We were off this morning, for Breakfast, and we decided on the restaurant that’s right at exit 53 on Interstate 10 called the Derailed Diner. It’s only about 2 miles from our campground. The place used to be the Oasis Travel Center before it was remodeled into the Derailed Diner.
As you drive up to the Diner, you see what appears to be a wrecked train car and a motorhome in a repair bay sticking halfway out of the building. As you get closer, the motorhome is part of the building and so is the wrecked passenger train car. When you get out of your car, the crossing signals at the entrance to the building are ringing and they stopped as soon as we opened the front door. Entering the building was a real treat. It’s one of those places that you really want to write home about.
Inside the restaurant you find a school bus that’s been sliced lengthwise and the doors are the entrance into the kitchen. As you look around you notice different things. Like the stools at the lunch counter. Each one different from a bus seat to a saddle. Tailgates serve as some tables, with bus seats serving as chairs. Antiques graced the walls along with metal signs of every shape and color. The restaurant was a real experience to behold and a “must see” for anyone who likes unusual.
After Breakfast we decided to take a ride up to Bay Minette to see if Sharon could find a dress for the wedding. We didn’t find anything there where she could stop and shop.
Our next stop was back across the Interstate to Daphne where we found a Target for her to shop at. As luck would have it she came out of the store carrying a bag. She showed me the dress that she found and it was quite attractive. She couldn’t find her usual matching jewelry purchase for a reasonable price , however.
For Sharon our trip back home was a happy one. She finally found what she was looking for.
We got back home and turned on the TV for the afternoon. That took us up to Dinnertime and a Meatloaf sandwich got me through that.
We settled in for the night with our favorite entertainment, the TV. It took us right up to the trip to lala land. It was about 10:30.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
We woke up this morning with the threat of rain all day and with absolutely nothing to do. We took the forecast literally and didn’t plan any activities today.
Sharon made Egg McMuffins for Breakfast this morning and they were quite good. She had promised them the other day but we didn’t have any English Muffins at that time.
After Breakfast we settled in front of the TV and sure enough the rain came tumbling down. I think we were right on the edge of the storm and it was on and off for most of the day.
By this afternoon Sharon announced that she was making Stuffed Meatballs for Dinner tonight. Stuffed Meatballs are a scoop of boxed Dressing surrounded by a thin layer of ground beef. She bakes them in the oven in a can of Cream soup with no water added. We were also having Mashed Potatoes and Shoepeg Corn. She had Green Beans and a salad instead of corn. It was all quite good.
After Dinner we settled in front of the TV and it was NCIS night tonight. One of my favorite nights to watch TV. We’ve been glued to NCIS and NCIS New Orleans ever since it came on the air along time ago. Bull is also on tonight with Michael Weatherly which is a favorite show of Sharon’s. So we pretty much haven’t a care in the world when Tuesday night rolls around.
My programs kept me up until 10:30 tonight since we usually record them so we don’t have to watch commercials.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
We woke up to another bright sunshiny day today and a plan to have another meal at a favorite place.
We were off for another pleasant experience this morning by going back to the Derailed Diner for another Breakfast. We didn’t know what to expect the other day and we left the cameras in the car. Today we were going to get our fill of food and also get our fill of pictures. The place is so unique that it’s worth a second effort to remember it with pictures.
There’s a shooting range about halfway in to the restaurant that we can hear almost every morning. It’s only about a mile from the campground. It doesn’t wake us up but as soon as we open the windows the gunshots are present. They usually last until sunset. They’re not really loud but they are a sound that you hear every day.
We decided not to take a ride today to scout the area. Sharon wanted to get home and clean up the hacienda and I had some dumping of the holding tanks to take care of today. I like to dump the day before we leave an area so I don’t have to do it in the morning when we leave. Besides I have cords and hoses that need to be put away also.
We caught up on a couple of shows we recorded last night, during the afternoon. And by Supper time we finished up some leftovers from the past couple of days.
After Dinner we were into our regular shows that were recorded. The Curse of Oak Island was one of them. It looks like they finished another season without a solution to the mystery. We’ve followed them from the beginning and now we have to wait another year for any conclusion.
I stayed up late tonight since we had so much recorded, and the DVR was still recording tonight. So we’ll have just as much to watch tomorrow night and afternoon. The only trouble is, we’ll be traveling tomorrow. Not all day, but in the morning and early afternoon.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
We were off again this morning headed South to Pass Christian, Mississippi and our campground Wolf River Resort. We needed to find a place for LP Gas so we could fill up cause we’ll be in our next campground for two weeks.
We found two Pilot stations on the way and we’re hoping that at least one of them pumps LP. We’ve got an old list of Flying J stations and they’re both on it so we’re pretty sure we can make a stop there for LP and Fuel.
After we stopped at Moss Point at the Pilot we noticed there was a McDonalds across the street and after all it was noon and lunchtime. So we made a stop across the street before heading south again.
We arrived at Wolf River about 1:30 and decided that this wasn’t much of a travel day. But that was the plan after all. We called Sharon’s Brother Dennie and his wife Drema and let them know that we were here and settled, and waiting for my Sister Cookie and her Husband Bill to arrive. They were in Texas and on their way home to Virginia when they decided at the last minute to swoop down and spend a couple of days with us. They arrived about 4 and we sat and had a short conversation before we left for Dennie and Drema’s in Bay St. Louis.
Dennie and Drema have been renting a house in Bay St.Louis for the past couple of months and will be leaving here right around the time our stay is up in two weeks.
We left the campground and drove over to Bay St.Louis which is about 10 or so miles from here. But even with the GPS we had trouble finding their house. We had to call Dennie and ask for directions. He said Drema would be outside waving to us when we go by, and sure enough, there she was directing us in.
We sat and had some conversation for a little while before we headed out to Cuz’s Old Town Restaurant for Dinner. It took us a while to get service but when we did they were very polite and efficient. The food was excellent and I think all of us had a good time.
We left for home after the restaurant and said our “see you laters”. We got home about 9 and just in time to watch Chicago Fire on TV. After Chicago Fire we watched a couple of other shows that were recorded before we headed for bed.
Friday, March 9, 2018
We got up this morning to another beautiful day even though it was a bit cooler.
Cookie and Bill were off to their Sales Pitch from the campground at 10 and wouldn’t be back until after 1 PM. It was the longest sales talk in history. Cookie came back mad that Bill was carrying on a conversation with the salesman. She said it took forever to get to the end of the presentation. We’ve only had about 3 occasions when we sat through one of those presentations but we try to get out of them as quick as possible.
After they got back Bill was off for a nap and Cookie, Sharon and I decided that we’d try to find the Flea Markets that she found out about from the sales talk. We couldn’t find the first one and unfortunately the second one was not open because it was Friday. So I guess we’ll have to come back tomorrow or the next day.
After we got back home Cookie and Sharon dove into a jigsaw puzzle while Bill and I checked out my scooter. He came to the same conclusion Jack from Gulf Shores came to. I’ve got one battery with reversed polarity and no way to fix the problem without buying a new battery. I do have two good batteries at home so I’m not anxious to buy another one.
By 5 o’clock we decided that we would go to the church down the road to have their fish fry for tonight. We noticed the sign on the road that mentioned it for Fridays. The meal was $10 for just catfish or $10 for Shrimp and Catfish and it was very good indeed.
After Dinner we took a ride to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. It only took us about 20 minutes to pick up what we needed and get on the road back home again. We made it home in plenty of time to watch a little TV before it was time for bed. In fact we managed catch most of the shows that we recorded tonight since there only a couple of shows worth watching anyway.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
We had an ambitious day planned for today. Cookie, Sharon and I started out by going to the Flea Market which is located up by the Interstate. We were up there yesterday but it was closed on Friday. We left home late this morning so by the time we finished up at the Flea Market It was around noon and we were looking for some fast food place to have lunch.
We also had intended to go to Gulf Islands National Seashore for a short visit and to pick up our cancellation stamp over the next couple of days. We decided that today would be the day and set off for Ocean Springs, Mississippi which was a couple of dozen miles down the beach. We knew we would find a fast food place on our way to the Seashore, and we did. About 10 miles down the beach we found a McDonalds and stopped to have lunch.
After lunch we continued on to Gulf Shores where the time to spend at the Seashore was dwindling because of the time we had to get back, to get everybody to church on time. As it turned out I did manage to get everybody back in time by about 10 minutes. I dropped them off at the church, which is just down the road about two miles, since we were cutting it so close.
While we were at the National Park we found a new Collector’s Edition for the Passport that could hold my over 300 cancellations. I didn’t get a good look at it so I really don’t know how it’s set up, or worth the $24.95 they’re charging for it.
After church, Sharon came home and there would be no Supper tonight because we ate a late lunch. It didn’t matter cause neither of us was hungry anyway.
We settled in for the night in front of the Telly trying to catch up on some of the things we had recorded earlier. It was Saturday and a lousy night for TV anyway.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
We got up this morning with not only rain on the menu for today, but with the fact that with the time change we got up very late. We didn’t have anything planned for today so its not going to be a great loss.
Sharon had intended to do our laundry today but when she got up it was raining and she held off until later on in the afternoon.
I watched an Indy car race in St. Petersburg, Florida for some of the afternoon. And it was still going when Sharon got back. We watched it together until the race ended. We don’t generally watch Indy car races so I don’t know who won.
We were invited to go over to my Sister Cookie’s tonight for Dinner to have French Meat Pie and she makes a very good one. She also had an Apple Salad and a Banana/Vanilla Dessert to finish out the meal. Everything was very good.We sat around talking for awhile, after we were done eating. I don’t get a chance to do that very often so when I can I take advantage of it.
We got home tonight in time to catch a double edition of 60 minutes and Madame Secretary. During the Olympics 60 minutes was recycling old shows and Madame Secretary was nowhere to be seen.
We stayed up late tonight even with the time change, and I suppose that we’ll get up late tomorrow too.