Hey Running Mommy! FloraBama Pics 4 U!!

[Mr. Bloom]

Well RM, we got you FloraBama pics. I understand that after the hurricane blew it down, they tried rebuilding it with as much of the original building materials as possible. Kinda like a puzzle!!

Here's proof that redneck will always be accepted somewhere!! When asked why he doesn't just sell out to the condos for development, the owner said "I make a lot more money doing this"!!!

There was a biker convention happening while we drove by:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...a/IMG_0591.jpg

We ventured a bit closer. Note the tarp being used over the roof:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...a/IMG_0592.jpg

This is where I drew the line. My girls are not getting any closer!!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...a/IMG_0593.jpg

Hope these work for you!

Chris

[Mr. Bloom]

by the way, we are finding out that the area is not nearly as depressed as I represented it. it appears that they are expecting a full season again this year. there is lots of new building however there is lots of empty new retail space. Much more of the hurricane debris is finally cleaned up but there is still some here. The market on condos as dropped out.


OOPS!!!!!!!! I just realized that I (silver) posted into Mr. Silver's account. sorry!!!!!

[Running Mommy]

Gotta love the florabama! But yeah, I'm too skeered to go in too!!
You know now you have me hankering for a trip down Alabama way... I'm pondering trying to get a beach rental if I can find one. I really don't want to go the condo route. I love having a house where the kids can cut loose and I don't have to worry about bugging the neighbors..
Anyhoo, thanks for the pics! Hope your having fun. And yeah, I'm a bit jealous. I'd love to be swimming out there right now.
Ciao!
Denise

[silver]

While I hear you on the house...but just go here:

http://www.beachclubal.com/

It's got something for everyone, is self contained but secluded, and is built out of poured concrete, so there's no disturbing the neighbors.

It's halfway between Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan.

[crazycanuck]

Umm...Can i ask where the photos were taken? Is this a special place in the US???

C

[Aint Doody]

Thanks for the pictures of the Florabama--one of my favorite places on the Redneck Riviera. (For those of you who don't know it's in LA -- Lower Alabama--actually on the line between Florida & Alabama). I've had many a raw oyster there and way too many beers, too! What a great area. I'm really missing the deep South right now.

Silvers--did y'all just love the trip? Did you listen to lots of Jimmy Buffet? I'm going to Navarre in July--cannot wait. Hope to cycle with Bad Juju when I'm there.

[Mr. Bloom]

Umm...Can i ask where the photos were taken? Is this a special place in the US???

C

Special Place???? In the BIG scheme of things...NO. It's a dump on the beach...but a testimony that in Alabama, it doesn't have to be nice to be popular.

CC, you have to understand that I grew up in Alabama "thanking God for Mississippi". Why? Because, of the 50 States, Mississippi was always bottom of the list. In Alabama, we could always say "thank goodness we don't have it as bad as Mississippi!"

Now, for the southerners among us and to be fair, Alabama and Mississippi are remarkly prosperous states today...but as recently as 50 years ago, that was not the case in the midst of Civil Rights Abuses, the KKK, and Race Riots. Today, both states stand out as part of the "New South"....and the Alabama Beaches are among the best in the US.

[Mr. Bloom]

Silvers--did y'all just love the trip? Did you listen to lots of Jimmy Buffet? I'm going to Navarre in July--cannot wait. Hope to cycle with Bad Juju when I'm there.

We're still here visiting the family. Silver's family settled here about 200years ago, so roots are very deep. When we helped a lost guy with alzheimers the other day, it turns out that the police officer dated Silver's cousin 35 years ago...

Ain't: WHen you're here go to LuLu's...LuLu is Buffet's sister - overpriced, but very Parrot Head.

In addition, we cycled 52 miles on the Fort Morgan Road yesterday...highly recommend. Park at Bruno's, go all the way down to Fort Morgan. You'll pick up a few extra miles half way by turning on Mobile Street and going through the Alligator marsh to the beach and back.

PM Silver to tell her when you'll be here...we can ride with you if it coincides with one of our trips.

[crazycanuck]

Mr Silver..I'm nodding my head...I've no idea what the area is like & will just nod my head in agreement

I'd have to google earth the area as all i know is this: it's on the lower east coast of the US...

back to lurking..

C

[Running Mommy]

More of a legend than anything...
And cheryl (aka canucky) the deep south has quite a storied past. It is a very unique area of the U.S. and not always in a goood way. Actually I like the area, and it has come a long way, but the past still lingers. I'm sure you've heard of slavery and the race issues from long ago? Well as much as the "new south" has tried to move past that,there are pockets in the deep south that are still kinda scary. Also there are some area's that are still pretty poor. Tho I think that exists more in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Now as for the gulf area, that is beautiful. But the hurricanes have wiped some of that beauty out which is sad. It really is a cool area. And I do love Alabama. We got close to moving there, but then AZ came calling.

But Alabama has some great schools. My son swears he's going to Tuscaloosa. ROLL TIDE~!

[Aint Doody]

The Deep South has indeed come a long way. When I graduated from high school in 1967, I was in the last "all white" class in my school. Things have improved dramatically since then, and I am very proud to have my roots in Mississippi. Yes, there are poor areas in Mississippi--and there are poor areas in every part of the country. Likewise there are fanatics in every aspect of society throughout the country. And in spite of what you may have heard, Mississippians even wear shoes! We have excellent artists, statesmen, and just plain hospitable people--and crooks, too. If you haven't visited there, go. You will love it. (I don't mean to sound defensive. But we need to remember that stereotyping isn't a good thing.)

I will PM Silver when I head down that way. However, I'll be at Navarre--that's quite a distance from Gulf Shores. Does the ferry still run between Dolphin Island and Fort Morgan? I used to love that ride.

[silver]

Aint, the ferry does still run! When we biked Ft. Morgan Road we turned around in the Ferry Waiting lot. (and used the porta potties there too ) Cars were lined up waiting for the Ferry. We didn't wait around to see it, but it does still run!

Canuck, The area that we are talking about is on the Gulf of Mexico, This is the body of water that is to the west of the Florida penisula and to the east of of Mexico. Cuba is in the Gulf of Mexico along with the Virgin Islands. The beaches on the Gulf side of Florida along the Gulf to Alabama are very pretty with white sands and blue green water (not clear blue like the virgin Islands and not pea green like the Atlantic...at least in Hilton Head). the beaches are not as nice as you get closer to the mouth of the Mississippi (near New Orleans) because of River silt and such. Anyway, hope this helps you relate to the area.