Alabama beach walk

After college, I spent five years working for a mobile tack shop on the A show hunter/jumper circuit.

Based out of Germantown, Tennessee, our circuit was South, but mostly Mid-South. Alabama was strictly a drive through state. We passed through there on our way to and from the Florida winter circuit, but the only stops we made were for gas diesel and to pick up Farrier's Formula from Life Data Labs.

Last week was the first time I ever went to Alabama to actually spend time in Alabama.

The first and - as it turned out - also, the second. 

Alabama day one was Labor Day. We started the day at an Alligator farm in Moss Point, Mississippi. After feeding the gators and riding an airboat, we left there and drove through rural and then coastal Alabama. 

We went up...

and over a bridge...

and found ourselves on Dolphin Dauphin Island.

The plan was to see the sights,  then take the ferry across the bay and have lunch at an intriguingly named restaurant in Gulf Shores. The plan worked...

until it didn't.

At that point, Carol was ready to drive back to Mississippi, but I wanted to go to the beach.

Then, when we got to the beach, I wanted to walk. 

I live in a landlocked state so walking on the beach is a rare treat. Plus, I was seven days into my walking challenge, and I needed those steps. Carol spread a towel on the beach, sat down and told me to have at it. 

"I might be a while," I warned.

She waved me off, saying, "Take as much time as you need."

She's a good friend.

My initial goal was a barely-visible row of houses way off in the distance.

Despite it being a holiday, the beach was surprisingly uncrowded. 

There were long stretches where it was just me and the seabirds. 

I know a lot of people dislike gulls, but I love them.

I always end up taking way, 

way,

way...

too many pictures of them.

Sorry/not sorry.

After a while, I crossed paths with a couple and their dogs. 

I remembered how much fun I had when we took Piper to the beach. I hope we can do that again someday.

Eventually, I got to the row of houses. 

I stopped, checked my steps and decided I needed more.

So I kept walking.

I walked past the houses and kept on until the beach was wild and lonely again.

As much as I loved all of this trip's big events, I also really enjoyed this long, quiet walk. Thank you, Carol, for giving me the space to do that.

P.S. I ended the day with 21,333 steps. Not bad!