Day 89 - 27 Mar - Ocean Springs, Mississippi to Marianna, Florida

Photo: Orange Beach, Alabama. The sand is soft and pure white.

We woke up to yet another day of glorious sun, 76 degrees, and we were on the road by 10 am. Although we've resolved to try and get an earlier start, we are S-L-O-W and having some real discussion about what's left to see, what can be dropped off for another time, and the best/fastest route home. I'm admittedly getting a bit tired but I think it's because we are doing the 1-night thing and after a week of that I find I'm ready to 'nest'. However, I'll have lots of time for that once we get home and no doubt will be wishing we were on the road somewhere. We'll see.

We continued along I-10 East and after having such a wonderful time in Ocean Springs, and the the surprise of finding such a beautiful beach in Mississippi (who would have thought?), we decided to see what the small area of Alabama looked like which also stretches along the Gulf. It's a much smaller area but when we arrived we were impressed with the beach. It was beautiful....miles of soft, white, natural sand and although it's much more populated with houses and condos that Mississippi, there is still lots of open beach area.

It was lunch time so we had something to eat in the parking lot and gave ourselves 1 hour for beach time. My cold sore epidemic kept me out of the sun but Wayne did what he loves best...stretched out on the sand and had a sleep. I did put on a big hat and walk for a short distance down the beach, collecting shells and taking some photos. I think we still prefer the beach at Ocean Springs, Mississippi, primarily because of the small towns and less development.

We are not covering many miles/kms daily and it's because once you get off the Interstate, the roads meander, there are 30 stop-lights in the towns, and it becomes a trade-off for seeing the sights, or putting miles behind you. We are at the point now where it is time to put miles behind us.

The coast highway took us straight in to Florida and while we had set Tallahassee as out goal, we fell short by about 100 miles and found the Sunset King Lake Resort in Marianna. It supposed to be a great bass fishing lake and from what I saw on the way in, the park itself seems quite nice. The problem with staying only 1 night in each park is by the time you hook up, have supper, and finish tea, it's dark. We get up in the morning, have coffee, shower and pull out so there's not much time to look around the parks.

Danny would be horrified if he saw my hair....both Wayne and I are about 3 weeks overdue for a cut and that's on our priority list for tomorrow. Wayne wants to get the oil changed on the van so I think I'll get him to drop me at a mall with a beauty salon and see what they can do. Girls, can't you just see the production he'll go through when I go in?

Until next time, take care--we love and miss you all. Now that we are in 'go home' mode, I'm looking forward to getting home, getting unpacked, and starting to browse the gardening books. Of course, that will all follow our week with His Highness (Ty) which we are excited about. I have a gardening schedule worked out for Jennifer that will follow an intense 3-day training course entitled, "THIS is a Weed, and THIS is a flower". She's very smart...she'll do well! Of course, Deana Lynne Pinheiro will be ready for visitors.....that takes us in to May & June. WOW...where does the time go? xx