Living Our Dream: Getting Settled in Alabama

November 05, 2013

Relaxing in Alabama

Summerdale, AL - Events of Friday, October 25 to Tuesday, November 5, 2013

After chasing around New England all summer, we were looking forward to some down time. Shortly after we got to Alabama, we settled into a pattern of relaxing and doing a few minor projects around the motor home. Even Freeway gets into the relaxation thing. Later in the evening, he likes to go into his crate and bunch up his blankets and just chill out.

Freeway ready for a nap

On Friday, we got up the gumption to go to Walmart to restock the larder. Going to church with a stop at Sam's Club on the way back to the motor home was on the schedule for Sunday.

We relaxed and puttered around the motor home all Monday afternoon. On Monday evening, Darrell and Judy invited us and another couple, Jim and Ellie, to dinner at their rig. We met Jim and Ellie last year through Darrell and Judy, and they pulled into a site across the road from us on Monday afternoon. Judy made some delicious lasagna with brownies for dessert. We had lots of laughs before heading back to our motor home for an evening of TV.

We have numerous favorite restaurants here in Lower Alabama. As we mentioned in an earlier post, our budget took a big hit with the high expenses of touring New England, so we are trying to space out the time between eating out. By Wednesday, however, we couldn't wait any longer. At first, we planned to go to Panini Pete's in Fairhope. However, since part of the enjoyment of eating lunch there is eating outside on their patio and since it was cloudy and breezy, we changed our minds and went to LA BBQ instead. LA BBQ is located about 10 minutes from the campground on Highway 59.

LA BBQ

LA BBQ serves pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken and ribs. Sandwiches and sandwich combos range in price from about $4 to $7, lunch plates are $6 to $7.50 and dinner plates are $9 to $13. We usually go mid-afternoon and have pulled pork dinner plates for $9, which includes two sides. Margery had slaw and potato salad, and Paul had potato salad and sliced tomatoes. The pork was tender and moist, and the sides were good, too.

Paul about to dig in

We did a lot of relaxing and just puttering around the motor home the rest of the week. Over the weekend, we went to church then watched the NASCAR race on Sunday.

On Tuesday, we had a few errands to run. On our way back to the motor home, we went by way of Billy's Seafood in Bon Secour a few miles to the south of Summerdale to pick up some fresh shrimp for a new recipe Margery wanted to try for dinner that evening. Bon Secour is the home of a small fleet of fishing boats and a couple of seafood packing houses that also sell fish and shrimp to the public.

Some of the Bon Secour fishing fleet docked next to Billy's

As we drove up, we noticed Billy's is sporting a new paint job and new signs. The building used to be all white, but they painted the siding bright blue.

Billy's Seafood

Billy's has fresh shrimp available in a variety of sizes. We usually get medium to large because, although they are more expensive, they are easier to peel and de-vein.

Margery checking out the selection of shrimp

We headed back to the motor home to chill out for the rest of the afternoon. Margery made a new recipe for dinner called creamy seafood casserole that included the shrimp from Billy's and haddock Darrell and Judy picked up for us at Joe Patty's Seafood in Pensacola when they went there the day before. It was delish!

So far, our stay in Lower Alabama has been very restful, which is just what we needed after a busy summer of sightseeing. We don't have any major activities planned, but something is bound to come up so stay tuned.

Posted on November 05, 2013 | Permalink