DRIVE  to Alabama and Key West, Florida

October 22, 2014 to January 24. 2015

Our trip to the south took us to a number of interesting stops in the US. We were fortunate to have good weather for the couple of weeks it took us to get to Gulf Shores, Alabama where we were to stay for 2 1/2 months before embarking on our next adventure. We definitely went to Cudjoe Key to visit with my daughter and her husband before on to Miami to store our car while we are away to South America.

Our Condo from the beach  -  Gulf Shores and Racquet Club

Since it was hunting season when we left we had this sign in hotels.

We drove through some old towns that still kept their historical buildings which was a treat to see after all the strip malls and kilometer long main streets with little or no sidewalks.

Auburn, Nebraska

We went our of our way to go to Bentonville, Arkansas where we wanted to see the world class Crystal Bridges Art Gallery. The Gallery was designed by Moshe Safdie who also designed the Habitat in Montreal for the 1967 Expo. It is sponsored and fully paid for by Waltons (Walmart family) The Gallery features only 20^th Century art. We spent a few hours in the gallery and found it an excellent – well worth the stop.

Rosie the Riveter  by Norman Rockwell

On to Hot Springs, Arkansas where the Al Capone gang and baseball players spent their time. Most of the elegant bath houses are still standing and we toured the rooms and saw the old equipment that was used and the baths. It was most interesting and the buildings were well preserved.

The exercise room

Locals fill their containers with spring water

We passed through Meridian, Mississippi where we lucked in to see the old steam engines and printing press demonstrations. This happens once a year when they start the huge engines and open it to the public.

We finally reach our destination for the next 2 1/2 months at Gulf Shores, Alabama. The white sand beach that goes for miles and the condos and houses on stilts were our first impressions. We had a lovely condo with a great view of the ocean. We did have to drive about 5 miles to the grocery stores – so you do need a car to vacation there.

The view to the lagoon behind the apartment

A Skate

Jellies on the beach

Monarch Butterfly

The black shells are Mermaid Purses that contained 6 fertilized skate eggs and the other is a catfish skeleton and resembles "Christ on the Cross".

Many biking and walking trails at the State Park

Barred Owl

Oil rigs seen on our excursion to Dauphin Island

Murals at Lake Placid, Florida

Florida City/Homestead, Florida

Our visit to the local museum

We spent 3 days visiting with our daughter Linda and Richard on Cudjoe Key (near Key West) and it sure was nice to see them looking great. Linda is a good cook and a great organizer. Richard became interested in painting with Chris' influence.

Richard and Linda

After visiting and travelling we went to Miami, put our car in storage and took a flight to Bogota, Colombia.

Miami airport as seen from the plane