Dec 18-20, 2021
We ferried our way from the Gulf Coast at Fort Morgan over to Dauphin Island. It felt good to be on a boat, even if it was huge and carried a bunch of cars… Lunch was in order, and we searched out the Pirates Bar and Grill, because who doesn’t like the idea of eating and drinking like a pirate??!
Off to pick up a few groceries, and meet up with Stacey’s friend Kate, her husband Paul, and their cute kid West. I immediately felt like I knew this family all my life, and I was coming home! West adopted me as his best friend, and I could have talked to Paul about his interesting life and outlook forever. Kate could have been one of Stacey’s sisters the way they fell into conversation and never stopped. Paul fried up a bunch of fish and oysters for us for dinner on his outside stove using his special fish fry recipe, and we took in the sunset out on the dock.
The next day, we took in a tour of the area, including the shrimp boat fleet, and Kate & Paul’s land that their new home will sit upon. A lovely parcel filled with huge old oaks and a sprawling field. That evening, we ate at a local fish place, and Stacey’s flounder was the meal that lasted for midnight snack and breakfast the next day!
After dinner, we decided to walk off the food coma with a stroll trough Bellingrath Gardens and their holiday light extravaganza. An extremely popular event, and with what seemed like miles of lit pathways. The highlights for me were the huge floating lilies in the gator pond, and the cool-but-tacky “ under the sea” area.
We wish we could have stayed with Kate, Paul and West a bit longer, but the family needed us home for Stacey’s birthday and the holiday festivities. We hope we can make it back to help them build their new home! Thanks for the lovely visit!