Alabama: Meaher State Park on Mobile Bay

 April 4 to 12; Meaher State Park, Spanish Fort, Alabama: The 4 hour drive to Meaher State Park was about 250 miles, where we arrived about 2:00 in beautiful sunny weather.  We discovered the park last year when Gulf State Park, our "go to" Southern Alabama park, became way too popular and busy.  Meaher SP on Mobile Bay turns out to be just what we wanted.  Last year it was under going a major addition of 45 sites, which were almost completed this year.  

Sites 62 to 105 are new, as is the additional bath house.

As the blue dot shows, the park is located on an island at the north end of Mobile Bay.

Our site 61, with the brand new office building in the background.

The new section of the park.  The sites are roomy and level.  Most were not
being used yet because the fire pits and picnic tables were still being assembled.

We ended up staying 9 nights at the state park, and it was absolutely relaxing.  There is a lot of green space for walking the pups.  We got the bikes out and went for rides.  A couple days we did some Sams and Walmart shopping in nearby Daphne.  It was total relaxation.....well almost...

First, Parker the Pup came down with symptoms that were just a cold in humans.  He was sneezing and coughing.  We got him to the Parvin Anial Clinic in Spanish Fort.  The vet and staff were amazing.  He probably just had some reactions, just like us, to the extremely high pollen levels.  He was fine several days later.  

Next, storm warmings started popping up on our phones.  We slept fitfully through the night with high winds and heavy rain pounding the camper.   A walk around the park the next morning revealed the effects of the overnight storm.  There was debris washed up from the Bay.  There was ponding of water all around the campground, including stepping into a couple inches of water exiting the camper.  Rangers reported precipitin counts of 12 plus inches on Mobile Bay, including some flooding along the Battleship Parkway causeway. 

The storm surge wash debris well into the park.

Storm surge pushing water on shore.

And finally, we started the truck to go shopping one morning, and every idiot light possible showed up on the dash.  The truck seemed to run fine, but most of the convenience and safety systems were disabled, the main irritant being cruise control.  Damn, it was like driving a car back in the 1970's.  LOL. 

Lots of "idiot lights" all at once.  UGHH.

Don't get me wrong.  All of the little "annoyances" were really nothing serious.  No different than if we were home. But is's the little things like that that add to the adventure and memories.

During the 9 days there, we met so many wonderful people, saw some glorious sunsets, grilled some delicious home cooked meals and went out for awesome seafood and craft beers.  We even found time for some bike rides, bird watching, reading and, of course, napping.  LOL.

Blue Bird tending house.

Osprey watching for lunch.

Jupiter was bright in the evening sky.

Late afternoon sun glowing on the Long Leaf Pines.

Original Oyster House on the Causeway

Loaded Whitefish Tacos

Stuffed Flounder Florintene

We ended our stay at Meaher State Park with new friends Maggie and Dave from Minnesota, who are volunteers here at the park.  A chance encounter while I was walking Maggie the Puppy and I struck up a conversation with a park volunteer led to common interests in education since she was a retired elementary principal,  and her husband's name was Dave, they knew what winters were since they were from Minnesota, and our puppy's name was Maggie also.  Another example of many where dogs are societies social lubricant.  

Last, but not least, we left with memories of beautiful sunsets, and really really tired puppies!!  We will definitely be back to Meaher SP!!

Setting sun over the Mobile, Alabama skyline.

Next stop is the white sand beaches of Carrabelle on the Florida Panhandle for 2 weeks.

Our previous post: Vidalia, Louisiana and Natchez, Mississippi

Next up:  Carrabelle Beach on the Florida Panhandle.