A Getaway!

After almost four months, we finally managed to get away for a few days.  Our destination wasn't that far, a couple hundred miles to the Gulf Coast.  Our first stop was at Davis Bayou campground, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

A very nice campground with water and electric hookups. Built on a hardwood hummock surrounded by marshland.

 

The weather while we were there was beautiful, but quite cool.  Lots of creatures escaping the water and enjoying the warming rays of the sun.

While on a walk one morning I noticed an unmarked trail leading from the road.

The first unusual thing I found was this tree.  Years ago a large Live Oak tree had fallen, and a limb came to rest alongside another smaller tree.  The small tree has grown almost all the way around the dead limb.

Shortly afterward, I found a number of large concrete foundations.

The more I looked, the more old foundations I found.  My imagination was running wild when I saw the back of this old sign, which explained it all.

The remains of an old CCC camp from the late 1930's.  Just think what it would have been like for those guys back then.  Living just a stones throw from gulf coast marshland, during a hot Mississippi Summer. No air conditioning, clouds of mosquitoes, sand gnats, ticks, chiggers, etc.  They were probably all glad to sign up for the Army when the time came.

From Davis Island, we moved over near Pensacola, Florida; and Fort Pickens campground.  Still part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, but much larger than Davis Island.  Lots and lots of snowbirds.

 The weather in Fort Pickens wasn't the best.  Rain almost all day Sunday, and fog so thick on Monday that one could hardly see the end of the campground.  We stayed close to the trailer reading and napping most of the day.  Tuesday wasn't much better, with fog lasting all day, but it wasn't as dense.  We had a good breakfast, then did a ride along Santa Rosa Island to Navarre Beach, and back.

On Wednesday things improved and I hiked the mile to the old fort.  I've blogged about it in the past, so not much to add.  Just a few random shots with my phone.

Lots of bricks.  All handmade by slaves in the 1830's.  Walls four feet thick, and solid brick.

Almost two hundred years of wear, by thousands of feet on these.

Wednesday was also the best beach day we had. Though it wasn't sunny, the temperature was mild.

                                                          She really wanted that shell.

Wednesday was also was the only day we had a pretty sunset.  Here's a few shots from my phone, as well as the old Canon.

We're back home now.   Traveled all day in rain yesterday, and it's been cold here today.  Sunny tomorrow and Sunday, with rain again Monday.  Welcome to Winter in the South....jc