Leaving Fort Pickens for Alabama

What a night!  Early light rain.  Temps dropped and the wind came up.  The slide toppers fluttered all night driving J nuts.  They are noisy with each big gust of wind.  To bed early after watching hockey.  Up just after midnight mulling over....to leave or not to leave come morning.  At daylight J decided to test the weather with our rig driving to a campground near Robertsdale, AL.  What a good decision.  The barrier island road was fast covering with the white quartzite sand as the park ranger pushed it off to keep it passable.

 

 Beach Warning Flags...

double red..........water closed to public

single red...........high hazard...high surf and/or strong currents

yellow................medium hazard...moderate surf and/or currents

green..................low hazard...calm conditions, exercise caution

purple................dangerous marine life

 

The ocean waves were slapping hard and the bay was full of huge angry white caps.  A Great Blue Heron was having a hard time standing in the seat oats near the bay.  One big puff of wind caught its wing almost pushing it over.  A change of stance was necessary to stay upright.  As we exited the island the frayed yellow CAUTION flag was stretched tight as it waved vigorously....Goodbye.

 

 

The two big bridges were favorable as we had a NW head wind.  Mother-in-law said the wind direction was good; but, we would get a surprise at the gas pump.  LOL  J snail crawled between 40-50mph along I-10 west without incident.   We entered Alabama looking for the Welcome Center Rest Area only to find it CLOSED.  Thank goodness we were only about 10 miles away from our destination for the night.

 A call ahead got us a spot for the night at an ADULT ONLY Passport America campground 0.6 mi. off  I-10 for the night.  HillTop RV Park is like a can of sardines....but, we like it.  Nice host...full hook-up pull-thru...warm clubhouse...warm laundry room with new equipment/folding table for $1.50 per load...private restrooms/showers...FREE Wi-Fi.  The 24mph NW wind has dropped to 16mph.  Temp is 35 degrees with a windchill of 25 degrees.  Low tonight is to drop to 17 degrees by morning.  Going to be a cold one for sure.  The host said this is the coldest winter for this area in 20 years.

After settling in, we took a drive thru Spanish Trail to Winn Dixie in Robertsdale.  Bought a loaf of dark pumpkernickle bread.  OH YUM!  Then on to Loxley, Alabama, where J bought gas at LOVES at $3.09.9 per gal.  According to his calculations, we got 12 miles per gal.  WOW!  I guess driving slower makes a difference even with a head wind.

Back at camp we are hunkering down for a cold night.  J is winterizing the trailer a little more than the polar pack it came with.  Heaters are warming our abode and electric blanket is warming our bed.  TV is really broadcasting the cold and measures for folk to take to be safe.  Catch you another day.

See you by the campfire.