Travel Day

Today started off with an early trip to the airport for follow-on travel to the Gulf Coast.  While rumors have it that airline travel is not the luxury experience that it used to be, there is some evidence in my mind that this is just revisionist history.  For one, the airports themselves are far more luxurious than they once were, and this change has materialized during my lifetime.

Airplane Sculpture as an Advertisement for an Airport Pub and Restaurant

The airports that are part of my normal routine (just saying that is something to ponder) have become a combination of art and technology museum.  The artwork is fairly diverse including large and small scale sculpture, paintings, drawings, and technology centered art.  The technical displays are largely related to air travel, but it is not unusual to see space, ground transport, and political science displays as well.

This is probably not the most popular opinion, but I really don't mind going to an airport.  Even the Transportation Security Administration seems to have gotten their act together, and it looks like TSA pre-check will be widely available to even the casual traveller.  Lines aren't bad, and again, technology is making a real difference both at the ticket counter, the gates, and yes, the security lines.

It also doesn't hurt one little bit that I can get into and aluminum tube that travels just a little less than 500 mph around 30K feet (that's five miles give or take) and land largely refreshed and ready to go 1200 miles away from where I started in just seven hours.  The fact that this remarkable achievement has happened on a timeline where the first manned powered flight happened four short years before my grandfather's birthday makes the achievement all the more amazing to me.

After a quick hop down to the Gulf Coast, my pace slowed down and pedestrian activity ensued.  You know you may be back in the south when Spanish moss and American Alligator Warning placards begin to appear out of the woodwork. 

Spanish Moss Overhanging the Oak Ridge Trail at Gulf Shores State Park

I stumbled upon this trail after a quick jaunt down to Gulf Shores, AL to see what there was to see.  The walk turned into a 9 mile loop which was about a mile longer than I anticipated but rewarding nonetheless. The trail bordered a wetland, or what most rational people would call a swamp with the requisite warning signs for this type of area in the south.

American Alligator Warning Placard in Gulf Shores State Park

I approve of the advice to resist feeding the alligators. I know I have no desire to become their lunch or even mid afternoon snack.

Sunset happened about a mile before I wanted it to happen, but since stopping the spinning of the planet is not yet in my repertoire revelling in it a bit early seemed like the best option.

Gulf Coast Sunset #1 as Seen from the Middle of a Swamp

Even though I didn't get the full experience because of the swamp surrounding me and blocking my view, the high color of the setting sun seemed worthy of digital capture.

Gulf Coast Sunset #2 as Seen from the Middle of a Swamp

Today was very full, and strung together, it represents another 24 hour chapter in a very fulfilling life.  I'm grateful for the richness of the experience.