bunnies