Florida!

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Finally!  We depart Dog River heading east.  Here we are along the Intracoastal near Gulf Shores AL. 

Concrete artificial reefs await deployment offshore, compliments of funding from BP as remediation from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  More than 6 years later, BP is still paying.  We have heard lots of stories from locals in this area of scams to get part of the settlement money.

We tie up for the night at Barber Marina, across Bay la Launch from Orange Beach.  This first class facility was built a few years ago by George Barber Jr., a successful but eccentric businessman whose father started Barber Dairy in the 1930s. The marina is his dream facility.

Extensive grounds boast a mixture of manicured landscaping and natural woods.  This grand fountain graces the entrance from the road.

Across from the fountain lies a helipad.

The grounds and woods display a variety of sculpture including a Stonehenge replica, nature subjects, and whimsical figures.

The vast grounds were dog heaven!  Note the very large dry stack storage barn in the distance, which has a 400 boat capacity.

Barber also built the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham.  The marina ship's store, shown here, houses an impressive collection of vintage outboard motors, all beautifully restored.

A whimsical "crab" chair on the patio of the ship's store.  Note the resident cat.

Friday, September 9, 2016

The next day we made a leisurely cruise to Perdido Key, passing Orange Beach along the way.

We tied up for the night at the Perdido Key Oyster Bar and Marina.  The marina staff had gone to a boat show, so the restaurant manager helped us tie up (in a lovely lace dress, no less).  Now that's a first!

Saturday, September 10, 2016

On the move again, we pass Pensacola en route to Santa Rosa Island, near Pensacola Beach.  A bridge in Pensacola is barely visible in the distance.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

We anchor out behind Santa Rosa Island for three nights.  Here we reflect on the tragic events of 15 years ago while we watch a fabulous sunset.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Finally we must leave our peaceful anchorage and head back to civilization.  We pass condos and tourist boats off Pensacola Beach.

We are now tied up at Pensacola Shipyard, a working boat yard on Bayou Chico in Pensacola FL.  This facility dates to 1917 and was founded to build ships for WWI.

Today it is still a busy shipyard.  The matriarch of the owner's family lives on the premises.  Quite elderly, she made a point of meeting us soon after we arrived, and encouraging us to "Uber" to eat at her favorite local restaurant.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Time for a break and a very special occasion!  We drove a rental car to Nashville TN for our niece's wedding.  

Robert's brother's daughter, Alex, married Alexander (yes, really!) in a lovely outdoor garden at a historic home.  Belle Meade Plantation was once a horse farm and the reception was held in the Carriage House, which is also a museum.