Dauphin Island, Alabama

This was our first tourist stop. Dauphin Island is a barrier island at the mouth of Mobile Bay. It is only 166 sq miles, a long thin island with the Intercoastal Waterway to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Before crossing the four mile bridge to the island we had to pull the truck and trailer off the road so Noach could have his Monday afternoon Rabbi lesson by phone.

We stayed in the only campground on the island and were within easy walking distance to the gulf beach. The beach season has not quite begun so there was not a lot going on on the island.

That meant we had an uncrowded beach to enjoy. Jasper enjoyed the water, wading out cautiously. Once the waves caught him and he had to swim, which he did well but did not seem to enjoy. After that he was even more cautious.

He did enjoy rolling in the sand.

At the east end of the island, again within walking distance of the campground was Fort Gaines. This fort was first established in 1821 and was important in the Battle of Mobile Bay in the Civil War. It was in service as late as World War I.

While we were there a blacksmith was demonstrating his skills. He was a very pleasant and knowledgeable fellow who spent an hour just chatting with us while creating items from really hot metal. The forge he was using was used by soldiers 150 years ago.

On the second morning, everyone but me took the ferry from Dauphin Island to Gulf Shores, going across the mouth of the Bay. I skipped it because I am very susceptible to motion sickness and it was becoming windy and the water a bit choppy before the ferry took off. I jumped off the ferry and walked across the road to the campground, where I spent the rest of the day doing laundry.

Later that day, the kids rented mopeds, Yakov and Noach on one and Shoshie on the other. After about half an hour, Yakov and Noach had spun out and injured themselves slightly. Noach called it a day but Yakov kept riding. They both had extravagant bandaging done by the local EMT. The police and EMT were very nice to the boys. Fortunately there was minimal damage to the cycle also.

Next, the Lousiana swamp. PRM