Triple Whammy

July 31st will be another unbelievable line up for a concert here in Orange Beach. We have had a whirlwind of a summer with one awesome concert after another. The Bob Dylan Show will feature Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and John Cougar Mellencamp who together have 135 years in the business. Any of these performers could easily headline the show, but have joined together for only the second time in 24 years to knock us all out with a triple whammy. I for one cannot wait.

Willie Nelson will open the show with his sister on the piano and his son on the guitar. I will tell you that he never lets us down. His show will feature songs such as: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time, Whiskey River, and Beer for My Horses. I can just see him now with his trademark braids and easy going southern drawl playing his guitar that has holes worn clear through it. He always delivers a great performance.

Following Willie will be another headliner John Cougar Mellencamp, at 57 he is the baby of this bunch. He definitely has had his share of hits across the years with: Pink Houses, Authority Song, and Small Town just to name a few. His heartland rock will fill the amphitheater on this night to thrill us all.

Bob Dylan will close out the show. He has received numerous awards over the years, and has been a major influence on popular music for five decades. His hits include: Like a Rolling Stone, Hurricane, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Lay Lady Lay, and Mr. Tambourine Man. Opportunities come few and far between to see a legend like this one and I am counting the days till he hits the stage.

We are readying the troops for the triple whammy of the summer. Not one, not two, but three major stars. I hope you have your tickets and will join us. If you do not – I have heard there are a few left, but they are going fast. This one is sure to be a sell out, and will certainly be a night to remember. See you there!

July 2009 Fishing Report from Capt. Randy Boggs

Bottom fishing for red snapper, vermillion snapper and trigger fish is as good as it gets. Everyone is reporting limits of fish in every direction to near shore waters to well offshore. There have been some nice grouper and scamps being caught on longer trips in the 200’ to 300’ water depths on live bait and cut bait.

Blue water is still way offshore (120 miles plus) out of reach of the 1 to 2 day charters. There have been no reports of wahoo, tuna, or dolphin.

Look for daily updates on the fishing with some video soon to come.

Tight lines,
Capt.Randy Boggs
Reel Surprise Charters @ SanRoc Cay Marina
www.reelsurprisecharters.com

Current water temperature: 78°

4th of July Fun

Ready or not the 4th is here. Myself I am so ready. I have been looking forward to this weekend for quite some time now. There are so many things going on here on the coast I just hope that I will be able to squeeze in all that I want to do. I may have to let my 4th celebration span a few days. I am sure that you have similar predicaments at hand. If on the other hand you do not know what to do for the fourth, I have listed a few ideas here.

1. Where – There is no better place to spend the fourth than on our beautiful beaches. I will have to say that we have something for everyone here.
2. Grilling – No matter what is going on that day you know you will have to eat. I suggest ribs, chicken, potato salad, corn on the cob, and of course watermelon and don’t forget the homemade vanilla ice cream to top off the dessert of your choice.
3. Swimming – There are many choices for this option. You have the beach, the pool, the bays and the lazy rivers. Maybe this option should be swimoating for those of us who prefer to float.
4. Shopping – Oh yes! There will be a sidewalk sale at Tanger, and I am sure that I will not miss this.
5. Fishing – It is the Red Snapper World Championship Saltwater Series. Check it out at www.redsnapperworldchampionship,com I must say I have been a few times this year, and the fishing is awesome this summer.
6. Golfing – You can definitely get your swing on here. There are over 10 fabulous courses to choose from in our area.
7. Spas – Pamper yourself at one of the many spas in our area.
8. Concert – I know that you must know by now that Montgomery Gentry will be performing in Orange Beach on the Fourth of July. Tickets are still available for as low as $16.50 and a fireworks show is included.
9. Fireworks – There will be 3 fireworks shows to choose from in our area. July 3rd there will be fireworks in Orange Beach visible from Phoenix 6, 7, 8, East and East II balconies. July 4th there will be fireworks with the Montgomery Gentry concert and in Gulf Shores that will be visible from Phoenix All Suites and Island Winds balconies.
10. Movies – We have not one but two great movie theaters in our area. The Cobb Theater in Gulf Shores and the Rave Theater in Orange Beach. There is also a Coastal Video in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to rent movies and games.

Well, that will be enough I am sure to get you started. I hope that whatever you do on the fourth that you will take the opportunity to realize how fortunate we are to be a part of such a wonderful country. We are truly blessed with all of our freedoms. Take care and have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Fort Morgan Candlelight Tour

A blog entry from our friend Luanne, aka Sunny.
The sun was hanging low in a hazy sky as I was driving west on Ft. Morgan road. My car was filled with excited chatter from three kids in the back seat.

“Grandmother, did you know ghosts feed off of energy?” My 12-year-old granddaughter asked. This question started a flurry of conversation between all of the occupants in my car.

I just shook my head. My daughter, the aforementioned granddaughter, one of her friends, my 8-year-old grandson and I were on the way to Ft. Morgan for the Candlelight Tour. Somehow, the imaginations of my back-seat passengers had conjured up ghost tales. I think it had something to do the stories they had heard from their friends about all the restless spirits that inhabit the old structure.

For anyone who hasn’t visited Ft. Morgan, it is a magnificent brick fort completed in 1834 to protect the entrance to Mobile Bay. The fort was manned, off and on, until 1946 when it was turned over to the state of Alabama

When we arrived, a large group of people were gathered outside the tunnel that leads to the interior of the fort. It was still very bright outside and I was wondering where the “candlelight” came into play. It didn’t take long for that question to be answered. There were lanterns containing candles spaced a few feet apart on both sides of the dark tunnel.

We emerged from the dark onto the fort’s courtyard and were greeted by interpreters dressed in Civil-War-era uniforms. The men looked right at home in their period clothing and didn’t look as hot as I would have imagined in the Gulf Coast heat and humidity. After a brief history of the fort and a few funny stories, we were guided to the laundry. Two women, also dressed in period clothing, explained how all of the clothing was washed in sea water. The cisterns on top of the fort collected rain water to be used for drinking and cooking and it could not be wasted for laundry services.

After looking through windows at the barracks and storage areas, we were guided outside the fort to a cannon pointed at Mobile Bay. By this time, the sun was touching the skyline across the bay and turning the calm water the color of fire. The solders quickly packed the cannon with powder and the lanyard was pulled. The crowd cheered and applauded as the plum of black smoke rose in the still air.

The fort remained open for another hour for visitors to explore the area in the twilight. The kids wanted to walk to the water and look across the bay. As the last of the light faded from the western sky, we explored the beach area. I asked if they had wandered through the dark recesses of the arched tunnels and was given a wide-eyed response of, “No.” The negative answer was almost in unison. The subject of ghosts did not come up on the way back to Gulf Shores. I guess the kids weren’t really disappointed with the shyness of the ghosts, I know I wasn’t.

The evening was fun and informative. I enjoyed the family time and seeing the fort at a different time of day. I recommend visiting the fort during the normal daytime hours, also. The view of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are breathtaking and the fort itself is an amazing example of architecture.

The tours start at 7 p.m. and continue every Tuesday through July.

Hey Y'all Hey Y'all!!

Ms. Beachin' checks in.
Guess What! Montgomery Gentry has rocked Orange Beach for the last three years and has decided to come back for a fourth time this July 4th - just for me. It’s almost more than I can stand. Since I am such a nice person, I have made the decision to open up the concert to the general public. Well, you know what they say the more the merrier. The concert will include performances by Little Big Town, A Tremendous Fireworks Show, and Montgomery Gentry.

Little Big Town will be opening the concert in Orange Beach. Their harmonies will draw you in immediately. Then you're hooked and it's then that you realize that it's not just the harmonies. Everything about Little Big Town is unique to the country music world. Comprised of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet, Little Big Town's configuration of two men and two women is unique. Their hits include: – A Little More You, Boondocks, and Fine Line.

I have had the opportunity to see Montgomery Gentry perform in concert three times now and they are by far the best entertainers you could ever see. Eddie Montgomery with his trademark black hat and coat is known for running up and down and across the stage with his microphone and stand in hand getting the whole crowd fired up. I will tell you the man does not stand still. Troy Gentry is known for being a little more reserved, but what he lacks in physical actions he makes up for in rockin the whole place with his guitar. I am telling you they are so hot that you can hear them sizzle on the stage. I cannot wait!! Go and check out their website here.

Take my word for it this is a concert that you do not want to miss. Their genre may say country, but they will rock your socks off guaranteed. Just a few of my very favorite songs are: - Gone, My Town, Something to Be Proud of, The Big Revival and One in Every Crowd. Go get your tickets today and be a part of the biggest 4th of July party on the coast. Tickets are still available and are as low as $16.50. We will be looking for you, because as they say “there’s one in every crowd that brings a party in the south”, and we need for you to complete this party. So, we will be waiting for ya!