Gulf Shores

Despite three calls today for sailboat deliveries, we opted to roll out of town! Time to fish or cut bait. Off to cold clear water Manatee Springs, which feeds the Suwanee River for a swim in the 90 degree midday heat. Lots of swimmers splashing about and lots of brown water snakes hanging out on branches and warm rocks.

Surprisingly parents and kids did not mess with them, such peaceful coexistence. Later passing through the north central town of Chiefland FL, the watermelon growing capitol of the nation, we almost lingered to watch the seed spitting contest, but the urge to cross a state border propelled us on.

As we wandered through the Gulf Shores with the soft, pure white quartzite sand we were flipped out to learn that it all washed down from the eroding Appalachian mountains. The sand actually squeaks underfoot because the elliptical shape of each mineral grain slides on the next, so different from the shell and coral shore that encircles the Florida peninsula. So happy this stunning coast is in our back yard.

Everywhere we park people admire our classic old van. They want to know where they can get one…or we get thumbs up as we drive along.

To our delight the sleeping arrangements are cool and comfortable, once we are up onto the platform. The exhaust fan sucks fresh cool air over us. its just the athletic, awkward move required to get up there that make us giggle and feel young and silly. Who in their right minds would sleep with only a foot of air space over their head. Must be cavers!

So it’s hard not to have RV envy when we spy the expensive slick Mercedes Sprinter… who couldn’t use a little extra space for a proper desk area to help with my wireless world?

No truly, we are loving our camper and think she’s perfect for us and her name is ‘Rover.’