We left Destin under cloudy skies, hoping for a rain free trip west to Alabama. We were hoping to meet up with some friends we had met at Yellowstone National Park last year. Brian and Bill are also full timers and had been traveling through the New England States. They too, were headed to Alabama so we made reservations at Bella Terra RV Resort in Foley Alabama where they own a lot. As it turned out, they had some issues with their coach in North Carolina so we extended our stay until they arrived. We had a fantastic visit and were able to compare travel notes as we are wanting to hit the New England States next year. It's always nice to find out where the best places to stay and visit are. Here are some quick pictures of this part of our journey.
Just past Gulf Breeze, Florida, Hwy 98 turns north and crosses the Pensacola Bay just before entering Pensacola Florida. There are no tolls on this bridge.
We didn't get a chance to stop and visit Pensacola as the weather looked ominous. Traffic was horrible as there was an accident and the road is only two lanes each direction. With a little patience we made it through with only a minimal delay.
While stuck in traffic, we spotted this old "Frisco" Steam Locomotive on the center median.
The "1355" was rebuilt in 1945. Beginning in 1943, Springfield began
rebuilding these old 1306 class 2-8-0's for use on the line down to
Pensacola, where bridges had prevented the use of anything heavier than a
Consol. By adding a new boiler course and certain modern appliances,
the Frisco was able to get a more efficient locomotive without
increasing the weight on the drivers.
Once through Pensacola we continued on the open road through Bowling Green and Paradise Beach.
This is US Hwy 98 through the western panhandle of Florida.
Paradise City is on the border of Florida and Alabama. As we cross this bridge, we will be leaving Florida and entering Alabama. As you can see, the weather is cooperating.
Entering Alabama, I noticed two things right away. First the "Welcome" sign could be a little bit more exciting and the VW bus in the background was a little shorter than I remembered. But, it's all good!
Just a little picture of US 98 as it passes in front of many homes just inside the Alabama border. While we found some parts of Alabama near the poverty level, most of it was upscale and very nice. The only negative in my book was the humidity.
Jasmine giving me "the look" as if to say, "Are we there yet?"
In answer to her question, Yes! we have arrived...
Bella Terra, in Gulf Shores, Alabama is a motor coach Class A only resort, located just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. It features a 6000 sq ft clubhouse, infinity pool, spa, sauna and fitness room. Each site is beautifully landscaped and most have views of the lake. We really enjoyed our stay here.
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