Friends and Family

Okay so I can't remember everything and this picture was supposed to be in the previous article so let me introduce you to our friends Tom and Mary.  We spent Thanksgiving dinner with them at the Tin Top restaurant in Bon Secour near Gulf Shores (tintoprestaurant.com) check out their menu!

Tom and Mary at the lighthouse at Pensacola Naval Air Station

It was great of them to stop by on their way to Titusville and share Thanksgiving with us.

Sharon's cousin Marcia and her husband John rolled into town after a fitful start to their new RV life. Breakdown after breakdown with their Class C punctuated by a 'to hell with it' and traded it in half way on their trip here with a newer model on their very first RV adventure. Their story gets funnier as time passes but at the time not so much. Anyway if you ever get the chance, ask them about it. It's a grin. Based on those experiences I think they'll fit right in to the full timers life. Overcoming adversity is part of the RV life.
We joined them for dinner their first night here at one of the areas more famous eateries. Lamberts (throwedrolls.com) is best known for the antics the waiters pull and the throwing of hot dinner rolls from across the room than their food but its still a 'must stop' when in the area.

Survived the 'throwed roll attack'

As Christmas nears what yearly event does Gulf Shores share with the great metropolis of New York you might ask. Well it's the annual Christmas parades.  As Paul Revere almost once said... "One of by land and one of by Sea". Yes, two parades. One through the downtown area and the other a boat parade along the intercoastal waterway. As luck would have it the weather was tolerable, though a little chilly, so we joined Sharon's GISD (not so secret government agency) friends Marlene and her husband Paul and Linda and her hubby John curbside to take in the first parade. The high school band, floats, kids throwing candy like they were fastballs at Tiger stadium and of course, Santa riding atop a bright red fire truck. A good time was had by all.

Linda, John,Paul Sharon, Marlene and two mysterious fingers

Can you spot the snowbirds?

Pretty snazzy float I'd say.

Marlene unsuccessfully trying to tell Santa she's been good this year.

A few days later it was the local mariners who had their big parade on the intercoastal waterway between Lulu's and the Wharf, two very well attended watering holes for locals and tourists alike. We attended this event in past years but weather kept the boats and the crowds to barely a hand full of participants. It was a whole different story this year as the weather was good and upwards of 40 some boats took up the challenge. So Sharon and I, her cousin Marcia and husband John, and Paul and Marlene headed early to Tacky Jacks (tackyjacks.com) to get waterside seats, something to eat, and some much needed libation. Good thing we got there early as the crowd soon filled the place. Beers and bushwackers soon warmed us up and the boat parade soon began.

The newest Tacky Jacks on the Intercoastal

Paul and Marlene

John and Marcia

Tradition has it that you leave a message while here

Note our date 12-13-14 ... pretty neat eh?

Getting ready to parade

Nice sportfishman

Size matters. Nicely decorated 60 foot houseboat

And so it goes. Another night of frivolity and soaking up the local culture and beer. The parade goes along the waterway for several miles and ends with a big party at Flippers Seafood Oyster Bar and Grill (flippersrestaurant.com) in Orange Beach. We missed the party this year as us oldsters were already past our curfew.

Still 'Livin' the Dream' on the Gulf Coast ... and enjoying family and friends.

Phil