Since we returned home last week after the storms ran us to Chattanooga, Anne has been doing NOMADS work and more tax work and we have still been working at the house getting it ready to sell. Starting two days ago our weather forecast began getting progressively worse. We were planning to leave north Alabama Saturday to return to Atmore to get our second Covid vaccine on Sunday. However, by last night we could tell today was going to be a dangerous day in our area and we decided to bug out again. We got up at 6 this morning and hit the road south. Sometime after we left, our area was placed in the High Risk category by the weather service and by mid-morning the storms began. So very thankful that we have wheels under our second house and we were able to leave quickly. It was a windy drive but we made it safely to Gulf Shores. We continue to monitor the storms as sadly they are not yet over. We know there have been at least five deaths and others injured. So sad. We have friends with homes damaged and flooding all over our county. No one has been able to check our house yet – the roads are not yet passable – but we really are not worried. It’s just stuff. Thanks to all that have sent emails and texts to check on us. We really appreciate you thinking of us. Please be in prayer for all those who have lost loved ones and others who have lost their homes. Everyone stay safe out there.
On the way down we stopped at The Warehouse Market and Bakery at Exit 54 on I-65 to grab a delicious lunch and a few extras.
Starting a few days ago the National Weather Service and local media meteorologists started expressing concern about today’s weather. By this morning central Alabama had been determined to be at High Risk of long track tornadoes and large hail. So – as we have advised others who have wheels under their homes to do – we left for an area of lower risk. We drove northeast to Chattanooga where only rain is expected. We will spend the night in a store parking lot then head back in the morning. Praying for all our friends and family that might be in danger tonight.
Otherwise, since our last blog post we have been working around the property, working on taxes, and NOMADS work. Except last Saturday, when we spent the day with about 45 other members of our church at Camp Sumatanga cleaning up and getting things ready for summer camp and retreats.
The Sumatanga kitchen staff provided our lunch, including these delicious cookies with the camp logo in chocolate.
While in Gulf Shores last Sunday, we worshiped with our home church via live stream. We are so blessed to be a part of a church that understands being the hands and feet of Jesus, always working outside the doors of the church. After worship we quickly jumped in the truck to head to Atmore, Alabama. We had an easy 1 ½ hour drive on a beautiful day on some back roads we don’t remember ever traveling before. Nice! Walmart was very organized and ready for our arrival. Max’s appointment was at 12:00 and Anne’s at 3:40 but the good folks in Atmore had recognized our appointments and called before we arrived to verify that we were together and told Anne to come on in at 12:00 too. We were a little early and we both had our injections and were on the way back to Gulf Shores by 12:25. We are so thankful to have received our first dose and an appointment on March 28 for our second dose. The people at Walmart could not have been more helpful or friendly. We have had no adverse side effects and hope the second dose is no worse.
While walking around Gulf State Park we checked out the fence we worked on last year. It looks good finished.
We took time to visit the now open Gulf State Park Pier.
Wildlife beside the bike trail
Last morning at Gulf State Park
Monday morning we readied Fred for a travel day in the rain. It was a long day driving with wind and rain. We stopped at an Amish bakery and store that is about ½ mile off I-65 at Exit 54 near Atmore. (It was time to stretch our legs.) The caramel apple cinnamon rolls are some of the very best we have eaten and those of you that followed us to Alaska and back know we have tried a lot of cinnamon rolls. Their breads looked wonderful too but we just didn’t need any. We will probably make a stop there every time we go back to the beach. We arrived back home about 3:30 and worked on getting settled in for a few weeks. It’s always a relief to find everything okay at the houses. Tuesday morning Donna brought us our mail. Hard to believe how much there was and we had already received several large batches of mail while we were working. We have spent the rest of the week catching up on things, and resumed our work preparing the house for sale. Hopefully we can make some progress on downsizing while we are home.
Warehouse Market and Bakery
Goodies from Warehouse Market and Bakery – caramel apple cinnamon roll and whoopie pie.
Some of the mail that welcomed us back.
After we got set up we took a walk around the property and visited Donna’s Pond (formerly Scout’s Pond).
One of the things we love about this time of year on Pine Mountain is all the flowers blooming.
While we were working in the Fort Myers area in January, we discovered an eagles’ nest and have been following the hatching and growth of two eaglets on the South West Florida Eagle Cam ever since. We check in on our babies everyday. It’s been such fun to watch them grow. Remember to pray for all out pastors who will be bringing us God’s Word tomorrow.
We enjoyed our time at Eastbank Campground on Lake Seminole and hope to return sometime. The weather warmed up each day and there were beautiful sunsets most evenings. The campground reminded us of state parks. Sites were a little close and in the A loop where we were are gravel instead of asphalt, but very level. There aren’t many trails but hiking over to the dam could be done through the woods or by road. On Saturday, our first hike to the dam, we rounded a curve and there was a beautiful eagle with a fish. It immediately flew, with his fish. Of course, we did not have the good wildlife camera with us, only our phones and didn’t get a good pic.
Eastern bluebird in the campground
There are a lot of ducks on Lake Seminole
Sandpiper walking on the dam
We watched a pair of adult bald eagles chasing a juvenile
We always enjoy watching eagles
On Sunday we were prepared and while there was not an eagle on the ground with a fish, we did get some nice airborne shots. Love eagles! Our Alltrails app showed a nice sounding trail in Bainbridge so on Tuesday we headed over there. We enjoyed the paved trail but didn’t see much wildlife.
The Bainbridge Nature Trail
Turtles beside the river in Bainbridge
Strange bird beside the nature trail
On the way to Bainbridge we drove by a historical marker in the middle of nowhere – actually in a community called Recovery. So we stopped and took a few pictures and got a short history lesson.
Historical Marker at Camp Recovery
Cannon at Camp Recovery site
Afternoon by Lake Seminole
Last sunset at Lake Seminole
Since Florida will not allow Alabama residents over 65 to receive Covid vaccines, even though they were allowing it when we got on the wait list, and Alabama finally decided to start offering the Covid vaccine to those over 65 two weeks ago, we have been trying to schedule an appointment. This was one reason we headed north. We wanted to be able to get to Alabama quickly. Very frustrating situation. There are no appointments available in our county until late May. Actually, when we were searching, there was not an appointment available at any north Alabama health department until May. We searched all over the state and found that there was a drive-through, no appointment required vaccine clinic in Foley today. They were to be giving first and second doses and we were told that although the clinic opens at 9:00 we should plan to arrive no later than 5am if we hoped to receive a vaccine. So, we left Eastbank two days earlier than planned and arrived in Gulf Shores, (15 minutes from Foley) yesterday afternoon with plans to get up at 3:30 and be in line by 4:30-5:00 this morning. Unfortunately, at 5:30 yesterday the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) canceled all first dose vaccines for today’s clinic. So frustrated and angry! However, after learning this and reaching out to a friend of Max’s we learned that two nearby Walmarts were receiving vaccine today and were beginning to schedule appointments last night. We were able to schedule appointments for Sunday afternoon! So…praying all goes as planned and we will have dose one of the Pfizer vaccine Sunday. Walmart also said they would be scheduling our dose 2 while we are there. We will gladly return to south Alabama if we can just get fully vaccinated. We are planning to be leading a disaster rebuild project in South Carolina in May so we really want to have both our injections before leaving Alabama again. Praying. (Oh, ADPH was on Facebook this afternoon at 2:30 (clinic ended at 3:00) begging people to come – no waiting and still had 300 vaccines to give – but only second dose – aaarrggghh!)
Since we didn’t need to be in line for a shot today, we got to have fun in Gulf Shores. Walking in the sun and sand, eating shrimp and riding our bikes to the eagle nest makes for a great day! After a very frustrating day yesterday, we really appreciated today.
When we walked over to look at the site we reserved for next December we saw this 8 to 10 footer in the canal that runs by the site.
Our site for next December
Of course, we had to check in on the eagles at GSP
We keep seeing the folks here in the park stopping beside the road to take pictures of the wildlife.
On the way down we stopped at The Warehouse Market and Bakery at Exit 54 on I-65 to grab a delicious lunch and a few extras.
RVing With a Purpose 