Alabama to Mississippi

Tunnel under Mobile Bay...Mobile, Alabama 

Our first tunnel to pull our fifth wheel thru.  As we entered the tunnel, J became nervous when he saw some yellow flashing lights ahead only to find it to be a tow truck pulling something with its lights flashing.  I was looking for drippy water as we were going under water .... under the bay.  Reminded me of the long tunnels under the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.


Yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  :)

 Our stop at the Mississippi Welcome Center was nice.  The host there was very informative. 

Jan. 8th was Elvis Presley's 79th birthday.  The "King of Rock and Roll" was inducted into four music hall of fames after his untimely death at age 42...Rock and Roll, Country Music, Gospel Music, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fames.  The Welcome Center honored Elvis's birthday with FREE mini cupcakes and coffee to their visitors.  YUMMY!  The host gave us a handful of info to enhance our stay.  We also received 4 FREE tickets to Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant in Biloxi, MS, for BOGO lunches.  :)

I-10, Rt. 57, and US 90 took us to Davis Bayou campground in Ocean Springs, MS...another section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore... FL and MS.  Ocean Springs Hospital is located at the entrance to this park.  Appears rates have increased everywhere.  $11 per nite with Sr/Golden Age pass.   Could it be last year's government shutdown as the cause? Water/ electric with dump station nearby.  New heated bath house with private individual shower rooms.
The National Seashore has a small strip of land thru the pine, oak, and hardwoods to the campground. 



Today we took a half mile trail hike up a "Mississippi mountain" that is an old sand dune that has been taken over by the forest.  The bayou coastal marsh acts as "sponges" for high water during hurricane tidal surges.  Hurricane Katrina in 2005 changed coastal Mississippi.  In one day the wind and storm surge destroyed homes and trees that stood for generations.  Trees on Deer Island are stripped of their leaves and bark as they stand forlorn in the distance.  In the trunks of those dead trees professional wood sculptor Marlin Miller of Fort Walton Beach, FL saw feathers, fins, and beaks.  For 3 years he donated his time and talent carving a trail of sculptures stretching 40 miles.  They restore hope and are reminders that after the 2010 Gulf oil spill...marine life of South Mississippi is a treasure.  The largest of his creations graces the outside of the Infinity Science Center.  The sculptured driftwood and metal eagle standing 32 feet tall was created with wood of a generations-old oak tree felled in Hurricane Katrina.  Its wings were strengthened with steel from a Space Shuttle engine.

 Here are a few other sculptures found along Biloxi's beach.

 

Seahorse
A string of Dolphins
Swordfish and shark

Today's ride took us thru Ocean Springs across the bridge to Biloxi.  As we entered Biloxi we were greeted by one casino after another.  Along the water's edge still were signs of Hurricane Katrina's rath as re-construction continues.   Biloxi Lighthouse was built in 1848.  It is the only lighthouse in the US to stand in the middle of a four-lane highway.

 





Back at camp we mulled thru our day taking notes and making plans for more adventure.  Want to check out some other nearby campgrounds...Big Biloxi and Shepherds State Park.  Both parks $13 per nite with Sr/Golden Age Pass. 

See you by the campfire.