Morning Paddle on Nolte Creek

It was worth every penny of the $5.00 fee to park at the Nolte Creek boat launch. Not very crowded on a Sunday morning, ample parking, and a clean portalet. Left of the launch feeds into the Magnolia River--open water with the occasional speed boat. Right of the launch is Nolte Creek--a lovely, partially shaded little stretch of creek that's perfect for a quiet, slow meander. We spotted lots of jumping fish and an array of birds. Swallows were busy building their mud nests under the bridge, pelicans were sunning on posts, and hawks were circling above the pines.

The launch address is:
13214 County Road 26, Foley, AL 36535

Until next time.
Carpe diem, my friend!

Caribbean Adventure 2019

If you didn't already know, Mobile, AL has a cruise ship terminal. It's just a quick Uber ride from the Eastern Shore to the terminal. If you book a cruise out of this port, be aware that the drop-off traffic can be congested and somewhat confusing. If we take another cruise out of Mobile, we'll just get dropped off in the parking lot a block over and walk in. We pack light, so this would be easy for us.

This year, for spring break, my husband, son, and I took a five day Caribbean cruise. Our first port was in Progreso, Mexico where we journeyed into the Yucatán to explore the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá and a nearby cenote.

The following day we docked on the island of Cozumel. We took an excursion out on a catamaran to a coral reef where we snorkeled and saw lots of colorful, tropical fish.

After snorkeling, the catamaran took us to a beautiful, white sandy beach. There was something for everyone at the beach: a food bar and shaded tables or hammocks, lounge chairs, kayaks, paddle boards, water slides, etc.

Of course, the first activity I headed for was kayaking. Paddling in Cozumel was so much fun. Caribbean blue has long been my favorite color; now the brilliant hues of the Caribbean sea paint a landscape of fond memories with my family.

Until next time.
Carpe diem, my friend!

Melissa Anne