cruisin'

We have covered a lot of ground since the last post! After leaving Georgia, we headed to Rocky Bayou State park on the panhandle of Florida for a night of camping and delicious fish tacos. Gunk, Ben and I enjoyed a post-dinner hike on a sandy palm-lined park trail by the bay in the muggy southcoast dark. The next morning, we took a meandering route to Biloxi via highway 90 with a lovely little stop beside Mobile Bay in Fairhope, AL for a walk and a cup of unsweet tea. In Biloxi, we had the pleasure of staying with Millie and Leon, Ben's step-grandparents. They live on the banks of the Tchoutacabouffa (pronounced "choog-ah-la-buff" - that's Cajun for ya!) River. I caught my first catfish on their dock and got to hear it oink like a pig! Ben caught a Brim, but both were too small to keep. We spent the afternoon downtown checking out some of the 6, 000 cars out for Cruise The Coast, an annual gathering of reconditioned classic vehicals. Studabakers, El Caminos and Thunderbirds abounded. Because we were on the gulf, we were obliged to stop in and check out one or two of the myriad casinos. Millie and Leon treated us to a buffet lunch at The Isle. We filled up on all the southern fixin's and got a great opportunity to gawk at gaudily dressed gamblers. After lunch, we headed to the Beau Rivage (also a casino) to look out over Biloxi and watch as the pellicans dove kamakazi-style into the bay from the top of the parking deck. This particular establishment had what is called a promenade, a walkway of sorts through the shops, and leading to the slots. It was more elegant than one might think, lined with lush, opulent flower arrangements, indoor gardens and massive crystal chandeliers. That same evening, we drove down to Ocean Springs to visit Drew and Amanda, friends from Georgia who moved for a job. We had a great time eating tacos, drinking Mississippi pecan beer and watching the vice presidential debates. It was with much dragging of heels and a long Norwegian good bye that we left Biloxi the next day. Gunk was sad to leave her friend Mac, the dog next door who helped her rip her tie out rope and leash into four separate pieces the first day they met. We were also sorry to leave him behind, because it was so much fun to watch the two of them swim in the river and wrestle in the mud nonstop for the days we spent in Mississippi. The three of us are out on the road and headed to Austin...more on that coming soon!