We are keeping an eye on POSSIBLE storm "Jerry". That weather system (that has raised havoc in Jacksonville and St. Augustine) is on the move! Apparantly all of the scientific highbrows have collectively NO IDEA as to what it will be or where it will go. We've heard that they might get some much-needed rain in North Carolina and we hope that it does happen. But you have to be careful what you wish for....Jacksonville got 10 1/2" rain (and they are still on the drought side of the issue). The bottom line is it MAY strengthen and it MAY move across the Gulf....or it MAY head for Mexico ....or it MAY move north and fizzle. It is in the hands of the gods ...but we will keep listening.
With this backdrop we squinted into the bright sunshine and prepared to move on toward Mobile, Alabama.....about an hour away if you "tend to business". We didn't!
As we departed, we paused to take photos of the large military cemetery at Naval Air Station/Pensicola. It is sobering. If you have a partriotic fiber in your being, you HAVE to be moved by the simplicity and message. Row upon row upon row of simple white headstones....perfectly aligned. What a deep, silent message to all....THIS IS THE HIGHEST COST OF WAR. Given today's issues in Iraq, one cannot help but think, "Is it worth it?". To me, it is not. How do you feel?
We took our old friend, route 98, most of the way to Mobile. It was less "beachy", and only occasionally did we see an affluent estate. Very few trailers/mobile homes. Just mostly common everyday places. Cotton is ready for harvest as the bolls are bursting. Did not see vegetable crops and only a few farm animals. Very little indication of industrial activity. I don't know how they make their living.
The picture changes as we approach the Mobile area. Billboards, traffic, businesses, interstates. This is a busy metropolitan area where the modern and the historical live side-by-side. We located our hotel (adjacent to the park for the battleship, USS Alabama) and had a bite to eat right next door. I noticed they were "redecorating" the room next door. One of the kitchen staff said, "Yeah. They were finally catching up with the Katrina problems.". We think of New Orleans....but they are not alone in this.
Through the tunnel and into the city. (That is how you traverse Mobile Bay.) The Welcome Center is at Fort Conde....a restored French fort which has protected Mobile since before our Revolutionary War. Today it is an historical treat. We decided to drive to the highly recommended Oakleigh Historic Complex. (We fully expected to do other sightseeing as well.)
The Oakleigh House is impressive. As you approach, it sits some distance from the road amid "live" oak trees. (I wonder what the opposite might be????) It looks like a two-story (and technically it is)but when built in 1833, it was raised up on pillars because of the weather risks. This was characteristic of the times. The house was initially quite isolated and out in the country. It is in the Greek Revival style. Much more recently, the ground level was enclosed and a dining room created. The kitchen had always been in a separate building because of concerns for fire and for the comfort of the main house in hot weather. The lavish furnishings are not authentic to the house, but are correct for the period. The docents are in period costumes and very knowledgeable. The complex includes a neighboring house which is much more modest but very nice.....simple 4-room+hall design. It is known as the Cox-Deasey Cottage. Eleven children were raised here. I have no idea where they could possibly bed them all down. There is also a complimentery, but more recent building built between the two for administrative and research purposes. I said that the docents were knowledgeable....we wore out two and suffered major TMI as they went on and on for 2 1/2 hours! It was interesting, but how much can you absorb in one day?!
Mentally fatigued, we headed for our hotel...a Best Western adjacent to the battleship/park. We needed to hook into the wifi to do the blog and we want to checkout the USS Alabama.
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