G’day USA - Noah’s American Adventure Pt 3

Chapter 4. Road Trip - Mobile, ALABAMA

We crept out of our room in the later morning worried that we would not be able to show our faces after Noah’s temper tantrum last night! We met the lady in the room next door and she said it didn’t bother them too much so we were good. We left most of our luggage with Jessie and Frank at the Greenhouse loaded up the car and headed off to Mobile, Alabama for Robert‘s game against the University of Mobile. As we drove out of New Orleans along the Gulf Coast highway (to avoid a massive accident which had set fire to the main highway) Mum commented on how much work had been done on the devastated area since their visit last year. A lot of new development (including a Hard Rock Café) and some great art work, they have turned dead trees into sculptures of birds, dolphins and other local animals. They were pretty amazing. When we crossed the boarder from Mississippi into Alabama the lady at the information centre said some people had been stuck for over 2 hours in the traffic jam caused by the accident. Thankfully Robert called us early enough that we were able to miss most of the dramas. While we were at the information centre we collected coupon books to find some discounted accommodation in Mobile. Noah had a great time stretching his legs out on the big lawn area outside (by this point he was soooo over being strapped into his car seat)!

Because the drive had taken so long we had run out of time so after checking-in to our hotel and a quick dinner at Wendy’s (Just like Hungry Jacks) we headed straight off to watch the first of Robert’s games. We discovered just before we left Australia that an old teammate and friend of Dad’s James Crawford had moved from Australia back to his hometown in Alabama and he and his Australian wife Lisa (who has managed to keep her Australian accent!!!!) and their 4 girls were able to come to the game as well. James was impressed with Robert’s game, even though Robert was disappointed with how he played and told us to go home cause he played better when we weren’t there! Sorry Robert we’re not going anywhere! The game itself was VERY EXCITING the Wolfpack only winning the game in the final seconds! We didn’t get much of a chance to chat with Robert after the game he and the rest of the team were back on the bus back to New Orleans. We on the other hand were staying in Mobile as the team had another game in the same area on Thursday. So we headed back to the hotel and finally caught up the Dad and Fiko on the internet. Noah was soooooooooooooooooooo excited to see his Daddy after so many days!

The next day we hit the outlet shopping mall just outside of Mobile. We arrived at 11am (just in time for opening) and left completely exhausted at 3pm!!!! So much so that Mum and Noah had to recover in the Hotel Hot Tub! Noah had a fantastic time and we hoped that it would make him tired. That night we had a fantastic dinner at Cracker Barrel … Good Country cooking … Since we were in the South I decided I would try the Catfish. It was interesting, very different to fish at home, but I enjoyed it. By then the spa had worked it’s magic and Noah was ready for bed … love it when a plan comes together.

We spent our final day in Mobile doing some more touristy things. We started our morning in a huge Christmas shop…well not just Christmas, it had beautiful keepsakes and other nick knacks like Hummel plates and figurines and other cute collectables. We spent ages just wondering around looking at the decorations and other gifts. Noah was always firmly within reach. Afterwards we traveled a little way to Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island in known as Alabama’s Family Beach and is extremely popular in the Summer time. The single lane highway across to the Island must be an absolute nightmare in the summer. Clearly we did not go there for the beaches but instead we went to the Estuarium, which allows guests to walk through the 4 key ecosystems of coastal Alabama. The Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands and the Gulf of Mexico. Noah had a fantastic time playing with little turtles and chasing fish. There was a couple of great areas where you could touch the animals. Noah got to pat a Shell Crab and a Hermit Crab, but as usual was more interested in just splashing the water at everyone.

Just a short walk up the road we came across Fort Gaines, part of the Civil War Trail across America. Dauphin Island and Mobile Bay were mapped as early as 1519. Over the next 2 Centuries control of Dauphin Island switched from France to Great Britain, to Spain and finally the USA seized the territory around Mobile Bay in 1813. The war of 1812 proved the US needed adequate defenses for its long coastline. Construction of fort Gaines began in 1819. Construction was plagued with problems from the beginning the fort was built so close to the Bay that water entered the fort at high tide, the build was way over budget and took over 50 years to complete. The fort became famous because of the Battle of Mobile Bay and Admiral David Farragut’s battle cry “Damn the torpedoes. Full steam ahead” in 1864

That night it was time for another basketball hit. Robert had a much better game this time and we are now allowed to stay. Some of you may like to take a closer look at the uniforms of the Spring Hill team, very reminiscent of the 70’s. The men in particular looked very fetching in their purple clown pants!!! I bet they’re glad they picked a school who’s team colours are purple and white!!! Sadly the team lost in yet another close game … it seems to be a bit of a trend for the team at the moment. The loss was also a double whammy the team dropped out of first spot on the ladder.

Hope all is well with y'all...

Love
Kate, Noah & Irene

PS Welcome home Bridget see you soon
PPS Happy Valentine's Day

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