Gulf Shores, Alabama

Susan and I drove from Tulsa to Gulf Shores, Alabama the weekend after Labor Day to visit our friends Matt and Julie Warden. Their two children Joshua, 3 and Hope 1, are our godchildren and we have not seen them since they moved to Alabam last March. We took Smokey the wonderdog along for the drive and had a very enjoyable visit. Friends of Matt and Julie will be pleased to know that they are doing fantastic and have transplanted very well.



Hope is walking.


Joshua is full of mischief.


The first order of business was to visit the beach.






We hoped that Smokey would enjoy the surf but he wanted no part of it. As you can see, he stayed back as far as the leash would allow.


Gulf Shores is a long island just off the Southern tip of Alabama and is like a smaller version of Miami Beach - lots of Hotels and Condominiums. Everything is built on stilts to allow for the surge of high water during a storm.




Matt and Julie are in a condominium temporarily and will buy a house in Foley as soon as the old place in Oklahoma is sold.


They enjoy a private swimming pool and are just across the road from a nice stretch of private beach.




Matt is managing a Shake's Frozen Custard store in Foley. Julie is working half time as a bank teller. They have arranged their schedules so that they don't need day care for the kids.


We went shopping for souveniers.


We enjoyed a fine dinner at the Original Oyster House.


We worshiped together at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church.






What we enjoyed most was time spent with the family.








We started home at 7 AM Monday morning and arrived in Tulsa at 9 PM. It was a nice drive and a wonderful visit. Smokey had a great time.