We Begin the ICW - Day 60 - Fairhope to Gulf Shores, AL

After a stormy Tuesday, we awoke to a sunny morning and decided to continue.   Our destination was the Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, AL (halfway between Mobile Bay and Pensacola).   We had a following sea, but the waves were about 2 feet.    As we cruised, the props must stir up fish and birds followed us in pursuit of the fish.  (Looked right out of Alfred Hitchcock.)

We entered the ICW (Inter Coastal Waterway) at mile marker 149.   While there is no visual demarcation at the cut, except for red day mark 120, it was another milestone for us.

Shortly, we arrived at Homeport Marina which is owned and operated by Jimmy Buffet's sister, Lucy.  The restaurant is the big draw, getting as many as 3,000 people a day in season.   Last summer Jimmy B. put on a concert and drew 60,000.    They said people just stopped on the road, got out of their cars and came to listen.  The cops wrote 25,000 tickets according to the lady at the gift shop.

The restaurant at Homeport Marina is called LuLu's

We had dinner here and it was fun.   Someone was playing a guitar, but the sound system was incredible.  Every light post outside even had a speaker.    This place must rock when the weather is warmer.   It is maybe 60-62 degrees during the day and then gets chilly/cold at night (40's).

There is sand and colorful benches and bars surrounding LuLu's and the stage

Stage

This marina has floating docks, which is great with the tides.  Easy on and off for us and Kodi.  Quite a change from the last 10 days.  Note: Kodi is even comfortable getting on and off the boat regardless of the tide.  She will assess the situation, decide whether the swim platform of the gunwale is more advantageous and then go for it.  She is both fearless and surefooted.

Floating docks

After we docked, Les cleaned the right side windshield.   You can see that the left side is almost cloudy from the salt water spray  -- a first for us Lake Michigan boaters.

Which side has the salt spray?

As the day was ending, we took a picture of a palm tree just to show we are headed to Florida tomorrow.

Real (not plastic) Palm Tree!

Written by Diana

(Patiently coached and edited by Lester who is teaching me

how to use the blog.   I am confident that by the

time we reach Chicago next year, I will have

learned!!)

1st Post Script by Les.  Last night's storm was an experience and according to the natives, the most severe this season.  By 10:00 PM winds had gotten up to 30 knots from the west.  Fortunately, Ed had moved us to the fuel dock which was reasonably well protected.  I walked back to our original dock at the harbor entrance where I observed 3 foot rollers entering the harbor.  We would have had a rough night and possibly some damage had we not moved.  Thanks to Ed's local knowledge we were secure all evening.  Note: Kodi did not want to get off the boat for her evening constitutional.

2nd Post Script by Les.  The photo below is a marina that went into bankruptcy.  How do I know you ask?  It was one of the topics of discussion at the Thanksgiving dinner.



Perhaps a sign of the times