In October 2019 my traveling buddy and I gave up glamping and rented a cottage on the beach in Fort Morgan.
Located about 16 miles from the main road in Gulf Shores Alabama.
The cottage had three bedrooms, three baths and was Harlie & Frannie friendly! What more could a girl ask for?
This is where I have been for the past four months. Peace and quiet, cool breezes, warm sunshine, comfortable, cozy and the Gulf of Mexico only steps away.
Sitting on the porch there were three condos in front of us that were part of the tiny subdivision. In front of the condos was a nice swimming pool and then the beach.
The solitude of this place and the sounds of waves crashing on the beach was the most relaxing thing ever.
This is the beach that was my winter spot!
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I have been asked if I was bored being so far from town, well no. I spent time working jigsaw puzzles to pass time and relax. Thirteen puzzles to be exact!
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We also entertained several guests during our stay.
My cousin Teresa came down for four days and we had great weather to work on our tans.
My friend Lisa and her friend Susan came out and spent the day at the beach with me.
This is also the day we saw the shark swimming where we had just been!!
Susan, Me, Tracy and Lisa at Sea N Suds, a great restaurant that is right on the beach in Gulf Shores.
Last winter I spent time in Casa Grande, Arizona where I met some great people from Canada.
My Canadian friends Wendy & Trent came out for dinner one evening and then we watched an amazing sunset on the beach.
The Monarchs from Michigan migrate south to the mountains of Mexico for the winters. There were just thousands of them in October and November.
My friend Lisa came and spent a long weekend with us in November. We had such a good time hanging out at the beach, watching the Blue Angels air show and visiting Pensacola.
Here we are in some chilly water on a sandbar out from the beach. Tracy, our guest Lisa & myself
My sister Kat came to visit in December for some R&R.
At the end of December Tracey, her husband Tony and their pup Baxter, from Crossville came to visit.
This is Tracy her friend Tracey & Baxter at the beach.
Tracy’s sister Sherry and brother-in-law Mike came and stayed on their way to Texas.
Tracy & her sister Sherry at Tacky Jacks Restaurant about two miles away.
Tracy’s brother-in-law Mike on the ferry that runs from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island.
Oh my goodness what a hoot! Joan & Donald from Fairfield Glade came to visit in January.
Don likes jigsaw puzzles too and we all spent the evenings playing Mexican Train which was won by Joan.
Joan, Donald, Me, Mary and Tracy for dinner and drinks at Tacky Jacks.
John & Kathy from Crossville came for a long weekend. I worked with Kathy at the Crossville Post Office and now she is retired too!
We did some sightseeing of the surrounding area and took in a tour of Fort Morgan.
We had such a great time with all of our guests. Really good memories.
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Tracy and I did manage to visit some oddities in these towns in Alabama.
In Spanish Fort, Alabama you can visit this old Russian Sea Rescue Pod.
Outside a dentist office you can find 16 foot long dental tools.
And a 14 foot paper clip on the opposite end of the parking lot.
South of Spanish Fort is the town of Daphne, Alabama where you will find the United States Sports Academy and all their art made from junk!
The basketball player.
The runner.
The bicyclists.
The golfer.
The baseball batter.
The swimmer.
The gymnast.
The football players.
And the weight lifter.
The town of Fairhope is a historic town that sits on Mobile Bay.
It is here you will find the Mosher and Fairhope Story Book Castles.
You can take the path back on the story book trail and take pictures but these are private residences.
Across the street you will find the Eastern Shore Art Center.
Here are some random pictures.
The Hermit Hut of Tolstoy Park is a one room round house built in the 1920s by a hermit.
Oddly enough this Hut is located in the parking lot of several business offices and Tolstoy Park????
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The sunsets on the beach are amazing. Here are a few of my favorites.
I have even managed to get a few sunrises.
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To keep busy I like to crochet and loom, mostly hats and slippers, which I donated to the mission in Cookeville, Tennessee when I visited my sister at Thanksgiving.
I also started and finished my first afghan out of left over yarn.
I even tried my hand at a little artwork. Made with mostly shells from the beach.
We have been to the movies several times and of course we like to shop.
We enjoy playing yatzee, scrabble, triominos and mexican train.
Tracy indulged my request to watch Christmas movies and in turn I watched the nightly news and Young Sheldon with her.
We have binge watched Jericho, Ozark and Dark on Netflix.
We have also attended several festivals and parades in the area, which were a lot of fun!
The Sausage Festival in Elberta.
The Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores.
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A nice 4 mile hike on the Pine Beach Trail through the Bon Secor Refuge Area.
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Then there is beach fun for all !!
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It has been so good to just relax, breathe and take one day at a time without the distractions of traffic and noise. Such great memories of friends, family and beach days.
I will be on the road soon headed to Arizona and I am thrilled to have my spring/summer out west this year.
August can’t come soon enough to see my family when I get back to Indiana and Ohio but until then I will keep on exploring this great country of ours.
I am going to miss my travel buddy, sister and friend Tracy as she will head to Texas and then on to see her son in Utah.
I am thankful for the time I have spent with this sweet lady and wish her safe travels.
Until next time, enjoy every minute of every day!
Solo Traveler 