Heads up to any Needleworkers out there - make sure you do not miss the photos all the way at the bottom of this post.
Sunday, we woke to another hot and humid morning
and had a leisurely Sunday breakfast of bacon and eggs. We worked on
some RV maintenance and got on the road heading south to Perdido Key.
We drove along the island often with views of either the Gulf on one
side or Perdido Bay on the other and sometimes, both! Much less
commercialized than many of the other beach areas, but we did see signs of recent flooding as there were heaps
of junk, including furniture at the end of driveways, waiting for
pickup. Guess that is the risk of living right next to
the water.
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| The GPS actually knows where we are! |
At the end of the island is Fort
Morgan, an important fort guarding the east side of Mobile Bay during
the Civil War and reactivated during the Spanish-American War and
World Wars I and II. We caught the ferry here across Mobile Bay and
saw the companion fort on the west side of Mobile Bay, Fort Gaines.
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| Fort Gaines |
We enjoyed watching hundreds of pelicans skimming the water and suddenly diving straight down for fish.
Forty minutes later, we were driving across little Dauphin Island to
the bridge that takes us north to the mainland where we headed to an
RV Campground, near Mobile that we expect to visit tomorrow. I
chose it because it was one of the few that had a pool, and with a
heat index of 104, a nice dip in the pool seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately, the
campground was very run down, and although they had 50 amp service,
the electrical boxes looked like someone put a cherry bomb in them.
Jack got stung by a wasp who had a nest inside and we decided to
forego the place and backtracked a couple of miles to a decent
campground for half the price. No pool, but nice, big shade trees.
Monday morning we drive north with a short stop at an RV repair place to take a look at a couple of minor things and then on into downtown Mobile, Alabama to visit the Mardi Gras Museum. Luckily it had its own large parking lot.
Folks claim Mobile was the site of the
first Mardi Gras, before New Orleans. Regardless, this Mardi Gras is
very different from the raunchy, ruckus in New Orleans. It begins as
early as November with the various organizations (mystic societies)
and social organizations debutante balls. Kings and Queens of the Mardi Gras are elected, usually related to
previous families or long-time volunteers of the organizations. They
have elaborate regalia – apropro of a King and Queen. Many of
these were on display in the museum – absolutely gorgeous!
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| These costumes are symbols of the different mystic societies |
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| No, I didn't make it myself..... |
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| Banquet Table |
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| Children and Ladies in Waiting Accompany the King and Queen |
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| Silver cat made from tin foil cupcake papers |
Do not miss this museum for its exhibits and for its home in a splendid former private residence.
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| Even the elevator was decorated |
Here are more photos of the coronation regalia for the needleworkers out there!
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