We left the corp of engineers park at 9 am eastern time and drove exactly 2 miles and hit central time zone so it was only 8 am.  Wow I should of slept longer I guess.  We took Route 90 into Alabama and stopped for a break.  I heard Tim say Oh S___! and wondered what happened.  Our side window over the dining table was smashed and nothing to indicate how it happened.  The glass did not fall apart which was lucky something to do with the tinted glass.  Tim took tape and sealed the window on the inside and outside so now we must find a place to get a window fixed.  Yeah such fun.

Our next stop was a passport America campground which was Wilderness RV Park in Robertsdale Alabama.  At one time this campground was nice but it needs alot of tender care.  Being fully self contained helps because we do not need to use the restrooms which were in need of alot of care.  The laundry room I did use - clean machines but the surrounding area was horrid.  The campground has a lake, pond, pool, hot tub, clubhouse and full hookups.  It needs some money thrown in to really bring it back to the way it was years ago.   We decided to stay for 3 nights and see about getting our window fixed while here.  Our luck did not come thru - we were told we needed to go to the Mobile area and get it done.  While in Robertsdale we did take a ride to Gulf Shores and understand why people love these beaches.  The sand was just beautiful - so white but the wind was horrid.  Spring break so loads of college kids everywhere you looked.  We stopped at Lamberts for lunch - this is the restaurant where they throw rolls to you - really a fun place and very good food.  We did alot of laughing while here. 

On Thursday we moved our camper west and stopped at Johnny's Rv Resort in Theodore, Alabama.  This is a nice campground with over 100 sites, full hookups, lake, cabins, laundry, store, and restaurant.  We got all set up with the idea of staying one week only - this is also a Passport America campground so we got a really good deal.  We had a guy come out and look at the damage to the window - he will do alittle research and let us know how it will work going forward.  

We took a nice ride one day to Dauphin Island which is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico.  96% of the island is water which I found interesting plus the entire island is a bird sanctuary.  The beach has beautiful sand that looks so soft.  We had a nice lunch sitting outside on the deck at a local restaurant.  We sat with another couple whom travels in a motor home 6 months of the year.  We compared stories and laughed about certain things.   Tim and I were here a few years ago and saw the devasation from Hurricane Katrina and today it is almost back to normal.  Most of the  houses have been rebuilt and work continues on roads etc.

Our tour of Bayou La Batre was also very interesting.  This is a fishing village with hundreds of fishing boats and fish processing plants.  I have never seen so many boats in one area before.  We stopped into a grocery store and to my amazement they sold chicken feet.  Never knew anyone ate those but I have heard that they use them in soup.  Learn new things every day.

We toured the Mobile Botanical Gardens which is over 100 acres.  They had rhododens, camellias, ferns, herbs, japanese maple, pines, magnolias and azaleas.  It was very pretty and interesting because each area of the country grows different flowers and at different times.   Only one other guy was there so it was really peaceful.

A drive to Bilouxi, Ms took place one afternoon to hit the commissary at the Air Force Base.  This base was hit hard by the huricane Katrina five years ago and they are still using an old warehouse as their commissary and exchange.  Good new was that 7th of April brand new ones would be opening which I would have loved to see.

In Mississippi we toured the Gulf Islands National Seashore Park.  This park runs from Cat Island in Mississippi to Okaloosa, Florida which really surprised me.  We were at the Davis Bayour Park which had a beautiful visitor center explaning the park in great detail.  They offer 52 campsites with water/electric which we will keep in mind for future trips.  They had nice trails wandering thru the woods but I few are still in the process of being repaired.  Hurricane Katrina really took a toll on these poor towns.  The area along most of the beaches are still empty lots where you see the remains of a slab where a house once stood.  The wealthy of course have rebuilt beautiful homes and the casinos and hotels have rebuilt.  The middle class and poor are not that fortunate and have moved elsewhere. 

I keep telling myself that the people in the north really are not as poor as the south.  I have never seen houses look so horrid and people actually live in them.  Yikes - it also amazes me of the number of people with loads of kids live in campers.  Where do they put all there stuff? 

This stop has turned into a nightmare - we spent two weeks waiting for the window to be replaced and the landing gear fixed on the camper.  The last day at the campground they came out from the window place - started putting it in the window and it was about 4 inches to small.  I felt like crying - so they put the plexiglass back in and it was a wait and see what next.  The landing gear at the last minute could not be found by the tech - I'm beginning to wonder what is wrong with people when so many are unemployed and the employed do not like to work. Well we have had enough and are moving to New Orleans - stay tuned.