Redneck Riviera!!!!!!
We’ve spent a week here in Biloxi so far trying to adjust to the humidity and off again/on again rainy weather but having some nice visiting time with our oldest! Even though we’re in a coastal community, the surroundings are different from what I’ve seen before – there are a few palm trees but there are TONS of beautiful Live Oak trees – right across the street from the beach. They are very large and very old with thick branches – the branches run horizontal and are so big I’m amazed the tree can hold them out! We went to play disc golf one afternoon on Keesler Air Force Base. The course is set among some of these oaks and made for a lovely atmosphere. Here are some pictures:
I’ve flown in airplanes but never airboats!!!!!
The hubs and I decided to go to Gulf Coast Gator Ranch and Airboat Swamp Tours in Moss Point, Mississippi. They offer air boat rides and an area with baby alligators, youth alligators (Ed. Note – Young not youths!!!) and full grown alligators for viewing. Neither one of us have ever been on an airboat before and figured now was the time – it was great fun! They passed out ear plugs before boarding the boat and thank goodness they did – it was LOUD! Our guide drove through the different canals showing us the cypress trees and cypress “knees”, then over grasses growing in the open areas, just when I thought we’d hit solid land, the grasses would just bend under the boat and pop back up after we were over – so cool! He also did a few 360 degree turns just to keep us amused! Unfortunately, we didn’t see any actual gators while on the boat. He had warned us when we got on that the wind was keeping the gators out of sight the last few days. (Ed. Note – Sure!)
After the ride, we walked along the boardwalk out back which housed a large enclosed pond with big gators just sunning themselves or floating along in the water. There were several other enclosures with baby gators about a foot long and some that were about 3 feet long. Alligators always look so slow and awkward but I’ve always heard they can run really fast when they want to 😁! (Ed. Note – They’ve lasted this long by surprising everybody!)
Make me an angel, that flies from Montgomery!!!
My other daughter (DIL) told me about an angel statue they passed when driving to Gulfport the first time. After doing a little internet search, I found that many of the Live Oaks in the area were damaged or killed after Hurricane Katrina came ashore. Here is an excerpt from an article about the trees. “‘On the tree in front of the church the one in the front is the angel with white eyes,” said Oakley. “She has been blinded by the horror she saw. The angel above her is praying for all of those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.” The angel tree at Demontluzin was moved to this spot. Three people and a dog clung to the tree while Katrina roared ashore. The survivors commissioned Dayle Lewis to carve the tree and here it stands as the reminder of a miracle.”
Even though we went to see the Angel Trees, we walked around Bay St. Louis and found a couple of other treasures. It is a bustling, little harbor town with lots of bars and restaurants and local shops. Also, lots of cars, golf carts (for rent) and people! We parked in a lot and decided to walk to the different angels. On the way to the cemetery, we passed a little park called Ruth’s Roots. This garden was started in 2016 by a county youth judge who wanted to help young people turn their lives around. It is a beautiful garden and I hope you’ll take the time to read how all the pieces fell in line for this peaceful and colorful place.
The other fun thing we found that day was the Daiquiri Shack!! It just happened to be on the way to and from the cemetery and Ruth’s Roots. There were machines lined up along the back wall with about 12 different flavors to try – I only tried two 😊… (Ed. Note – Well, that seems like a Pam mother’s day!!!!!)
After we arrived back home, I had a little visit from my son, a call from my other two kiddos and a call to my mom! I hope everyone had a Mother’s Day as nice as mine!