Rain And More Rain

This Morning

8:14 AM

Well, as predicted, it's raining this morning in Orange Beach, Alabama at 6:20, as I sit in the fairly busy breakfast room in the Hampton Inn. It's 58º and supposed to rain most of today and tomorrow so we have lots of empty time to fill. 

Heron Shot From Fifth Floor Balcony This Morning

We left our Hampton outside of Birmingham around 8:00, in no hurry to hit the road. We had a little over a four-hour drive so as expected, we arrived at our destination around 12:30, with stops only to get some gas. It was an easy drive, the road edged in various types of pine trees, reminding us of driving through South Carolina. We checked in to our hotel and upgraded to a room with a view of the Gulf. 

Beaching It On A Gray Afternoon

Orange Beach Gray

A Great Beach Filled With High Rises

It was predicted to start raining midafternoon so once we got our bags in our room, we went for a walk on the beach, hoping to get in some beach time before it rained. Well, it started to drizzle but fortunately, a new mega restaurant/bar/patio/shop opened up just beyond our hotel. It has beach access so we walked up the steps and found a seat at their fifty-seat bar, with a view of the Gulf. It's an amazing venue and we were happy to find it, ordered beers, and oysters for Evie, and House Gumbo for me. We struck up a conversation with the bartender and the restaurant opened in May, the outdoor bar a year ago. When both the outdoor bar and restaurant our open, it probably serves a couple hundred patrons. It was a lucky find on a gray, wet, Alabama afternoon. 

Oysters For Lunch At Coastal

We went to back to the Hampton and unpacked and relaxed until 6:45.  Around 5:30, I hoped to go for another walk at dusk but it was raining so I cut it short. We decided that we liked the Coastal enough to go back for dinner. We timed it so we would be getting there just as the Buffalo Bills/Denver game would start. Once again, we were two of the four or five people at the vast bar. The restaurant and bar has TVs everywhere, maybe ten around the bar. We struck up a conversation with the bartender, originally from Chicago and Tennesee but now Alabama. Evie ordered an Asian salad with tuna and I had the grouper sandwich, both of which were good choices. We stayed through the first half of the game, then drove home maybe 50 yards to our hotel. We stayed up and watched the sloppy play of the Bills lose the game in the final seconds on a dumb mistake, twelve men on the field. Buffalo fans must be going crazy. 

Good Night Beach