Dauphin Island, AL to Pensacola NAS, FL
The day started with a 6 mile ferry ride from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan, across the entrance to Mobile Bay. Many oil rigs dotted the bay and the Gulf, some with flares burning bright. For the second time this trip, we all started at the same time, riding down the causeway at Fort Morgan, to the parking lot, where we parted ways for the day. Five of us (half the group) stayed back to take a tour of Fort Morgan, built after the war of 1812 to strengthen coastal defenses. Construction was completed in 1834.
Leaving Fort Morgan, we rode on the peninsula to Gulf Shores, where the five of us had lunch at Lulu's. The five included Tom R, Joe, Eric, Eileen and me. Very expensive lunch, but what a wonderful place, with the largest sandbox I have ever seen for the kids. The restaurant was all open air (which could be closed in the event of inclimate weather (and when the restaurant is closed).
With 30 miles still to go, we ended our nice stay at Lulu's, and headed back out on the road. Very nice ride along the Alabama beach road from Gulf Shores to Floribama, the Florida border. We stopped for the obligatory photos, then continued for the last 15 miles to the Pensacola Naval Air Station, where we set up camp for the night at Oak Grove Campground. The campground is very nice, so nice that I want to come back with Dianne. Unfortunately, the four of us with retired military ID cards have to escort the other five civilians wherever they go on base. Not to much of an inconvenience, but because we are remote and away from all restaurants and shops, it is logistically challenging.
Since we have a layover day in Pensacola, we are on our own for meals. Three of us took a cab off base to Ruby Tuesdays, as we were desparate for dinner, yet we did not want to go downtown, which would have been a 25 minute cab ride. All was good, and we got back to the base around 2200. The full moon tonight was awesome, bright, big, and yellow, coming over the horizon. It remained bright all night, and we were able to see our way into the campsite by the light of the moon.
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