We departed the Florida panhandle heading west toward New Orleans . A five hour drive along the Gulf brought us back into Alabama . The state is primarily landlocked but has a 50 mile wide stretch that extends to the Gulf of Mexico between Florida and Mississippi. Our Airbnb destination was 15 miles North of Mobile, Alabama’s major seaport. Stan , our host, is an Elementary school Principal and provided us with a very nice cottage nestled in the woods on his 4 acre piece of property in an upscale subdivision. His wife Tina brought us her homemade bread with a jar of her pimento cheese spread for breakfast, very kind of her. We wandered around paths thru their woods marveling at the exotic ecology, so different from our Vermont forest. I poked at fire ant nests and enjoyed the Magnolia trees and Loblolly pines with their 16″ pine needles. We stayed in the middle of the paths concerned about Rattle snakes and Water Moccasins hidden in the brush, didn’t see any. The weather is warm and muggy. At their urging, we awoke early to head to the coast where their daughter ( a high school senior) was participating in the annual Azalea festival. The Azaleas are in full blooms and their daughter had been chosen as a Azalea Trail Maiden, a highly coveted position as guide and welcoming host at a beautiful estate in the Bayou on the Gulf. These girls are chosen for academic achievement, community involvement, and high moral principles. The selected few are then coached on poise and etiquette. They must purchase their own dresses which are of considerable cost. The whole thing is right out of Gone With The Wind, but make no mistake, they are deadly serious about it and the parents are extremely proud of their chosen young ladies in their hoop skirts and parasols. We enjoyed chatting with the gals, none had ever seen snow. They were charming and a delight to behold. The estate and grounds were gorgeous and a National Historic Sight. The staff picture was taken during the Depression. The road to the Bayou was straight as an arrow and pancake flat, a very interesting drive.
Note: We stopped at a rest area in Pensacola Florida, near an major Naval airbase, that’s a real jet fighter mounted on a pole hanging over the parking lot. 
Philonthego.com 