As we were preparing to return to Florida, to the same campground where we spent a week(ish) in June 2021, I was picturing the same, very green place, only cooler. I did not picture the same place with lots of bare trees, less grass and other ground vegetation, and Fall colors. Alas, the latter is what we got. Not that I am complaining. It was still beautiful there, just in a different way. And most days were delightfully cool with far fewer mosquitoes, chiggers, no-see-ums, and other insects.
Another difference? This time, I had a kayak and was able to explore the beautiful Suwannee River and a few of Florida’s magnificent springs. Plus, we had friends join us — moto-blogger Richard Machida and his wife, Bridget — so we had people to do things with.
Yellowjacket RV Resort (YJRR) was a relatively easy five-hour(ish) drive from Dauphin Island in Alabama. It was a bit longer than we usually like to spend on the road between stops, but we were okay pushing it a bit after being in one place for two months and knowing we’d be at YJRR for at least a month.
YJRR is located in a very remote part of Florida. It’s commonly referred to as the “Big Bend” area or Florida’s “Nature Coast.” The region doesn’t get as much publicity as other parts of Florida, maybe because it is so remote. But we love it there. It’s not mobbed with people (except for New Year’s weekend!), is very quiet, and there’s lots of nature to see and enjoy.
We arrived on December 1. Richard and Bridget weren’t scheduled to arrive until December 13, so we spent the first two weeks there alone. Since I am playing catch-up, the pics I’m sharing here are images I captured while it was just Mike, Belle, and me at the campground.
Relaxing at our riverfront campsite along the Suwannee River.
Belle, shortly after we arrived.
In early December, there were still quite a few leaves left on the trees.
Belle relaxing in the Clam (screened tent, manufactured by a company named Clam).
The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the road that leads to YJRR.
One of the three ponds at YJRR.
One of the alligators that hangs out in the pond shared in the previous pic.
Just a few of the ten million small lizards that live in the area.
This green-eyed guy liked sunning himself on the coach’s driver-side mirror.
Late-afternoon view, looking west toward the Gulf of Mexico.
Interesting lines in the sky.
Afternoon light on the trees between our campsite and the river (captured from the boat dock).
Looking upriver.
Me in my kayak (captured by Mike).
Looking upriver from the kayak.
Kayaking on the Suwannee is a very peaceful way to spend a sunny, Fall afternoon.
This pic was captured later in the month, after a bunch more leaves had fallen from the trees.
Derelict boat dock along the Suwannee.
In this shot, you can really see the dark color of the river.
The Suwannee River is actually a federally designated wild river. The river flows from the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia and winds for about 250 miles through swamps, high limestone banks, hardwood hammocks, and salt marshes before reaching the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. There are fifty-five springs that feed into the Suwannee along the way with over 150 other springs feeding into the Suwannee’s various tributaries. The water stays very dark in color so much so that its referred to as a black-water river. According to a website published by the Suwannee River Water Management District, “The river derives its tannic color from decaying vegetation in the Okefenokee Swamp and maintains a black tint as it flows south.”
Belle relaxing in the Clam.
Looking upriver from the boat dock.
“Fall” color lingered into January.
Trees with color were in the minority by the time we left on January 11.
This last picture was not captured at YJRR. I took it while we were in North Carolina visiting family over the Christmas holiday.
More pics from YJRR will be featured in my next post. Those will include our friends, too.
Part of Dauphin Island’s charm, a huge part for me, is the island’s lack of commercialism. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy visiting a good, touristy coastal town, with its kitschy souvenir shops, funky eateries, and gaudy decor. Oh, and the beach. But I have also really enjoyed chillaxing on Dauphin Island where all that stuff is minimal.
We did need to go off-island on several occasions for our COVID boosters, major grocery runs, stocking up on dog food, craft supplies (🐸), and other important stuff. That’s how we found Bayou La Batre, a quaint little fishing village about a 25-minute drive from our campground.
One of our many nice RV neighbors recommended we try eating at Bayou Seafood. I’m so glad he did, too. Their fried seafood is delicious. The onion rings are pretty darn good, too. We didn’t have room for onion rings on our last visit. We both wanted to eat all of our main courses. It was our last chance to dine there since we are headed east to Florida tomorrow.
Bayou Seafood is in an eye-catching green building that has a big gravel parking lot and beautiful Live Oak tree.
Look how small our car looks under that tree!
Fried Shrimp Platter with fries, cole slaw, and a couple of hush puppies.
The shrimp were a really nice size (12 are on the platter).
The oysters were delicious and practically melted in my mouth they were so tender, but the breading held up, too.
I like the way the window framed the metal blue crab.
I couldn’t leave the are without a shout-out to these folks. We met the owner last night and chatted a bit. The girls who work there with him are very sweet, too. If you ever visit this area, Bayou Seafood is a must-eat place to go.
There is also an Asian restaurant — Phnom Penh Fusion — that I found surprisingly good. It has a big sushi menu, too (I prefer eating cooked proteins).
Even if we hadn’t needed to visit the Bayou, I would have wanted to see the town anyway since that’s where Forrest Gump’s fictional friend, Bubba, hailed from.
It’s not full of stately old homes or anything like that. It’s a fishing village full of modest houses and buildings. Besides the fleet of fishing and shrimp boats, there are also several shipbuilders and big seafood processing houses. Live Oak trees are scattered throughout the town. It may not be as visually charming as some other places I have visited, but it’s very picturesque in its own right.
There’s an impressive vertical lift drawbridge there, too. I watched it operating one day, and even captured a video. If anyone is interested, let me know in the comments and I’ll add the video to YouTube when I’m able.
For now, it’s time to turn in. Tomorrow is a travel day. We are off to a two-month stint at two different campgrounds in Florida. One, we visited earlier this year. more on that from Florida.
For me, Thanksgiving didn’t really feel like a holiday. I mean, every day kind of feels like a holiday since I’m not working. The only thing that actually made it feel like a holiday was the influx of families with children. Since early November, there have been few kids here. Most of the folks have been our age or older. The proverbial Snowbirds who flock south in the winter months, chasing warmer weather.
Some neighboring RV peeps were talking about a group gathering, but Mike doesn’t like peopling, so I politely declined. We still had to eat, though, so I drove over to Bayou La Batre on Wednesday (the seafood capitol of Alabama AND home of the fictional Bubba of Bubba Gump Shrimp) for some provisions. That’s when I saw this mob of oyster fishermen near the boat launch just north of Dauphin Island. They were all getting ready for their holidays, too.
Oyster fishermen near boat launch on Mon Louis Island.
I not only managed to get the groceries I needed and some Asian food for a carry-out lunch, I also went to Dollar Tree and picked up some supplies to make Christmas decorations. (The actual crafting of those decorations may not happen until we get to our next stop.)
Since our time on the island is drawing to a close, I’ve been making more of an effort to watch the sunset ever day. There have been some good ones lately. On Thanksgiving Eve, I drove down toward the west end of the island for a different sunset view. That’s where these pics were captured.
Sunset shot #1 from near the Dauphin Island golf course.
Sunset shot #2 from near the Dauphin Island golf course.
Sunset shot #3 from near the Dauphin Island golf course.
Thursday ended up being a picture-perfect weather day. I baked an Apple Crumb Pie and then sat outside stitching for a couple of hours. By early afternoon, I was getting antsy and decided to go for a walk.
The view from our patio where I was stitching (working on an embroidery project).
Initially, I headed for the beach. But, at the last minute, I decided to detour through the Audubon Sanctuary that’s adjacent to the campground. I’m so glad I did. I had the place almost entirely to myself and it was such a beautiful day. Being able to be there was such a gift.
Wooded path through the forest.
Palmetto plants carpet the forest floor.
The place really is a sanctuary. It is so peaceful and the late-afternoon Autumn light was just lovely.
The only other people I saw was a group of three Europeans who were at the little boardwalk overlook, and they were talking very little. When they did talk, they spoke quietly.
As seen from the viewing boardwalk at Alligator Lake.
The air was very still, which made for a mirror-like reflection on Alligator Lake.
Alligator Lake from the opposite shore.
Looking east from the sanctuary’s path to the beach below the Dune Observation Point.
Looking toward the sanctuary from the beach.
My shadow looks weird because I was carrying my beach chair (it has straps like a backpack).
Pre-sunset #1 from the beach near the campground (I was hurrying home to make dinner).
Pre-sunset #2 from the beach path among the dunes.
Post sunset from our campsite.
Dinner — homemade chicken pot pie and Instant Pot stuffing — may not have been pretty, but it was tasty.
Ugly but good.
I don’t remember what we did on Friday. One of the hazards of not working is that all of the days kind of blend together.
I do remember the sunset. It was another pretty one.
Looking east at sunset from the public beach behind Fort Gaines.
Looking east at sunset from the public beach behind Fort Gaines, this time with vegetation in the foreground.
Shrimp boat, shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico at sunset.
Beautiful sunset colors (imagine the view from the shrimp boat!).
Saturday was a bit cold and dreary so we didn’t do a whole lot. Mike had to do some work on the AquaHot water heater (there always seems to be something going wrong in or on the RV, and not just ours). Luckily, he got it working again.
Even the sunset on Saturday was “meh”, matching the tone of the day.
Hurricane debris (I think; how else would a big hunk of brick end up in that spot?).
Lackluster sunset.
Late Saturday night, it started raining. And it kept raining well into Sunday. I was bummed because I’d planned a kayak trip to test out a hard-body sea kayak owned by a neighboring RVer. It would have been good to compare how my inflatable performs in comparison to a hard-body one. Everything I’ve read and heard say the hard ones track through the water better. Inflatables are lighter and sit higher, so they tend to be more impacted by the wind. Not that it really matters; we have no way to transport a hard-body kayak.
I didn’t want to be confined in the camper all day, so I set out on a mini road trip. I’d been wanting to visit Daphne, Alabama, on the Eastern Shore. The town has a Gator Boardwalk where you can view alligators.
As seen from Daphne’s Gator Boardwalk.
As it turns out, cool, cloudy days are not good for seeing alligators. Oh well. It was still good to get out and see some new scenery.
From Daphne, I headed south down the Eastern Shore toward Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan where I caught the Mobile Bay Ferry back to Dauphin Island. I stopped at the Publix in Gulf Shores for dinner supplies (Publix makes great deli subs) and a few groceries.
Heron and its reflection (seen in a pond near Publix).
The pics that follow were all captured from the deck of the ferry.
I had my own row on the ferry (I was the last to board).
Cormorant (top) and Pelican on the piling.
One of the reasons I chose to take the ferry to get back home was the timing of the trip. The boat I took left Fort Morgan at 4:15 and headed east to Dauphin Island. That meant I got to enjoy not only a boat ride, but also the sunset from the boat’s deck. Win-win! (I never say no to a boat ride.)
The pics that follow were all captured from the deck of the ferry. The pics are nice, but pictures never do full justice to the in-person sunset experience.
Look at those clouds! Now, imagine the cool wind in your hair and the warm sunlight on your face.
Also, though I didn’t get pics, I did see two different pods of dolphins during the crossing. It truly felt magical seeing them in that amazing light.
The water was so flat, I probably could have paddled across in my kayak, had it not been so rainy earlier in the day.
Looking out over Mobile Bay, you can see Dauphin Island on the horizon. See how smooth the water is? That’s why people call it “flat” when there’s no wind making waves.
Closer to Dauphin Island, the wind picked up. I’ve shared sunset (and a few sunrise) pics from that spot on the shore near Fort Gaines and the Little Billy Goat Hole boat launch.
Closer to the Little Billy Goat Hole boat launch.
Some of the working boats docked on the island. The blue one is a research vessel. The red one on the right services the area’s gas rigs.
I like the colors in the shot. It almost looks unreal. I also like how the setting sun lights-up the gas rig in the background.
I meant to get this posted yesterday (Monday), but got distracted. Today is my last chance for a Dauphin Island sunset. Here’s hoping the weather holds today. And that I make it back from my Mobile Costco run.
Yesterday, it was so chilly here that I actually had to wear a light jacket for my afternoon walk. It was still warm enough for flip-flops, though, so I guess I can’t complain too much. Not that I am really complaining. It was still visually beautiful AND I actually like having a bit of chill in the air. Unless I’m planning on swimming, that is.
I took my camera along and snapped some photos to share with y’all. It’s more fun to show you that it’s starting to look like Fall here, too.
Filtered sun illuminated this palmetto.
A hint of Fall color.
Heron at the pond.
Alligator sunning itself on the bank.
Pond reflection.
Lily pads changing color.
Pond reflection from the other bank.
Marsh grass in varying shades.
Red leaf captured in a Sand Hill Rosemary bush.
Looking out on the Gulf of Mexico from the Audubon Sanctuary’s Dune Observation Point.
Bird life observation; there’s a Cormorant fishing in the water and a Willet (I think) hunting onshore.
Looking east across Mobile Bay toward Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores.
The sun sets just before 5:00 these days, which means I can enjoy a leisurely, unhurried sunset and still have plenty of time to stroll home in time to cook dinner.
Sunset view #1.
Sunset view #2.
Sunset view #3.
I hope you enjoyed the images from my afternoon stroll. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to enjoy camping and exploring on this lovely island — Dauphin Island — at the mouth of Mobile Bay in Alabama.
Getting used to living full-time in an RV and not working has been a bit of an adjustment. One or the other of those two things would itself be an adjustment. Actually, there’s another thing… adjusting to Mike not working.
We really don’t do a whole lot. Every now and then we’ll go somewhere just for fun, but usually we just sorta hang out. Mike usually rides his bike once a day for exercise. Then he reads, or listens to podcasts, or maybe watches some TV. I like spending time outside, so I either sit outside in our “yard” with Belle or, if I feel like I need to move, I’ll take a walk or a bicycle ride. I also take Belle for short strolls throughout the day (she doesn’t like to go far from the camper). Yesterday, I put the top down on the Mini and took Belle for a ride to the other end of the island and back.
I’ve taken the kayak out a few times. And I hope to use it again a time or two before we leave here at the end of November. I also do some sewing. With the holidays approaching, I’ve been working on some gifts. Some days, like today, I paint my nails. I also cook dinner most days, too. Simple stuff that can be cooked outside and/or heated in the microwave/toaster oven (to minimize strong food odors inside of the coach).
I’m not complaining, just trying to keep it real. It sounds dull, I know. We both seem to be enjoying the low-key life. Really, the best thing about RV life is just being able to live in such a wide variety of different places and meet people from all over the country. The worst thing? Sometimes it does feel a bit lonely. There are lots of folks to chit-chat with, but I find it hard to find people who are good at real conversation.
I’ve really enjoyed island life. I think Mike has, too. But I’ll be ready to move on to Florida in 10 days. Especially since some friends will be camping in the same place we are for a few weeks and at least one of them likes water sports and doing crafty stuff, too.
I’ve been making more of an effort to watch the sunset every day. I usually ride my bike to the public beach at the east end of the island to do that. It’s quicker than walking to the beach. Here’s a pretty sunset photo I captured yesterday…
Friday’s sunset.
I do enjoy being in such a beautiful location surrounded by water. I’ll miss the East Coast beaches and abundance of water for sure, once we head west at the end of January.
Mobile Bay
Interesting textures and my bike on the beach.
Life in the desert will be the next big adjustment for us, I think. We may be spending the first part of 2022 in the desert southwest. Time will tell…
It was a beautiful day in southern Alabama today. I think temps were in the mid-70s when Mike went out to do something to the car. That something required putting the top down. When the neighbor suggested we should go for a ride, Mike actually said, “You’re right!” He then came inside and asked if Belle and I wanted to go for a ride.
You don’t often have to ask me twice, especially if I get to see new stuff. That’s how we ended up eating linner (late lunch/early dinner) in Fairhope on Alabama’s Eastern Shore. I’d read that Fairhope was a nice place to visit and an even nicer place to live. It actually sits on a bluff overlooking Mobile Bay and was hilly.
The biggest hill we’ve seen for awhile is the bridge going from Dauphin Island to the mainland. I’d been meaning to get a picture of that and was happy I could do so today.
Headed north from Dauphin Island on south side of bridge.
We had no idea it was supposed to rain, and were happy to see we’d be on the eastern side of the storms for a good while.
Headed north from Dauphin Island on north side of bridge.
We headed north toward Mobile then east across the delta at the top of the bay and south down the Eastern Shore to Fairhope.
The skyline of downtown Mobile.
As native Marylanders, it’s really weird to hear an area in Alabama referred to as the Eastern Shore. In Maryland, the state is sorta split in half by the Chesapeake Bay, so it makes sense to have an Eastern Shore. Only a tiny little piece of Alabama, the foot, is split by Mobile Bay into “shores.” Most of the state of Alabama lies to the north, and there’s quite a bit of Alabama to the east of the Eastern Shore, too. Anyhoo…
My linner.
We ate at a place called the Dragonfly Foodbar in downtown Fairhope. We needed a place with outdoor seating to accommodate Belle, with good food and beer for us. I found the place on Yelp! as Hubby drove. It was described as Mexican Asian fusion. We each had a firecracker shrimp taco (spicy breaded fried shrimp and cabbage). Hubby also had a duck taco and fish of the day taco (Gulf Porgy). I also had a Wagyu beef slider and a fried oyster taco. The oyster one was my favorite. Mike drank a white ale from Iceland and I had a Southern Pecan nut brown ale. Both were delicious.
After dinner, we stopped at the bayside town park for a few pics before heading home. We did hit a bit of rain on the way back, but it wasn’t too bad. We even got to see a double rainbow and lovely sunset.
Looking across Mobile Bay toward Dauphin Island.
Looking across the bay at Mobile.
Another view toward Dauphin Island.
Pelican
The shot of the pelican was my favorite capture from the park in Fairhope. I love this next pic, too.
Belle
Our pretty little girl is really getting old. She is 14.5 now. She doesn’t like to walk much anymore, so car rides are about as exciting as things get for her. She doesn’t like being left home alone, so we almost always take her with us if we are going to be gone for very long. She really enjoys rides with the top down, which we did on the way to Fairhope.
Going off-island together was a nice change of pace. It’s hard to believe we’ve only got a couple of weeks left here. We’ve been so busy enjoying the leisurely island life that we haven’t explored a whole lot in the area.
We have been to Bayou La Batre and the Mobile suburbs a few times (that’s what we call civilization). And one day for something to do I drove Belle to Biloxi so she could say she’s been to Mississippi, state #16 for our elderly pup. 😊
I guess I’m going to have to sort through some pics and bring y’all up to speed on our adventures, including not one, but two visits with some blogger friends y’all will recognize. Maybe tomorrow…
