Spring Break with the Fam

     After the aforementioned wedding, Shawn followed us down to Bella Terra and spent his Spring Break  with us. He started off the visit by being the "Guest Mix-ologist" at a social on Sunday. He reached back into his Bartender roots and served up drinks along with a couple of his "signature" drinks to the residents and guests. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon and Shawn even got some spending money in tips.

     Monday dawned with clouds and a steady rain. We had to adjust our "Clipboard Of Fun" and decided to run over to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola. I have blogged about the Museum before but it was fun taking Shawn around and showing him the artifacts and aircraft. He has developed an appreciation for museums and he enjoyed himself.

     The next day still threatened rain but we had scheduled a Dolphin watching cruise for the Resort, so we brought Shawn along. It started with a fine lunch at a restaurant called Flippers. Then we met the boat for our cruise. (The photo above is Shawn's self-titled "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay".)

    The cruise goes out into the bay area and looks for dolphins to surface. The dolphins look for the boat to come out. When found, the boat captain kicks the engine in and creates a good sized wake behind us. The dolphins then get in the wake and "body surf" through the waves. They jump out of the water and ride the waves, having a ball! I was told that the wake of the boat creates a type of draft such that it makes it easier for the dolphins to gather speed and swim (kind of like driving your car and following behind a truck on the interstate). Everyone on board had a great time and got some fantastic views of the dolphins having fun. 

     Another place of interest, to Shawn especially, was the Holmes Medical Museum in downtown Foley. The Holmes family provided several generations of doctors to the Baldwin county area during the 20th century. The medical museum is located in what was once the first Hospital in Baldwin County. It is a self-guided walking tour through rooms left much the way they were when the hospital closed in the 1960's. Since Shawn is studying to be a Chiropractic Doctor, he was fascinated with the instruments and textbooks on display. 

     Shawn practices his skill in reading X-rays. 

     Here I get an anatomy lesson on the spinal column and surrounding bones.

     Just a sampling of some of the instruments that were commonplace in the 1940-1960's.

     We found a Groupon that got us a good deal on a one hour horseback ride, so we all trooped out to nearby Fairhope to Oak Hollow Farm.  Here we mounted up and had a great little trail ride through the Oaks and pastures on the property. They have a neat barn venue set up for parties and group get togethers complete with a stage for entertaining and a kitchen for cooking. Here Shawn is waiting outside the barn for our ride to the stables. 

     We hopped aboard a tractor-pulled hay wagon and rode out to the stables. 

     We saddle up and had an easy ride around the property. 

     On his last full day here, we went out to Ft. Morgan. This Fort, one of two at the mouth of Mobile Bay, is where Admiral Farragut purportedly uttered those famous words "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" during the Civil War. Unfortunately, the fog was pretty heavy and visibility of the Bay drastically reduced for our visit, but we had a good time nonetheless. The Fort was originally built in the 1830's and is built in the star shape common to many shore forts that we have visited in the US. 

     Believe it or not, there is the Gulf of Mexico just beyond the walls. You just can't see it due to the fog. 

     Even though the fog was dense just 20 miles down the beach, we stopped at one of the beaches at Gulf Shores State Park and it was bright and beautiful. Here many families and "Spring Breakers" were enjoying the 80 degree temps and warm sunshine. We spent the afternoon relaxing on the sugar fine white sand beach.

     Unfortunately, time flew by way too fast, and this morning Shawn had to pack up and head back to Kansas City. We wished him safe travels and sent him on his way with plenty of snacks and good memories.