In For Some Service

     Well, we left our "winter home" of Bella Terra last Monday, April 16th, and headed east towards Tampa, FL. After a quick overnight in Lake City, FL, we arrived at LazyDays RV (where we originally purchased our coach). We have scheduled some repair work to be done while the warranty is still in effect. We had considered going to Red Bay, AL where the coach was manufactured, but the wait for service was too uncertain and we need to get things repaired and get on to our summer camp host position. On the upside, LazyDays has a fantastic service area for Crown Club members (which we qualified for when we purchased our coach)!

     Above is the Crown Club clubhouse. It is here where you can spend your time while your coach is being serviced. They have a pool, lounge areas with big screen TV's, and they offer breakfast, lunch, and "Happy Hour" with drinks and snacks. All the meals are prepared by the onsite chef, Archie, and his staff  who make sure that your stay with LazyDays is as comfortable as it can be. 

     When you are waiting for a service bay to open up, or be assigned to you, you are put up in some lovely campsites. Nestled between the trees on level asphalt pads with full hook-ups, you wait for your services to be completed. Your technician comes out around 9:00 am (after you have had time to partake of the complementary aforementioned breakfast prepared by Archie) and takes your coach to its assigned location for the day. In the evening, your coach is returned to a site (but not necessarily the same one that you left that morning). 

     The Crown Club has its own set of technicians and repair bays separate from the other LazyDays service facilities. Here the work is performed on mechanical aspects of the coaches. There are other bays specifically for woodwork/cabinetry and paint/body shop. There are even several bays where a 45' coach can be completely repainted! Our coach is the second one from the right in the photo above. Sometimes, due to the nature of the repairs, your coach has to stay in these bays overnight. When that is the case, there is a full set of hook-ups in the bay for your convenience. Water, electric, and sewer are all available to you. Obviously, satellite TV is not effective, but you can get a good set of digital, over the air TV signals from the local Tampa broadcast stations. As I compose this blog entry, we are sitting in the above pictured bay and have been here the last couple of nights. 

     The LazyDays complex is huge! There is a Cracker Barrel restaurant, Flying-J fuel station, Holiday Inn Express hotel, and a campground with all the amenities and well over 100 sites all on the property! In addition, there is the largest selection of RVs, from small pop up trailers, to towable or fifth-wheel trailers, to gas powered coaches, to the big diesel "beasts" all displayed in tree covered lots. Above is a glimpse of some of the gas powered coaches that you can feel free to look at and walk through. 

     Some of the more compact units on display. Notice the huge live Oak tree "dripping" with Spanish Moss. It's a nifty place just to sit under and enjoy the day. (There is even a park bench strategically placed underneath it.) If you are in the market for an RV of any size or type, this is the place to come. Beats driving around town looking at a bunch of units crammed together in a parking lot! 

     There are pedestrian walkways all through the area and in the evening, after dinner, we usually take Misty on a long walk. She loves to "hunt" the squirrels and lizards, we enjoy a nice stroll. 

     So, I'm not sure how long we will be here. I hope to be on the road by this time next week but we'll see. In the meantime, I will kick back, enjoy, and probably gain 5 pounds. Oh well, I'll work that off when we get back to Kansas!!

Wrapping Up March

     Our last couple of weeks in March have been spent touring the surrounding countryside and attending some events that have sprung up. 

     We jumped over to the community of Fairhope for the annual Arts & Crafts festival. This thing was massive!! Vendors in booths lined both sides of Main street and branched off for a couple blocks each side street. The variety was amazing. Fairhope itself is a quaint little town sporting several "Artsy" or eclectic coffee shops and restaurants. It is full of Southern charm and class. 

     This was looking down just one side of one of the many side streets. Vendor booths as far as you could see. Spent a good part of a morning and afternoon just walking past all of them. Surprisingly, we didn't buy anything but a big ol' Lemonade. 

     Had to include this photo. This guy makes the most unique birdhouse I've ever seen!

     As you might already know, or remember from previous blog entries, Pensacola is the home of the Navy's Blue Angels precision flying team. Starting the end of March, the "Angels" have a practice session every Tuesday and Wednesday morning. It is free and open to the public. It is 45 minutes of the heart stopping aerial acrobatics and precision flying that the Blue Angels are know for. On this day about 4,100 folks liked the viewing area and watched the show. I can remember waiting 1 or 2 years to get a chance to see these guys perform and now I can see them twice a week! We had a great time. 

     Hard to see in the photo, but as they taxied by to start the practice session, the pilots waved to the crowd. 

     Unbelievable! One up, one inverted, and both with the tail hooks and landing gear extended! Add to that flying within a foot or so of the other guy. 

     Something trivial I just discovered.  Back last year when we accepted the position here at Bella Terra, I went on Google Earth to see what the place looked like and how it related to the surrounding area. (I do this with many of the place we plan to stop at.) Well, imagine my surprise when Google earth showed me a dirt road, cultivated farm fields, and a small forest of trees where Bella Terra should have been!! Seems that the imagery was kind of out of date. As of January 13th this year, that has been rectified. Now, if you go to coordinates: N 30 deg. 20.879 mins, W 87 deg. 39.687 mins; you will see our coach with the jeep out front! Oh yeah, you can see the resort as it was January 13th. 

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.

Wedding of our Nephew

     We made a quick trip to Jackson, Mississippi last week to attend the wedding of our nephew, Thomas, and his lovely bride, LeeLee (Lauretha). Thomas is the son of our traveling buddies, Brenda and Geoff, and we have watched him grow into a fine young man. He is currently a lawyer working in a practice in Jackson, MS.  LeeLee is a teacher, and they knew each other as far back as high school.  Tori was in the wedding as a flower girl, Shawn was one of the Groomsmen, and we came up to be a part of everything. The wedding party was huge, with friends of the Bride and Groom, and the wedding was planned with the precision that would make any Military commander proud. We had a rehearsal dinner on Friday night, the wedding on Saturday afternoon, and the reception stretched into Saturday night. All involved had a great time of fun and fellowship. Sunday morning, Thomas and LeeLee took off for their honeymoon in Hawaii! Good Luck Thomas and LeeLee! We wish you all the best in your new life together. 

     Tori and the other Flower Girl, Kayle, bonded from the first minute. They were inseparable the entire time and they had a great time. 

     Mom and her new Daughter-in-Law!

     Not to be outdone by her big sister, Belle charmed all the guys on the dance floor and was never without a dance partner. 

     Shawn was a hit on the dance floor too!

     Shawn and Tori share a dance together. 

     We had a limo to take members of the wedding party from the hotel to the Church. Here it looks like a Shriner's Clown car as we crammed about 15 of us into it! This is just the back half of the limo, there's more of us behind the photographer!!

     Tori and Belle posing for a quick photo op. 

A Southern Tradition

     Haven't had much to relate lately. Just been enjoying the warm weather and relaxing.

     We have had some fun times at Bella Terra lately. Last week, we had the first annual Talent show. This is where guests and staff showcased their hidden talents. There were those who sang, played instruments, recited poetry and much more. I spared everyone there serious pain and suffering by NOT doing anything but sitting in the audience.

     We had a special treat last Friday. William Florian stopped by to perform for the guests. William was the lead singer for the New Christy Minstrels in the mid 1970's. He sang and played guitar to a number of their hits and sang several ballads popular in the 1960's and 70's. I had the opportunity to take him to the Pensacola airport and enjoyed talking to him and sharing stories.

     Today, a group of the residents put together a Southern Boil. They went down to the docks and bought a bunch of shrimp, crawfish, and oysters fresh from the boat. They then brought all of that seafood to the Resort and boiled it up with fresh potatoes, corn, mushrooms, garlic and a variety of spices. The shrimp and crawfish were whole and unpeeled. You had to peel and eat your way through dinner. By time I got finished, my hands were dripping and the juices were running down my arms. It was a great dinner and a good time with our new friends.

     Sadly, our time here is nearing an end. In a little over a month, we will be packing up and moving on to our next adventure. A side trip to Tampa for a little work on the coach and then on to Kansas for our summer workamping job.

The Original Mardi Gras

     I never knew what a pervasive celebration Mardi Gras was in this area. Wow!! For three weeks, there are parades (a total of 30 of them!) in downtown Mobile. Yes, I said Mobile, Alabama. Seems that in 1704, Mobile was formally made the capital of the French province of Louisiana. Over the coming years, the residents began to celebrate the Mardi Gras holiday to remember their homeland roots. Then, in 1866, a guy by the name of Joe Cain appears in a parade dressed as the fictional Slacabamorinico, Chief of the Chickasaw, riding a coal wagon through the streets on Shrove Tuesday. From that point on, there has been a Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile. There are more details to the story, but I don't have the time or space to cover it. In short, there are "krewes" (exclusive societies that put on a parade and/or an elegant Ball for the Carnival season). Many of these krewes can trace lineage back to the 1860-70's. The members are assessed fees or dues which help pay for the parade and Ball. The Balls are extravagant affairs with formal evening wear for the ladies and tuxedos and tails for the gentlemen. Sometime during the early 1800's, krewe members from Mobile moved to New Orleans and carried the tradition with them. The celebrations in the two locations today are similar, but not exactly alike. The rules surrounding the Balls and who can participate, who can be elected as royalty (for instance Mobile has a King and Queen, New Orleans only has a King), and the parades (New Orlean's is baudier, Mobile's is generally more family friendly).  Now, all that being said, we attended one of the many parades in Mobile. The parades are presented in the order of the establishment of the krewe. Newest krewes go first leading to the oldest one running on the evening of Fat Tuesday. The parades pass in front of the Mobile Carnival museum. This place is a treasure trove of examples of the royal formal wear from over the last 100 years or so. Both King and Queen are selected a year in advance of the celebration. They then determine the theme of their "reign" and all manner of things are made to support their celebrations. The Queen's gown and the King's attire are hand made and support their unique theme. Rules dictate that everything must be hand made, no hot glue or machine stencils here. The trains that the ladies wear are a good 15-20 feet long or more and weigh more than I care to think about. It is a fascinating place to visit and the staff led tours are fantastic. 

     Nowadays the parade floats are planned using modern engineering tools. Back in the 1860's the floats were designed and illustrated on lithographs. The wooden plates that made the lithograph were then destroyed so the designs could not be copied. Above is an original lithograph from 1861.

     One krewe is called the Comic Cowboys (formed in 1884 and still around today). Traditionally, their "Queen" is a guy in drag and rides on their lead float while sitting on her/his "Throne"... a toilet. And her scepter is a gold painted plunger. They make fun of all manner of things and nothing is off limits. A couple of their cleaner jabs are shown above. 

     The opulence of the balls and dinners are unbelievable. Here was the entire table setting for the King's dinner that was created specifically with his theme. This setting is paid for by the King, was used only once, then they were done. 

     Here are a couple of mannequins that are wearing the King and Queen's attire from last year's celebration. You can see the intricate detail on the trains and dress. Remember, this is ALL hand stitched! Also, the Ball, both King and Queen attire and dinner are all paid for by the King and Queen. We were told that a minimal train without a lot of intricacy started at $20,000. You can only imagine what the ones that I've pictured cost...

     Here is another example of the intricate seamstress work on the gown and train. 

     This Queen's train was unique. Not just anyone can be the Queen. You have to have direct ties to Mobile society. This particular queen honored several former members of HER family that had served as Mardi Gras royalty. Each of the different crowns has the initials of the past king or queen. There's a lot of history in that lineage. 

     Not sure it is clear in the photo, but notice the mantle that surround the shoulders and head of the queen. This fancy and delicate structure serves another purpose. It is where the train attaches in the back and serves as a harness of sorts for the Queen to drag this train behind her as she makes her Grand Entrance. One of the trains was so heavy that ball bearings were sewn into the end of the train to allow it to roll more freely along the floor!

     An example of a King's outfit, along with his crown and scepter. All of this is hand made by artisans in and around Mobile. 

     Here is our Mardi Gras haul! This was all from only one minor parade and what we could catch. Some folks at the parade brought big fish nets to catch the goodies and a big sack to put it in. By the end of the parade, they could stock their own float!! All these beads were thrown from the various floats to the spectators that lined the parade route. Most of the beads are plastic but one strand we got was made of glass. That one is heavy and hurts when it hits you unawares! The round things on the right are Moon Pies (chocolate covered marshmallow sandwiches). In the 1940-50's, they used to throw Cracker Jacks, but several folks were injured by the flying boxes. The organizers of the parades put their heads together and looked for something that wouldn't hurt the spectators and they found the Moon Pie in 1952. It is made in Chattanooga, TN and is a southern "delicacy".