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Published: October 21st 2009
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Walking on the beach
before the crabs came! Mobile and Dauphin Island - 7th-8th October
We arrived in Mobile (pronounced Mobeel) a little after 4pm and headed towards the tourist information centre to get our bearings of local area. Mobile rests about 150 miles East of New Orleans on the Gulf Coast and we decided it would be a nice stop prior to heading to New Orleans itself. Upon arrival Mobile looked very much like an industrial city with ports and trains coming in and out on a regular basis. After speaking to the 2 friendly, elderly ladies in the tourist info who gave us lots of ideas of things to do, we then reserved our campsite 10 miles north of Mobile.
We decided to check out a small island nearby known as Dauphin Island which the tourist ladies had said was a lovely drive, which it was, but was an even more beautiful island. The drive took around 45 minutes following the coast around taking us right amidst the flood plains of Alabama. People could be seen at the side of small rivers catching crab and shrimp whilst pelicans could be seen flying and diving at fish in the sea, amazing.
We passed over a
huge bridge, around 2 miles long that took us onto Dauphin Island. The sky was blue, and well, wow, wow, wow, the island was beautiful. Mind you, you could easily see what devastation could be caused in the case of a hurricane which we were later to be told that when Katrina hit the Island in 2005 she split it in two making one part only accessible by boat.
Once on the island we had 2 options left or right. A sign showed camping to the left so we thought we check that out, a quick stop at the campsite and we realized it was more expensive so we’d stick with the original site off the Island. We then headed over to a boardwalk opposite and stopped and chatted to an old black guy who was fishing with his wife. He was standing with one foot on a crab looking a little bewildered. He told us he’d caught the crab by accident (it was his second of the day, the first one he’d hit with a stick as unsure what to do with it but then felt bad for doing so!) I told him he could pick the crab
up at the back and it couldn’t get him he said he wasn’t so sure especially when he lifted his foot off and the crab went into full attack mode. Eventually he picked up the courage to pick it up and proudly showed it to his wife; she took one look at it and told him to put it straight in the cooler box with the other fish.
We then went for a walk on a little deserted beach, hand in hand, with the sun setting in front of us, ah, how romantic…until we saw loads if little crabs darting about in the sand in front of us! We quickly put our shoes on but then came to realize they were far more scared of us and would make sure they were deeply buried in the sand before we got any where near.
Back in the car we drove to the other end of the Island and saw some pretty houses and holiday rentals all on stilts, precariously built on the sand, a great location being about 50 metres form the sea both in front and behind but really not sure how they would fare in the face
of another hurricane.
Before heading off the Island we decided to stop for a quick drink and watch the sun go down on a bar terrace. It was happy hour and beers were $1.25, great! We sat in the terrace and discussed how nice it would be to stay in the Island. So after a little more discussion we decided we’d take advantage of the happy hour and kip that evening on the boardwalk of one of the holiday rentals we’d seen earlier that day. As that was decided Doddy went in to get some more beers and came out telling me we had to go back in and chat to a gut he’d just met at the bar called Richard. Richard, what a great guy! Richard had lived on the Island for most of his adult life working as a coastguard but also orgasnised fishing trips etc. He was a chatty, cheery fellow who had great stories to tell. He was there with his wife Cynthia and friend Ralph. Whilst chatting over a beer and chicken wings we were told of another bar nearby owned by a crazy Scottish lady called Vicky and should pay a visit after
wings. We were only too happy to oblige. Between finishing drinks and moving onto Penguins (Vicky’s bar) the question was asked of where we staying that night “on the beach, on a rental property decking” we replied. Without little hesitation and after clearing it with his wife, Richard offered us a room at his lovely house. Sorted.
We arrived at Vicky’s bar and chatted to her and the other locals and continued to have a great night. Meeting locals is great. We played some bar tricks, listened further to Richards stories of playing golf with Jack Nicholas and Clint Eastwood. Proper crackers.
Night finished returning to Richard and Cynthia’s house, looking at a few photos of ariel views of the Island split following Katrina.
Next day we took in more of the beautiful island before setting off to New Orleans.
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Sister!
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Brother!
This looks amazing you two! Glad you're having a great time. Just in case you're not back online before Friday- Happy Birthday Brother! Lots of love, Jan xxxx