January 23, 2013. Ft. Pickens to Gulf Shores, AL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 23, 2013.  Today was move day, but not until we toured Fort Pickens.  I told you yesterday that it was built in 1834.  Actually, it was completed in 1834 after five years of construction.  The walls are four feet thick and constructed of brick made on the site.  Here's something very interesting.  The fort was built by the United States Government using slave labor imported from New Orleans.  The government could find few laborers who were willing to brave the heat and humidity of the Florida coast.  It solved the problem by allowing the contractor to rent slaves from slave owners nearby.  Ironic isn't it;  a fort designed to protect the freedoms of white Americans was built by black men who had no choice in the matter.  And that arrangement was tacitly approved by the United States Government.  Hummmm . . . I wonder what other public projects were bulit using slave labor. 

 

There are many dead trees along the coast.  Pensacola is a common target of hurricanes.  Most recently, it was hit by Dennis (2004) and Ivan (2005).  We drove through this area after Ivan and the devastation was terrible.  It is easy to understand why many trees are striped of leaves and many are dead, waiting for the next big wind to blow them to the ground.  The bare trees do make for productive bird watching.  We spotted several nests with what we thought were Ospreys sitting.  I compared the pictures with pictures of birds inhabiting Pensacola Beach.  Upon more careful inspection, the bird in the picture appears to be a type of heron, probably a Great Blue Heron, although it could be a Green Heron. 

 

We are back at Gulf State Park.  We biked around the park this afternoon.  We rode for more than and hour without retracing ourselves.  This is a big park covering several miles.  Many of the residents are decorating for Mardi Gras.  Across the road from our campsite is the sign warning us not to aggravate the alligators.  I don't think Annie needed to be told that.  The lake behind our campsite looks like prime alligator habitat to me.  Annie is on full alert.  She would say, "I'm just being watchful.  You can't be too careful, you know."    

 

We've been told that Annie's mother has a urinary tract infection.  We are ready to return home if necessary.  However, she has been diagnosed and is on an antibiotic.  So, we'll see how things develop.  We hope to see some improvement as early as tomorrow.