With Memorial Day behind us, it was time to set off for long run from Orange Beach, Alabama, to Biloxi, Mississippi. Everything was ready for the seven hour cruise except two hardheaded batteries that decided to be buried in “Sweet Home Alabama.” It would take more than two dead heads to halt the Storm Rider tour as we could begin to smell our destination from the waters turning muddy from Mississippi River mud. Fortunately, one call found a mechanic who came armed with two new sources of boat life. The irony of the day was that Frank the mechanic upon walking into the engine room exclaimed, I’ve worked on this boat before in Miami - go figure - the happy reunion with our old engine began. Three hours later we were up and running but five hours late, which meant, cruising into Mississippi much later than the sun would manage to shine. Close to our departure location at the Wharf was LuLu’s, said to be Jimmy Buffet’s sister’s restaurant and marina. Happy smiles, waves and thumbs up for the wetlands as we passed by with a toot of the horn. Dauphin Island would lead us out of Alabama into the Mississippi Sound and the continuation of an endless chain of barrier islands, many showing ragged wear from the onslaught of recent hurricanes. We soon would leave the Alabama gulf shores and spot the ship yards of Pascagoula, Mississippi. It was evident we were officially in America’s Energy Coast as we spotted an oil and gas rig next to a shrimp boat trawling. Recently, the America’s WETLAND Foundation branded the four state region of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as America’s Energy Coast (AEC). The events of the coming weekend would find the new initiative holding hearings on June 1st, first day of hurricane season, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with ”Sustaining the Unique Coastal Culture of America’s Energy Coast” the topic of a hearing that will inform the work of the AEC. Beacons of resilience to fatal storms, the new casino’s of the Mississippi Riviera were now on the horizon at sunset, the Hard Rock Hotel being the marker with a facade of changing colors that would end our day. Happy Sails!
Lulu's Restaurant
Bridge to Dauphin Island
Passing through the Mobile Bay channel
Sailing & Yachting…
[...] Three hours later we were up and running but five hours late, which meant, cruising into Mississippi much later than the sun would manage to shine. Close to our departure location at the Wharf was LuLu’s, said to be Jimmy Buffet’s … [...]…