Unofficial End of Summer Blowout

This weekend is Labor Day Weekend, the unofficial end of summer. It’s been a great summer here on Pleasure Island. The skies have been clear, the water has been blue and the shores have been full. Now it’s time to ease into the less hectic time of the year. Actually, fall on the coast is my favorite time of year. The water is still warm, the beaches are less crowded and the days and evenings will begin to cool down. It’s a great time to visit our area.
There will be plenty to do to close out the summer. Most importantly, Alabama and Auburn kick the football season off this weekend. You can catch the pay-per-view games at many of the local watering holes. Ready for some music? Try one of my favorites, The Foxy Iguanas, at Pappa Rocco’s on Friday or Saturday night. You can catch Brent Burns at Lulu’s on Monday.

A Special Guest

The Beachin’ family welcomed a special guest for the Thunder On The Gulf weekend. My eldest son, Robinson, was home on leave for two weeks. He’s a medic in the US Army, stationed in Afghanistan, and we hadn’t seen him since last Christmas. It was great to see him walking towards us in the airport and even better to give him a big hug. We had a great time visiting the dry pits at The Wharf to see the big boats up close. He stayed at Phoenix V for the weekend and had a great view of the races.
It was heartwarming to see so many people stop us at the airport and thank him for his service. If you get a chance to express your thanks to anyone in the Armed Forces or their families please do so. It’s tough for him, and us, to be separated for so long. But as Americans we are blessed to have such fine young men and women who answer the call. God Bless America.

Thunder On The Gulf

This weekend is the big Thunder On The Gulf weekend in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. We’ll welcome the Offshore Super Series to the Gulf Coast. The Thunder On The Gulf activities includes VIP kick-off parties, dry pits at The Wharf, the All American Jam Saturday night and, of course, the races Sunday just 100 yards off the beach. If you’ve never been it’s a weekend full of amazing sights and sounds as the big boats race just off the shore. Nobody throws a better party than the folks on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Come on down and enjoy the area and the festivities. If you can’t make it this year, make sure to book early for next year. The Phoenix Condos are right on the course.
And don’t forget, the annual 2006 National Shrimp Festival is slated for October 12th through the 15th. It’s right next door to Phoenix All Suites in downtown Gulf Shores. Book now!

Back To School

It’s hard to believe that Beachin’ Bob’s youngest son is going to high school. Brett starts at Gulf Shores High School this year. It’s unbelievable how time flies. The Baldwin County schools begin their school year Thursday, August 10th. It seems to come earlier every year. Am I the only one who remembers school ending at Memorial Day and beginning right after Labor Day? But I digress…..the end of summer always brings a flurry of activity at the Beachin’ Bob household (mostly directed by the lovely Mrs. Beachin’). There’s school supplies to purchase (the Target at Craft Farms or the Gulf Shores Wal-Mart). And of course, you have to find the “right” clothes and shoes for the return to school, found at the Tanger Outlet Center.
The kids will soon all be back in school which leaves a little more free space on the beach for the more leisurely crowd. Come on down and join me.

A Day at Waterville

This weekend the family and I, along with a few friends, spent the day at Waterville in Gulf Shores. Of course we started with the high speed water slides like the Kamikaze and the JetStream. Then we progressed onto some of the “tube” rides like the Black Widow and the Hurricane. As my energy faded after numerous rides we took it easy in the Wave Pool and of course the Lazy River. Later we had a great time riding the “Nascarts” and enjoying the video arcade.
A fun and busy day for all, but we sure worked up an appetite and headed to Live Bait for dinner. We capped off the day at our condo at Gulf Shores Surf and Racquet with a cheesecake from Hope’s Cheesecakes.