A drive around Mobile Bay

Gulf Shores, Alabama: Happy Birthday, Jean! (And for you Nawtheners, it is pronounced MO-beel.) After a few days of chilly weather, we woke to warm sun and no wind. Of course, since we were going to be in the car all day - just our luck! Our plan for the day was to drive up the east shore of Mobile Bay, down the western shore and take the ferry across the mouth of the bay back to our campground in Gulf Shores. It was a great day and I snapped a lot of photos, pour a glass of something refreshing, sit back and enjoy the tour.

For your reference: we started on far right bottom of map in Gulf Shores, took a left at Foley and followed the coast up through Fairhope to Interstate 10 to Mobile. Then we followed the road south along the western shore of the bay, over a very long bridge to Dauphin Island to catch a ferry running across the mouth of the bay - about 125 miles in all.

Our first stop was to the adorable town of Fairhope. Seriously, it is the prettiest town I have ever seen - almost Disney-esque. Both times we have been here, the weather has been perfect too, so I don't know if that package is part of the deal with Fairhope or not. Even the name of the town is overly appealing. (Oh, okay, so Jimmy Buffett did spend a part of his childhood here... he left, so maybe he isn't so great after all.)

Beautiful flowers in Fairhope


Mobile Bay from a city park in Fairhope, Alabama

After picking up a few brochures in the Fairhope Visitor Center, we did a walking tour of the historical city center. We visited the Red or White wine shop. The owner is specializing in American artisan cheeses and carries varieties from Rogue Creamery and also offers several Oregon wines, including selections from our favorite, Ponzi.

Sign outside the Red or White Wine Shop in Fairhope, Alabama

And so we arrived in Mobile. Before picking up the part we (hope we) need for our inverter, we needed some fuel - and I knew just the place, The Brick Pit.

The Brick Pit in Mobile, Alabama


The smoke house is behind the restaurant


So I've heard


Interior of the Brick Pit. The walls are covered with signatures, graffiti, awards and "art".


Order at the window in the back and they bring the order to your table


This guy is serious about barbeque

Bill Armbrecht, owner of The Brick Pit, offers three items on his menu. Smoked pulled pork, smoked pork ribs and smoked chicken. You can order these items on a plate, with the usual sides (potato salad, cole slaw, beans) or you can order the meat in a sandwich. Ice tea and soft drinks and one dessert - Mrs. Waits Homemade Banana Pudding. Our chicken was simply delicious. The skin is black from the smoker and the tangy sauce is poured over the meat before serving.

Smoked BBQ Chicken Plate with Texas Toast and two sides - $8.99

A regional note: in the South and Midwest, Carl's Jr. is called Hardee's.

Strange, yet still familiar

Next stop in Mobile was to pick up our part at Grainger. $30. They had two, so we bought them both. Just in case; a girl never knows when she may need a relay switch. Mission accomplished and full tummies, we continued our loop around Mobile Bay. Fort Gaines, built in 1861, protected the western opening of Mobile Bay from the tip of Dauphin Island. From Fort Gaines Confederate troops lost the Battle of Mobile in 1864, one of the most important sea battles of the Civil War.

Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island in Alabama - complete with moat.


Entrance to the fort


Officers Quarters


Gun mounts


Interior of Fort Gaines


"Damn the torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead."
Now the only thing off-shore are Exxon natural gas platforms (in 11 feet of water).


A blacksmith was demonstrating his trade inside the walls of Fort Gaines today


This area housed working areas - bread ovens and the blacksmith shop


DT in the interior of Fort Gaines

From the tip of Dauphin Island we caught the car ferry across the mouth of Mobile Bay. The ride takes about thirty minutes. One-way fare was $16 for car and driver, plus $4.50 per passenger. The ferry dock had an electronic sign illuminated reading "NO RVS". I can't be sure, but it seems RV's may sometimes be allowed, so check with the ferry first! (We were in our Honda today.) It was an interesting crossing - we could see the fort from the sea and had really good views of the gas platforms in the bay.

Ferry across the mouth of Mobile Bay


Not sure how much the fare is for a sea gull


20,000 feet below Mobile Bay - natural gas

And so we arrived safely back to Gulf Shores, eight hours after we started our circle. We stopped in town to a huge beach bar, The Hangout, before driving back to our motorhome. The Hangout used to be a very popular place in Gulf Shores, but it closed down for years due to... hmmm... suppose it could have been a hurricane? Anyway, it is back and better than ever. Right on the beach too. Huge bar and restaurant inside and outdoor stage with several outdoor bars. If I was in college and it was Spring Break... this would be the place you could find me.

Our dinner: fried pickles. Yes, we had them again. The Hangout's Frickles win our taste test by a landslide. The frickles at Tacky Jack's were too salty, the frickles at the Flora-Bama had too much batter. Goldilocks would find the frickles from The Hangout just right.

No dinner for us tonight. We had much more important events to occupy our evening - GW was playing basketball on television. The George Washington University basketball team is having a tough year. (Just like the Ducks, they are a "young team".) Rarely are they on TV, so we stayed in tonight and watched My Guys, and dang it, if they didn't WIN! GO COLONIALS!

The local RV technician will be here in the morning to install the new switch. (Switch the switch, so to speak.) Until my next update, I remain, your Hail to the Buff, hail to the Blue, Loyal to GW correspondent!

RV Park: Bella Terra RV Resort