Wrapping Things Up in the South, Evicted from Alabama

Today marks the last full day I'll spend on the Gulf Coast this trip. It's been a pretty good run, and it's time to wrap it up. I saw the first alligator of the season yesterday, and this evening Rory Conlan spotted the first copperhead of his own spring training season. The cherry blossoms have come and gone, the pollen is waning, and the trees down here are fully leafed. I even managed to catch the sun setting behind the Mobile skyline.

Last Evening in Mobile...Till the Next Go Around

I'm grateful for the sunsets I've seen, the miles I've covered, the opportunity to "work the problems," and the laughter of friends. It is hard to imagine that my regular sojourns down to this part of the world are wrapping up. It's been quite a run for a six month temporary assignment that's managed to stretch to eighteen months running. It just goes to show that you can never tell what will be revealed around the corner tomorrow, but you shouldn't worry about it to very much. It's going to be spectacular.

Return of the Alligators

Leaving work a little later than I'd hoped today led to a bit of a rush to get down to the sunset spot along my evening walk that I'd chosen to witness the passing of another day. As these things often do, it worked out for the best because a bit of jogging was required to get into place in a timely manner. This put some stress on the foot, and as far as I can tell, that fifth metatarsal help up under the strain. The view that awaited at the bottom of the top of the hill that I climbed to get there was worth it.

Sunset from Under I-10 - Daphne, AL

This was the view I was "rushing" to see, but just a little farther down the trail, I came upon this one.

Sunset on the Bayou - Daphne, AL

The bayou in this case is the languid outlet of D'Olive Creek in Daphne, AL, and this area has consistently yielded spectacular pictures. Even on breezy days, the wetland that D'Olive Creek meanders through on its path into Mobile Bay is sheltered from all but the most blustery of wind. The combination of marshland, the highway, calm water, and an exception view of the sky bring a serenity and warmth to the passing of the day.

I walked on down the trail, and encountered my first alligator of the season. Floating along down the middle of the creek with an air of indifference, it was like I'd come home to find and old friend waiting to catch up on what had happened over the cold season. The 'gator was a sign that the dark ages of winter were quickly receding in the rearview mirror, and the tropical heat of the Alabama summer was just around the corner. 

The 'gator was a good benchmark on the passage of time, and a symbol of optimism for what the universe may deliver tomorrow. As is my habit, I'm looking forward to seeing whatever may be brought my way.

Sunrise to Sunset - Sunday Travel

Getting up this morning at 0430 was a bit of a challenge. The power had gone out sometime during the evening. I can only surmise that the howling wind that had lulled me to sleep had played some role in limiting the flow of electrons. I'd prepared the evening before, so getting out the door came off without too much trouble. A quick hop, skip, and a jump down to the airport, and I found myself on the Airbus 320 that was headed to Charlotte. On the way down the taxiway, the sun peaked up over the horizon.

Sunrise Reflecting in the Terminal Windows - BWI

The early morning flights on Sunday are comfortable. I heard the flight attendant say that we had about on hundred and twenty people on a plane designed to haul one hundred and eighty. I had the entire starboard side of exit row ten to myself.

Sunrise at BWI - Turning for the Takeoff Roll

The engines spun up, the hydraulic pumps whined, and we lept up to thirty thousand feet in the blink of an eye. Five miles above the earth, and the buffeting wind was barely a whispering backdrop. The clouds flashed pink, and I took a quick catnap to catch some of the Z's that I'd left back at home.

Clipping South, Five Miles above the Earth

I put in some time at work when I got to Alabama, but I left early enough to make the trek (via car) down to Fairhope for the evening walk.  This was the starting point for the two day stretch when Rory and I covered a little over fifty four miles, and it was good to be back. It was also good to be back in April when the temperature was in the high sixties. Last July, I assure you, the air was quite a bit hotter, quite a bit wetter, and heavier. It sat on you like a damp, boiling elephant.

The reason for the trek down to Fairhope was hope that I could catch a picture of the sun setting behind a marble dolphin statue in a city park on the shore of Mobile Bay. I wasn't even sure if the statue was oriented in a way that would work for the shot I had in mind, but opportunities like this don't come along very often so I thought I would give chance a try. I was not disappointed.

Dolphins at Sunset - Fairhope, AL

With the cool breeze wafting in from Mobile Bay, I cannot think of a better way to wrap up a Sunday. I first saw this statue over a year ago, and I've been planning to try to get this shot since it first crossed my path. It was the perfect way to end a Sunday, except that it wasn't the end.

On the way out to complete this goal that's been in the works for a year, I passed another statue that I don't remember seeing before. The really interesting thing is that I'm almost certain that it's not a new installation. I've been past this spot probably ten or fifteen times, and I've never noticed the seahorse. I jogged back, and this is what I saw when I got back to the starting point of the walk.

Seahorse at Sunset - Fairhope, AL

The sun had set, but the seahorse stood in sharp contrast to the gathering dusk. What a glorious Sunday, and it left me with the gift of another goal. I have a feeling that I'll be stalking the sunset behind the seahorse sometime going forward. I hope it doesn't take a year this time, but I know that the chase, however long it may be, will be worth it. Sunrise, Sunset, and Sunday. I'm not sure it can get any better than this, though I remain hopeful. Tomorrow is a new day, and I can't wait to see what the universe delivers to experience.