Sweet Home Alabama

Saturday, June 16th: Hoop and I met up with fellow bloggers Tammy and Sarah, and their motley crew of husbands and college friends. I wasn't sure what to expect. Although, fortunately, I'd already been warned to expect this guy:

I can only imagine what his tan lines looked like.

It didn't take long for Hoop and I to feel at home. Tammy and Sarah are two of the coolest cats you could ever hope to meet. Shit, by the end of the day we were making gang signs together. If that doesn't show love, Homey, I don't know what does.

Sunday, June 17th - Thursday, June 21st: Hoop and I had expected the drive to Dauphin Island to take anywhere from four to five hours. The reality was more like seven and a half. Which landed us right in the middle of Hickville by 10pm Sunday night. I scanned the surroundings while Hoop drove, desperately looking for the back road MapQuest said to turn on. Fucking MapQuest. We found a main road out on the drive home. Not only did it shave twenty minutes off our route, but it kept us out of shooting range.

The only thing that dotted the desolate, dark road was the occasional reflective sign. Triangle 1. Square 54. "Maybe they're house numbers," I thought. Then I saw four more Triangle 1 signs. "Guess not." Just when I was beginning to think we were in a "Hills Have Eyes" remake, the darkness broke and we arrived at Dauphin Island. Our first impression of the beach town was grim. The only thing in sight was a tiny gas station and a bait shop that turned out to be the town's only grocery store. The rest was made up of houses built on stilts.

6:30 the next morning, we awoke to the sounds of breakfast cooking. How could we miss it? Our bed resided in the middle of the living room. Fuzzy headed and hungry, I walked around like a zombie, weaving my way around people and pets. All in all we had ten adults, four kids, and three dogs. I was beginning to regret our choice of vacation spots, until we hit the beach. There's nothing like a little sun and salt water to lighten my mood. And here we had TWO beaches. One on each side! Hoop wasn't as impressed. "There are oil rigs?!" He asked, pointing just off the coast. "Is the water even safe?"

It was. I hope. I'll let you know if I start glowing. Besides the rigs, Dauphin Beach is home to many dolphins and hermit crabs. Both of which we saw in abundance while there. No shit guys, I think it might be the hermit crab capital of the U.S. I'm used to seeing those things in STORES, not milling around like cattle. Our favorite part of the vacation was when we swam the bay. We kept walking further and further out, expecting it to get deeper. But it never did. A mile out, the water was still chest level. It was amazing. Hoop and I could have stayed out there all day.

To Be Continued...