Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

 This morning we woke up to beautiful blue skies and lush tropical foliage.    We arrived at the North Beach Camp RV Park on Vilano Beach (just north of St. Augustine, Florida) later than planned yesterday ( Friday).  

We were whipped.   The drive from Bay St. Louis, MS to Cottondale, Florida, went well.    Smooth driving except at the exit from Hitchin Post RV where we crossed some very lumpy railroad tracks.    We rocked so violently that the beautiful Magnolia blossom (the flower filcher had struck again....) ejected all it's stamen and promptly died.

before

after

 I-10 was beautifully manicured as we continued east and we enjoyed the patches of wildflowers thoughtfully scattered along the route.

It was a longer driving day than we usually try to do, through Biloxi, under Biloxi, and all was going fine until almost Jacksonville.

Signs on the highway warned of an accident ahead and that all lanes were blocked.     I consulted the map and we made a quick (well, quick is relative - it took us almost an hour to go 1 mile to an exit) change of plans and took surface roads east and around Jacksonville to Vilano Beach.....it was a long detour.

So, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.     We were only there for a few days but we enjoyed the beautiful water views directly in front of Beluga.     The Silver Slipper Casino RV Park wasn't very full so we had a nice, quiet time.   We watched a family of Kildeer bathe vigorously in a puddle beside us and terns wheeling over the water.    We stood awhile and watched a Great Blue Heron try to choke down a fish that his eyes evidently told him he could eat, but was finding it easier said than done....

 We walked the empty beach, the water was bathtub warm.    It was very very hot and humid.

 We drove along the water to the lovely little town of Bay St. Louis. 

  We'd been there before so we didn't do much exploring.    We marveled at how high some of the remaining houses had been lifted or rebuilt.

Lots of empty space between homes, vacant lots and left over pilings testimony to previous hurricane devastation.

As you probably already know, food was on our minds and we visited two great places.    200 North Beach Restaurant and The Sycamore House had what we were looking for.    We tried to have  Royal Reds at the waterfront Blind Tiger but they were hosting a huge, very loud party so we opted for the quieter 200 North Beach Restaurant's porch.    A good choice.    Dave still had the shrimp so all was well!

 

Another day we had dinner at Sycamore House.    Once again, we chose to sit outside on their screen porch and, once again, had a wonderful meal.

While we were eating, a lovely young man strolled back and forth outside our table, making eye contact each pass.   He was still lounging there when we left so we spent a few minutes getting to know him.    His name was "Handsome".