Short Paddle at Pelican Point

My hubby and I did a quick morning paddle at Pelican Point in Point Clear, Alabama. We decided to not stay out long because the water was choppy and the wind was insistent on blowing us into the marsh. Nonetheless, it's always good to be out on the water.

There really are quite a few pelicans that hang out at Pelican Point. I was excited and eager to snap some photos, but I quickly noticed that the fishermen found the pelicans to be a nuisance. I spotted a bunch of pelicans resting in a sunny spot and quietly began tip-toeing around the rocks toward them, camera in hand. As I was about to snap my first photo, a fisherwoman bounded in from the other side, waving her arms at the pelicans, yelling, "Shoo! Scat! Go on, get out of here!" I quickly snapped a few photos as they flew away, but decided to go ahead and shoo myself along, too, and let her fish in peace.

If the weather is nice enough, my hubby and I will be attending the annual Weeks Bay Foundation Coastal Clean up at Pelican Point on February 15th, 2020. I'm a fair weather kayaker, so we'll see--it can get pretty chilly out on the water in February; but, my husband and I rarely ever leave the water without hauling out some trash. We even take those long grabbers that look like robot arms out with us to pick up trash and driftwood. So, regardless, if we make it to the Coastal Cleanup day or not, we'll always be doing our part to keep our coastal waters beautiful and safe for marine life.

Until next time.
Carpe diem, my friend!

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Adventure

When I'm out adventuring with my husband, I don't get many opportunities to leisurely stroll around and take photographs. He likes to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, not exactly a stop and smell the roses kind of person--but his mom is!

Judith and I decided to have an exploration and chill day on Dauphin Island, Alabama--less than an hour drive from our homes on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. We had such a wonderful adventure! So many interesting sea creatures at the Estuarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab!

The admission fee was only $12 for adults, which I felt was a very fair price for the experience. (See hours of operation, and all admission fees here.) We happened to show up while three classes of elementary school students were running around in wonder, which didn't dampen our experience at all. There was plenty of room for all of us and it was fun to see how excited all of the children were to experience the lab. I wish I could have visited such an amazing place on a field trip when I was growing up in the mountains. I remember visiting farms and some neat museums, but it would have been so amazing to pet a manta ray as a kiddo!

I made a YouTube video of our experience, linked below. Watch swimming manta rays, lots of fish and turtles, a slithery snake, and a curious puffer fish, to name a few. (Note that I no longer use the Instagram handle linked at the very end of the video.)

After leaving the Sea Lab around noon, we turned to Google for guidance on where to eat lunch. We chose a restaurant called Pirate's Bar and Grill, simply because it was a seafood restaurant on the water. Our expectation was to find a seafood shack, perhaps near a marina, but instead we discovered a fascinating building with a Jetson's vibe on a stretch of pristine beach. There was seating upstairs or downstairs, both had an incredible view from almost any table. Good, affordable food; lovely, simplistic atmosphere and friendly wait staff. We certainly felt like pirates finding treasure when we discovered this place!

Pirate's Bar and Grill
100-A Orleans Drive, Dauphin Island, AL 36528

Until next time.
Carpe diem, my friend!

Ellie the Mer-Dog

Ellie is full of energy and ever curiosity about the world around her.

She is also my shadow.

In fact, right now, as I'm typing, she is conveniently perched on the sofa where she has the best view of where I'm sitting. Occasionally, I'll glance up and there she is, big brown, unblinking puppy dog eyes bearing into my soul.

She may have some mild attachment issues, but the poor thing lived through a traumatic experience before her adoption into our family. She's a survivor and her willingness to love again with her broken little heart has given me strength to cope and deal with hard things in my life, too.

Being my shadow, Ellie gets to go wherever I go, as long as it's safe and dogs are allowed. I was hesitant to take her kayaking with me. I didn't know how she would react to being on the water and I have a fantasy fear of her leaping out of the kayak to attack an alligator. That said, I've not once seen an alligator while kayaking.

Since I've seen lots of people taking their dogs out on Fly Creek, I decided that it's probably a pretty safe place for Ellie to join me in the kayak.

Her first paddle was fantastic. She was a little nervous, and only got upset when our group got too far away from one another. Each time out on the water, she gets a little more comfortable with getting in and out of the kayak at the launch and being out on the water.

2020 is the year of the RV for our family. I can't wait to take Ellie and Biscuit (my senior dog) RVing in the mountains.

Until next time.
Carpe diem, my friend!