LEAVING FOLEY, AL

First of all, I wanted to give an update on our son, Steve. The surgeon did not want to amputate because of the good blood flow to Steve's foot. Therefore, he ended up just cutting away bone and infection in the foot and was able to save the leg. Steve is feeling optimistic and we are all hoping he begins to feel better.

This morning we are heading to River View RV Park in Vidalia, LA, across the Mississippi River from Natchez, MS. We will be there for 2 weeks and plan to tour more of the Natchez Trace.

On Thursday we went to the Bellingrath Home and Gardens, located southwest of Mobile, AL. The Bellingrath money came from Coca Cola distribution. The house was built in the early 1900's. These photos show the back side of the house (the river side), the gardens and the river dock.

NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM

We went to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL - only about 20-30 miles from our park in Foley, AL. We really enjoyed this museum. The museum is free! That doesn't happen very often. They also have IMAX shows which cost $8/each. We saw the Hurricane on the Bayou and Storm Chasers. Both were very good. I would highly recommend this museum if you are ever in the area.

Our son, Steve, is having amputation surgery on 2/23. Surgeon is cutting at about mid-calf on left leg. He has had an infection in his foot for several years. He thought it had healed but it came back again last fall so all his doctors believe it is best to amputate. He almost made that decision years ago when the infection didn't heal but then all signs showed it had healed. The bones are all broken in that foot and x-rays and all other tests just show pictures that look like mush. Therefore, impossible to see infection. Steve is a juvenile diabetic, has had this disease for 38 years. We all believe he will be better off, and feel better, with prosthetic but it is still very difficult for me to see him go thru this surgery.

FOLEY, AL

The weather here has been awful. Cold, rainy, even a snow forecast for this morning but it is just rain, rain, rain. We thought we would be going to the beach to walk but it has been too cold for that. We made it one day, see photo of Gulf Shores beach - so beautiful. I have been doing a lot of reading. I usually get my daily workout done inside the coach and I try to get a bicycle ride in each day but usually so cold that I don't last long. Oh well, I am sure it will be warmer as we move further west. Locals here say this weather is out of the norm - been hearing that all winter.