Heading West
Our babysitting weekend is done, we are re-engaging our plans for moving west to Texas. First stop, Rainbow Plantation, Summerdale, AL. Rainbow Plantation is an ESCAPEES park in a small town just north of Gulf Shores, AL. We have never been to this park but wanted to give it a try and look at it as a potential place to winter over starting next January.
The drive from Chatt Bend is a bit longer than we like to do at one time, coming in right at seven hours. Our preference is to be done with driving for the day in four or five hours. But having stayed an extra week beyond our planned departure day we opted to skip the short drive. Still, we got in while the office was open, got checked in, set up and drove almost all the way to Gulf Shores for dinner, all before it got dark.
Our dining establishment for the evening (we were looking for seafood) was recommended to us by the camp host. She said Fish River Grill #2 would fix us about anything we want, any way we want it, especially if you like spicy. Say no more, sign me up.
The restaurant wasn't in Gulf Shores proper but rather the community of Foley, on the north border of Gulf Shores. It was a kitschy place and we were there in the late afternoon, middle of the week, Pretty much had the place to ourselves. On their menu they describe themselves as "A Funky, Junky, Redneck Joint".
There were lots and lots of choices on the menu as long as you are okay with fried. Cyndee got the fried shrimp meal and I got one of their "specialties", a little thing they call Cajun crawfish pistols. It was a beniet stuffed with crawfish tails and a roux like you would get with an etouffee. Wow was it good.
A side of Swamp Soup came with both our meals. Doesn't sound too appetizing and when they brought it out it didn't look all that appetizing either, green and opaque like swamp water. But surprise, surprise, it tasted great. After finishing off my cup in a flash I could see why they had it on the take-out menu in gallon size.
After dinner we took a sunset drive along the beach in Gulf Shores. Everybody has been really busy building back what Katrina swept away. The community looked new and fresh. The beaches were spectacular.
The next morning was a good discussion about wintering over in LA (lower Alabama). From just the tiny bit we saw the night before it was clear that there were lots of opportunities to explore and do things in this area. And the park is looking really good, it's a big park, with lots of options. The only downside is that all the sites are on grass. It could get a little dicey on rainy days.
We went to the office and and visited with the host to get an idea of what we would have to do to secure a spot for three months (Jan thru Mar 2017). Especially, when would we need to make our reservation? His immediate response was; "Now, we are already almost completely booked up for this winter and the next". Cyndee and I looked at each other and she gave me the nod so I told him to lock us in. He then asked us how many amps we "needed". I replied that we were a 50 amp rig and would prefer the convenience of not having to shut off one electrical item to run another as is typical on 30 amp service. His reply was; "Sorry but all 50 amp sites were taken a year ago". Okay then, I guess we'll take a 30 amp site. He got on his reservation system and scanned his 109 sites for availability and then with surprise he said a 50 amp site just cancelled, we could have it if we wanted it. Yes!
So, a $100 deposit later and we were set for the winter. Now it was time to hit the road and go just two hours west to Mandeville, Louisiana, our layover park for day-tripping into New Orleans.
The drive from Chatt Bend is a bit longer than we like to do at one time, coming in right at seven hours. Our preference is to be done with driving for the day in four or five hours. But having stayed an extra week beyond our planned departure day we opted to skip the short drive. Still, we got in while the office was open, got checked in, set up and drove almost all the way to Gulf Shores for dinner, all before it got dark.
Our dining establishment for the evening (we were looking for seafood) was recommended to us by the camp host. She said Fish River Grill #2 would fix us about anything we want, any way we want it, especially if you like spicy. Say no more, sign me up.
The restaurant wasn't in Gulf Shores proper but rather the community of Foley, on the north border of Gulf Shores. It was a kitschy place and we were there in the late afternoon, middle of the week, Pretty much had the place to ourselves. On their menu they describe themselves as "A Funky, Junky, Redneck Joint".
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| It was a tourist area seafood restaurant so there was the obligatory fishnet decorations and T-shirt sales. |
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| It was June but they have a year 'round Christmas tree, currently decorated in support of our troups. The place was filling up by the time we left. |
A side of Swamp Soup came with both our meals. Doesn't sound too appetizing and when they brought it out it didn't look all that appetizing either, green and opaque like swamp water. But surprise, surprise, it tasted great. After finishing off my cup in a flash I could see why they had it on the take-out menu in gallon size.
After dinner we took a sunset drive along the beach in Gulf Shores. Everybody has been really busy building back what Katrina swept away. The community looked new and fresh. The beaches were spectacular.
The next morning was a good discussion about wintering over in LA (lower Alabama). From just the tiny bit we saw the night before it was clear that there were lots of opportunities to explore and do things in this area. And the park is looking really good, it's a big park, with lots of options. The only downside is that all the sites are on grass. It could get a little dicey on rainy days.
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| Rainbow Plantation has spacious, shady sites. Almost every site comes with at least two oak trees. |
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| This is just one of the long rows of campsites in the park. The park itself is surrounded by pecan groves, horse ranches and cotton farms. |
So, a $100 deposit later and we were set for the winter. Now it was time to hit the road and go just two hours west to Mandeville, Louisiana, our layover park for day-tripping into New Orleans.
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