I'm just sitting here ... the shimmering reflection off the giant red Shoney's sign hits the glass smooth pond that separates our coach from the distant eatery. I65 traffic streams by but the only notice I take is the colorful ribbons of tail lights and headlights in the distance. We've left our Gulf Shores hideout for the past five weeks and are finally heading north. We're not alone today as many fellow 'snow birds' have joined us on the freeways ... some in no hurry at 55mph ... others it's pedal to the metal. We're somewhere in between but really in no hurry as it looks as if the expected Spring weather has once again alluded Michigan. With heavy fog expected here in the morning I'm sure we'll be delayed a few hours at the very least.
Our quiet stay in Gulf Shores was a pleasant surprise. We purposely cut back our socializing and spent more time just relaxing and doing little else. The 500 site Gulf State Park is a real gem. Very well maintained and lot sizes were huge. With many southern schools on Spring break there were a lot of kids in the park but the park is so big they were hardly noticed ... with one exception.
About a week ago a couple of young guys pulled in with nice new truck and new 5th wheel. My guess is one of their parents provided the rig but for sure these guys were going to have a great spring break. To the beach they'd go in the day and in the late afternoon return to party. They knew they were surrounded by old farts at this end of the camp so they kept the shades pulled and the windows shut. The only hint of their party ways was the growing pile of empty beer cans at the foot of their trailer steps. Friends usually joined them at night and before long the pile was probably near 100 empties. It was a mess but most of us knew it couldn't last forever and they'd be gone soon enough. So after about three days the party boys couldn't contain themselves. Out from the confines of their trailer the roar of exuberant and very drunk youngsters landed on their patio. With no vulgarity left unsaid and usually said for the entire park to hear, they then started 'let's play kick the empty beer can' game. We couldn't see, but only hear how the game was going as we were then laying in bed and it was 1:00am in the morning!
Soon my tolerance level was breached and I reached for the phone to call the park authorities. The guy who answered wasn't too impressed with my complaint but I reminded him that I didn't sign up this behavior when we checked in. He backed off and said he'd call the park ranger. A few minutes later I could hear somebody (turned out to be the ranger) talking on a radio outside our bedroom window. He apparently came up with his lights off to observe the party boys. While on the radio he asked for backup as a bunch of drunk young men might be more than he wanted to tackle. Within a few more minutes the Gulf Shores city police arrived and broke up the party. But not before they had every beer can picked up and the extra party boys were asked to leave. I chatted with the ranger after the commotion subsided and he said the young guys and their daddies trailer would be leaving first thing in the morning and apologized for the disturbance. As promised, when morning arrived, the ranger arrived and Spring break was over as the party boys drove away. Now if the party boys had only offered me a cold beer in the first place .......
We're currently in Clanton AL and when the fog clears tomorrow we'll head for Cave City Kentucky some 300 miles up the road. Surprise ... Surprise ... I think they are known for the large number of caves in the area. Since spelunking was a pastime for my family when I was kid, it seems like a great place to stay. Sharon, and her notion that caves and hairy bats go together like peanut butter and crackers ... it might be a great place to visit but we're not going into any caves she tells me.
So the Michigan-Louisville championship game is at half time so I'll close for now and ... Go Blue!
Still livin' the dream on a warm Spring evening in southern Alabama.
Phil
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