Damn The Torpedoes... Full Speed Ahead

   Silence.

  It's been ten days since we arrived and I've had nothing to write about. I've been without inspiration and I'm loathe to write just for the sake of putting words to figurative paper. Until today.

  Am I inspired? No. Did something unusual happen? No. It's just time. I feel a need to take all of you with me on this journey and, even though nothing momentous occurred, I think I need to share my thoughts.

  First, our search for fresh shrimp was finally satisfied. In fact, once Ben and Sandi arrived and we took them to Dauphin Island Monday we even managed to buy some from the shop there that's always closed. Score one for the good guys.

  While we were there we stopped at Fort Gaines. Built in 1821 it was part of Mobile Bay's defenses. In 1864 it, along with Fort Morgan on the eastern side of the bay, played a significant part in the Battle of Mobile Bay, the last major battle of the war. As it was unfolding, the Union's Admiral Farragut, upon encountering torpedoes launched by the Confederate Navy and determined to capture Mobile uttered his famous quote, "Damn the torpedoes... full speed ahead!"

  After a brief visit to the fort we spent an hour on the beach watching the waves roll gently onto the beach while pelicans, terns and an odd duck hung out nearby:

  There's something about ocean waves I find mesmerizing, like a campfire. If I lived in an oceanfront house with a firepit I don't think I'd ever be bored.

  Today is Halloween and I believe I mentioned we live across the street from a huge cemetery. We haven't seen any kids around here so we don't think we'll get any action this evening but old houses across from 100,000 dead people sounds like the perfect locale for some scary stuff.

  Speaking of Magnolia Cemetery, I've been walking Willie there and checking out old markers and memorials. There's a section reserved for 1,100 Confederate soldiers' graves and there's an unusual marker set just to the side as it was added recently.

  The unknown sailor's skeleton was discovered in an archaeological survey of the CSS Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg, France ten years ago, and was interred in a special ceremony. The Alabama is revered here, as is the Confederacy in general. In 1864 the Alabama sailed to France for drydock repairs as the South did not have adequate facilities to service it. A Union battleship followed it and blocked its exit after the repairs, sinking it in the English Channel. An interesting connection to find here.

  There's also memorials erected to Confederate generals by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which is a bit Klannish in it's beliefs. All this is accepted quite openly around here although the state government forced the removal of a statue of Confederate hero Admiral Semmes two years ago in the "good people on both sides" aftermath.

  Alabama is a very "red" state in US political terms. We're not seeing many Trump signs here, unlike most other states we've visited. I think it may be a case of not preaching to the choir. Between sympathy for the Confederacy and support for Trump we think it wise not to engage in political discussions.

  Apropos of nothing, there's an injury lawyer in Alabama by the name of Alexander Shunnarah. It appears he told an ad agency to buy every vacant billboard in the state.

  Everywhere you go, and I mean everywhere, you see his smiling face. I'm sure he gets a ton of business because of his ads but I'm sure he's charging a ton to pay for all those signs.

  Weather-wise, it's been 30ish and sunny since we got here... until today. It got cold last night, into the single digits, which is rare here at this time of year. The forecast calls for a return to normal by Thursday but I had to turn on the heat this morning. I mean, I can do that back home. This is NOT what we came here for. /whine=on

  Speaking of cold weather, we're trying to come up with a plan for the winter. We'll be home in early December and were planning to hit the road again in late January. The question is, where? We'd prefer someplace warm. Our options appear to be, come back to the US south, go off to Australia or find a warm spot around the Mediterranean. I guess it's possible something in the Caribbean will come up but the greatest volume of possibilities is in those three areas.

  The US is easy and cheap as all we need to do is drive. However, once we leave North America we run into the "no car" problem and long stays will run up huge rental car bills. Many Australia and New Zealand sits provide a car but airfare is steep. Most of the European ones are in rural areas where cars are necessary but not provided. It's a quandary.

  We have time on our side as it's three months away and I'm betting we'll find something but the uncertainty isn't welcome.

  With seasonal weather returning Thursday we'll go back to exploring Mobile with our friends, playing some golf and hitting more beaches. Life will be good once again. Until then we'll tough it out like real Canadians... and make gumbo.