"You Are Here" --- (and "How To See" The Bon Secour River Like You've Never Seen)

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY MICDESIGNS 

The title of the photo to the left is "Tilted Sign" by professional Gulf Shores, Alabama photographer Michael Thomas.

How would you have titled this photo?

What do you "See?"

Is your eye led to the tilted sign? The pelican atop the pole? The foggy mist at sunrise? Or do your eyes zero in on the Ombre colors of the water?

Mr. Thomas managed to create art by (by making a point to be at the right place at the right time) observing all the above --- including the drooping sign.

In 2004 I bought a book entitled "Wanderlust" published by Chronicle Books of travel photographs by Troy M. Litten.

 It is a paperback no larger than six inches tall and nearly as wide, with roughly 200 pages of random photos ranging from foreign menus, airline departure signs, bus and subway signs, motel decor, to coffee mugs filled with coffee from around the globe.

Out of the entire book there are only two pages with text, and they read in part:

 "When I travel, the destination is not really the point. I'm fascinated by the transient places of travel ... " "Traveling faster and faster through this increasingly interconnected world, many of these everyday experiences that fill a journey get lost in the rush of getting from 'You Are Here' to wherever you are going."

Litten suggests that if we open ourselves up to the seemingly mundane details of travel, "the familiar becomes unique, the ordinary extraordinary, and the over-looked worth a second glance."

We have now been in business long enough to have kiddos that were "knee high to a grasshopper" phone in reservations of their own choosing --- drive up in their own vehicles --- to kayak the same river they were introduced to by their parents.

Some guests have returned year after year --- many increasing the size of their brood to include grand-kiddos!

I'm always curious if our returning guests are filled with the same sense of "wonder" as we are when we go out and paddle.

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY DIANE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED --- It is not unusual to see shrimpers on the Bon Secour River. What is unusual in this photo is the Oleander shrub. Many huge shrubs froze to their death a few years ago and several affected homeowners have chosen not to replace them.

Will you "see" something new? Will you appreciate the changes? Will you still "feel" the mystery of the river? (the list of questions that swirl in my head goes on ... ba leeve me).

In an attempt to seduce you again to the mysteries of the Bon Secour River, I spent the night rounding up some of my favorite images from local professional photogs so I could showcase them --- with the hope that you will "see" in a new way why this Bon Se-Cure River (the local pronunciation) has such a hold on us "L.A. River Dwellers."

I hope you enjoy the photos. I also hope you will be inspired to take a fresh look to "See like you've never seen" when you return.

For those who have never paddled with BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals --- I hope you will. But you better hurry! The 2016 Summer season ends Aug. 14.

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY MICDESIGNS AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED --- This photo captures what it must be like to awake to the foggy river after the shrimpers have returned from a hard night (or week) of shrimping. I feel a sense of repose when I see this photo. I also hear seagulls and can feel the thickness of the air. Can you?

PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION LYNN JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED  ---- Most folks recognize this as "Billy's Seafood" --- the State's only open-air fish market. But are you aware this site played an important role in the Civil War? This location is memorialized on a plaque as part of the Civil War Trail and is also listed as a destination on the Coastal Scenic Byway and Coastal Birding Trail.

PHOTO BY BEACHNRIVER KAYAK RENTALS (Foley, AL) ---- You will not be able to find this scene. I love the "architecture" of it. I have other photos of this dock where the light streams through the skeletonous slats --- but since the structure was demolished, I feel it necessary to show you the black and white version.  It was dangerous to get a photo because I only have a point-and-shoot camera and the weeds surrounding it were as tall as the roof.  I was nervous about (you know what) but I never came across any dangerous creatures and managed to get the shot. The dock has been replaced by a nice, tidy one in front of a brand, spankin' new river home. 

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY MICDESIGNS AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED --- It takes dedication to be a professional photographer. See the storm clouds to the upper left corner of the photo? Most kayakers do not paddle out this far. But if you get seafood at Aquila's you will drive by this (now a Bon Secour River landmark) boat that was beached during Hurricane Ivan. I'm convinced there are ghosts hiding in the hull. But that is just my imagination working overtime.

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY LYNN JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED --- Ms. Lynn  not only has a keen photographic eye, she has a genuine love for these shrimping boats. She knows each boat by name, knows the shrimping family, and can usually tell when the boat has left and returned.  I know first-hand what it feels like to be in a kayak and have a shrimping boat pass by. I almost shudder to hear the lumbering sounds of the engine. I get the same shudder when I see an elephant walk by.

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY MICDESIGNS AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED --- Everything about this photo screams vintage postcard scene. I've never witnessed a sunrise at this location. You would have to embark on a paddle while the sky is still dark to catch a sunrise at this location via paddling from our location. See the oyster shells that line the bank? The hanging Live Oak provides a canopy of shade to an otherwise sunny portion of the river. This photo was taken near a seafood processing plant --- Bon Secour Fisheries.  Just up the street from this scene is the Swift Cole Tidewater Mansion. Can you envision what it must have been like to grow up along this bank with the river your swimming pool and the over-hanging trees your jungle gym? 

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY MICDESIGNS AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED --- It is not fun to have to drive through fog, but it sure is beautiful to look at when it lifts near water. The water is like glass. Locals call this river "Bon Se-Cure" but it was named Bon Secour because it is a "Safe Harbor" for fishermen. It has always been considered a "working man's river."

THIS PHOTO IS USED BY PERMISSION AND IS FOR SALE BY MICDESIGNS AND IS NOT TO BE COPIED --- I present this photo last because it sums up the whole reason why I posted these photos to begin with. When you kayak with BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals you will not witness this scene. But it happens.

Photographers like Mr. Thomas and Ms. Lynn  are disciplined in their approach to photography. They have a vision of what the image might look like when they look through the lens.

They are prepared with the proper equipment and they capture the moment in time that may never happen in this way again.

You can relive the "feelings" of your kayaking experience by purchasing photos from these photographers to commemorate your adventure. They will make excellent gifts.

Then make plans to (kayak) or return to kayak with BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals with a refreshed eye so you can capture an image of a scene that announces, "You Are Here."

Sincerely,

"Beachin' Betty" 





 

"BeachnRiver" Top Five Alabama Gulf Coast "DO NOT MISS" Attractions (Which Happen To Be Museums)

One of the most popular questions we get asked is "As a Local what are your 'Do Not Miss' 'Beyond the Beach' Attraction Recommendations?"

After giving much thought to the question, (and with consideration that we like to promote the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach/Foley, Alabama area) "Beachin' Betty" and I decided upon what we considered our:

 Top Five "Do Not Miss" Recommendations For The Traveler Seeking Cultural Experiences "Beyond The Gulf Shores, Alabama Beach" (With Suggested Restaurant Pairings)  

with the idea that by touring these attractions prior to your beach arrival --- or as part of a beach vacation, guests to Gulf Shores will have an even more delightful, knowledgeable and insightful beach experience!

Interestingly enough our list consists of museums. Most of these recommendations are "Self-Guided Tours" and require Admissions. We encourage you to click the highlighted references on this post, and check out the attraction Facebook Pages or websites for more info.

  After years of exploring, we have determined that unless you position yourself in front of a group  nearest a tour guide and are adept at tuning out peripheral noise and conversations, you will miss much information given.

We have concluded we prefer the freedom to enjoy an attraction at our own pace and with whom we choose to explore with --- with minimal distractions. This is why we promote Self-Guided Tours as often as possible.

SUNSET OVER THE ALABAMA DELTA POSTED BY 5 RIVERS DELTA RESOURCE CENTER FB PAGE --- This photo was taken during Winter, but Summers are a perfect time to see a spectacular sunset over the Delta in Spanish Fort. For an up-close look of  Delta sunsets, try camping at Maeher State Park across from the 5 Rivers Delta Center. One can launch a kayak and possibly see gators during the excursion.

 

 1) SUNDAY --- Take a Detour Off The Interstate to Visit The 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort: 

If you go Sundays you may be able to catch a matinee in the theater.  If you are lucky enough to watch the documentary America's Amazon you will be moved to want to learn more about the region.

 "The Delta is the pumping heart of everything here" says Ben Raines, Executive Director of Weeks Bay Foundation and writer and narrator of the script.

Dr. Edward O. Wilson, Alabamian and Harvard Professor says in the film, "Arguably, the biologically richest place --- the Delta --- has more species and plants and animals than any place in North America ... Alabama has the largest number of fish species of any State (350) ... this area has the largest number of turtle species of any place in the World."

According to the video, Alabama has 77,000 miles of streams --- more miles of streams than any other State.  "The challenge is to bring people to these places and show them how special they are before we lose them" implores Raines. 

Beachin' Betty and I suggest taking light snacks and making a point to walk the trails of the Resource Center's 81 acres. You can walk along the rivers and try to imagine the scene during the Civil War battles. 

Or you can just sit and observe the fishermen, boaters and various wildlife as they flit about.

Be sure to visit the museum. We got a kick out of seeing a giant taxidermy alligator in the museum. Talk about a Selfie kids can brag about!

Folks with your own kayaks can launch free from the Resource Center launch --- but there are also kayak and pontoon tours available.

We are never able to leave without purchasing some unique gifts for friends and family members from the gift shop.

In my opinion, visiting this museum and learning about the Delta, primes the pump for further interest of the unique bio-diversity of the Alabama Gulf Coast, and can create a lifetime dedication in the field of Conservation. 

Hiking/Kayaking/ Exploring the 5 River's Delta will put you in the mood to dine at Felix's Fish Camp
The Turtle Soup is one of our favorite ways to begin a meal.

PHOTO FOR SALE BY DIANE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY --- This photo was taken of the historic Civil War Fortress located in Fort Morgan. A trip to Gulf Shores must include a visit to this National Treasure.  Not only will the visit bring history "alive" for the kiddos, it is great exercise, and a most unique way to see the Alabama Gulf Coast, Mobile Bay and Bon Secour Bay all in one visit. If you plan ahead you can also make this a picnic and beach outing. Make a point to visit Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m to 8 p.m. to hear historical interpreters tell of the lives of the soldiers and to experience small arms drills of the artillery pieces. For more info click the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Button located at the bottom of this blog. 

PHOTO BY DAUPHIN ISLAND PARK AND BEACH BOARD

PHOTO BY MOBILE BAY FERRY

2) TUESDAYS: Take The Earliest Ferry to Dauphin Island From Ft. Morgan And Spend An Hour Exploring Fort Gaines, a Civil War Fortress Listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation 2011 "Most Endangered Historic Places" (Mobile Area/Dauphin Island) Then Return Via Ferry To Catch Interpreters At Fort Morgan Tell of The Life Of a Civil War Soldier from 7 p.m. -8 p.m. :

 
Fort Gaines may have survived the Battle of Mobile Bay, but it is struggling to survive beach erosion.

According to the website savingplaces.org the beach erodes at a rate of nine feet yearly and is dependent on expensive beach nourishment stabilization to survive.

What makes Fort Gaines unique is that it is run by a private group --- so you can feel good your entry fee dollars help to support the effort to keep the attraction available. Most folks brag on the Blacksmith that shares folklore and interesting tales with guests.

Be sure to take a photo of your family on the 10 Hole Latrine. I'll bet you won't see a more unique "Selfie" image like that posted on "SnapGrabber" (joke).

Take the advice of most reviewers and go early to beat the heat.

Read more about how you can share your photos and experiences with others and help to save this endangered Historic Place: https://savingplaces.org/places/fort-gaines-1

When you return to Fort Morgan after a full day of exploring, you may want to try the fare at any one of the (New!) Airstream FoodTrucks located at The Village Lawn at Beach Club. The kiddos will most likely have energy to burn playing the various lawn games.  

PHOTO BY BELLINGRATH.ORG (THEODORE, AL) --- Bellingrath Gardens is celebrating  80+ year Anniversary and boasts a proud title of being recognized as an "American Castle of the South" and a Heritage Landmark of Alabama.

3) WEDNESDAYS: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Reserve to Participate in An Informative Program Learning Anything From Beekeeping to Azalea Growing --- Then Tour Grounds At Bellingrath Gardens :

 
First-ladies, Beauty Queens and Hollywood celebrities have passed through the gardens. So did Walt Disney. Radio personality Paul Harvey broadcast from WABB to 300 radio affiliates across the country describing the 65 acres a "Garden of Eden."

What makes this landscape so unique is that the gardens are Riverfront. It is not difficult to imagine living the Southern-Belle lifestyle while strolling the grounds.

Fowl River boat tours are periodically offered where one can learn of the biodiversity of the river.

The photos above, right and below are from Bellingrath.org. For more info (and photos!) be sure to check out the Bellingrath Gardens and Home Facebook page.

We feel an outing such as the Bellingrath Garden Tour calls for a culmination at a restaurant equally as memorable. 

We'd want to try Dauphin's --- the restaurant formerly known as the famous Bienville Club --- located on the 34th floor of the RSA BankTrust Building in Mobile. 

Owner and former NFL Miami Dolphin great and University of Alabama All-American, Bob Baumhower brags, "You can see Ft. Morgan on a clear day."  Check out Dauphin's 

 

PHOTO BY HISTORY MUSEUM OF MOBILE --- This building was once the City Hall and Market. It is a top recommendation by local historians.

4.) To Learn of Mardi Gras Pageantry, Mobile's Port/Trade/History, The Civil War Influence And To Observe Wonderful Architecture --- Carve Out At Least Two to Three Hours To Tour The History Museum Of Mobile: 


Beachin' Betty and I have been to several museums where she has been excited, yet moved to tears, by the exhibits. This is one of those places. 

It is difficult to learn of Mobile's Port/Trade history and not shed tears for the inhumanity of events that took place. A portion of the exhibits can be solemn to observe.

Yet others can be enjoyable ---even for children --- like the doll house replicas of famous landmark homes of Mobile.  Folks may also enjoy the sports memorabilia and history of Hank Aaron. 

Beachin' Betty and I especially enjoy the Mardi Gras exhibits. The tour also helped to deepen our Fort and U.S.S. Alabama knowledge.

There are several great restaurants in Mobile. But after reading about the Port history you may want to eat at a Historic, yet casual, restaurant like the original, 75-year-old Wintzell's Oyster House

PHOTO FOR SALE BY DIANE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY --- all ages can appreciate the Majesty of the U.S.S. Alabama docked on Mobile Bay. If you're lucky enough to see a sunset over the water you will understand why River Rick and I choose this attraction as one of our overall favorites to visit while in the Gulf Shores, AL area.

5) Do Not Leave Gulf Shores Without at Least Standing On The Deck Of The "Mighty A":

 Military/History Buffs will enjoy reading all the information. Kiddos will enjoy the simulators and will really get a kick out of climbing the steps into the living quarters. 

If folks are unable to negotiate steep, narrow steps, a family can still explore the museum, enjoy a picnic on the grounds and even throw a line off the pier.

There is nothing like standing on the deck of this magnificent ship overlooking Mobile Bay. If you're like us, you will be overcome with gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made so we can be afforded the opportunity to "sight see."

Our favorite times to visit are Independence Day and during the cooler months. 

New to the attraction are Gulf Coast Duck Tours that will launch amphibious boats from the Battleship Park, will drive around Mobile, and end up in Mobile Bay --- "bridging Downtown Mobile, the CauseWay and Mobile Bay," says owner Scott Tindle.

"Beachin' Betty" and I haven't yet taken this tour, but make a point to catch a ride in any City where the tours are offered. 

We also have yet to visit GulfQuest Maritime Museum --- but it is on our short list of "Things To See" this winter.

A fun restaurant to take the family after an outing at the U.S.S. Alabama might be the IslaMorada Fish Company inside the Bass Pro Shops in Spanish Fort. The kiddos will be plenty entertained with the giant aquarium --- and dad will feel right at home surrounded by the hunting, fishing and camping gear available for purchase. 


Links To Five Additional "BeachnRiver" All-Time Favorite Alabama Gulf Coast Museums:

1) MOBILE --- "Beachin' Betty" is amazed at the intricate handiwork on robes, but kiddos will love climbing aboard the floats. Allow at least an hour to tour  The Mobile Carnival Museum

To learn more about why Mobilians are so crazy 'bout Carnival season and Mardi Gras, read this article written in the Boston Globe by Patricia Harris "Catching the Mardi Gras Spirit in Alabama" dated Jan. 17, 2015

For some reason we get in the mood to eat Beignets and "get a hankerin' " to go to Panini Petes --- especially for the Mufalleta Panino

2) FAIRHOPE --- a jail is inside this museum! The Fairhope Museum of History

I get to thinkin' about the clink and to want to eat waterfront at Sunset Pointe at Fly Creek Marina --- where sailboat masts clink in the wind.

3) FOLEY/ELBERTA --- We enjoy the indoor exhibits, but OUTDOORS is what fascinates us. It is a miniature historic village with an old school house and other buildings. The pathways are gorgeous --- especially when Azaleas/Camellias are in bloom.  Baldwin County History Museum 

I can't think of a better way to round out the experience than to take the family to eat at Wolf Bay Lodge in Foley --- for the history of the place and for the "home-cooked" taste of some of the menu items --- like the Gumbo. 

4) ORANGE BEACH ---  How many towns can boast they have a glass blowing theater? It is amazing to watch the creations blown from molten glass into bowls, steam ware and more from The Hot Shop. Next door is a Clay Studio where famed potter Maya Cantrell teaches classes.
 
The original historic Art Center building was demolished, but a new Coastal Art Center is being built on the gorgeously landscaped and Live Oak shaded grounds.

We enjoy a stroll along the waterfront of Wolf Bay. We walk the pier and watch folks throw a fishing pole. At times one can watch kiddos man the sails of their Sloops from The Wind and Water Learning Center led by artist Nick Cantrell.

We feel like eating a wood-fired pizza just down the street (waterfront on Wolf Bay) at Cayman Grill after watching the artist at the Hot Shop. What do you think? Does that sound like a good choice to you?


5) BON SECOUR RIVER --- "Beachin' Betty" says she "gets lost in dreams" when we visit this historic Swift-Coles Historic Home on the river. The home's interior is a nice hour or so tour (the home is said to be haunted) --- and a favorite time to tour is at Christmas --- but we mostly enjoy the view of the Bon Secour River and the grounds of the Swift-Coles Historic Home. 

It would be natural to suggest you eat at the Tin Top Restaurant "The Pearl Of Bon Secour" just up the street from the historic home, but on this occasion? We choose to go where there is a genteel Southern ambiance ---  The Gift Horse Restaurant.

BeachnRiver Top Five Inexpensive, Active, "Fun Things For Families To Do" While Visiting Gulf Shores, AL

PHOTO FOR SALE BY DIANE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY --- this photo was most likely taken in Gulf Shores. However one can experience this scenery at the end of an easy hike through the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Fort Morgan and get an additional benefit of experiencing a diverse Eco-system of one of the last remaining undisturbed Coastal Barrier habitats in the nation.

Let's face it, you come to Gulf Shores, AL to take in the Sounds of the Sea, to feel your toes beneath the cool, white sand, and to breathe in the thick, salt air. 

But are you aware that there are some areas just minutes "off-the-beaten-path" that can further enrich your beach-going experience and deepen your connection with the area's Natural World by taking a hike through the last remaining undisturbed Coastal Barrier Habitat --- The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge?  

With a visit to the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (just North off Ft. Morgan Road Hwy 180), one can learn about native flora and fauna found along the Alabama Gulf Coast through self-guided walks and seasonally-based ranger led programs --- and still get to enjoy a nearly private beach experience!

PHOTO BY BON SECOUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (Ft. Morgan)

1) A "BeachnRiver" Top Way To Enjoy Nature, A Unique Eco-System And The Spectacular Alabama Gulf Coast Beach: Hike The Pine Beach Trail at The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge  

PHOTO FOR SALE BY DIANE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY --- it is not unusual to be able to glide by quietly in a kayak and witness a heron feeding along the river banks. Kayaking is one of the most "nature-friendly" ways to experience wildlife so intimately.

"Aside from taking a hike, what is another 'BeachnRiver' recommended fun way to actively participate in an adventure observing nature up-close and personal" you ask? Kayaking with BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals (Foley) of course! 

Why do we love kayaking the backwaters of the Gulf Shores area so much? Because there are several "still," shallow rivers and creeks that are easily traversed via kayak --- a person needs only minimal strength and paddling skills to enjoy scenes like the photo of the heron above. 

2) A "BeachnRiver" Top Way To Enjoy Nature By Water: Kayaking (Self-Guided) Summers With BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals  --- Or (Guided, Self-Guided) Excursions Autumn through Spring

PHOTO BY BEACHNRIVER KAYAK RENTALS (Foley) --- Families find all kinds of ways to enjoy time on the water. When you opt to paddle with BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals, you can make the kayaking experience any way you choose. Some choose to paddle to reach a destination point, others want to swim, picnic and play in the water before returning to the launch site. Beachnriver Kayak Rentals offers the same low rate whether you paddle for one hour or for eight hours. YOU are the Captain of your own Eco-Adventure. We hope you'll "Find Your Inner Huck Finn,"  and we're sure you'll have a "Beachin' Good Time!"

While vacationing on the Alabama Gulf Coast you'll notice that folks like to fish.  Summer evenings you will see men, women and children casting nets from piers, docks, river banks and jetties.

You can find several opportunities to try your hand at fishing. A challenging but fun way to fish is to cast a net.

You can purchase inexpensive nets from retailers like Wal-Mart, but it is still possible to find hand-crafted nets for sale from vendors at the Coastal Alabama Farmer's and Fisherman Market in Foley. 

 

3) A "BeachnRiver" Fun Way To Try Your Hand At Fishing: By Casting A Net 

 

PHOTO FOR SALE BY LYNN JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHY --- This is a perfect photo of a fisherman casting a net from his boat. However, you can try your hand throwing a net from a bank. 

4) A "BeachnRiver" Fun Way To Memorialize Your Alabama Gulf Coast Adventure: By Plein-Air Painting 

Why not?  (Art lies within the eye of the beholder right?) Emerald Coast Plein Air Painters meet weekly at various locations and their painting  "adventures" often include additional active and social activities --- like kayaking or snorkeling and dining. If you're not yet a Rembrandt why not enroll in painting classes at  Gulf Coast Arts Alliance (Gulf Shores) or the  Foley Art Center?

PHOTO FOR SALE BY LYNN JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHY (Gulf Shores, AL) Woman Plein Air Painting.

5) A "BeachnRiver" Fun Way To Commemorate Your Vacation Experience In Gulf Shores, AL: Take Photographs! Scrapbook!

A person can burn off a fair amount of calories walking, kneeling, standing and waiting to capture the perfect photo image. (You can see how many calories are burned by utilizing a calories burned calculator.) Taking photos of your experiences while on vacation is a good way to actively engage your family in the vacation itinerary.

If family members have cameras or cell phones, you might create a challenge to see how many unique ways an image can be photographed. One or more of your family members may be inclined to "journal." Ask them to keep a daily record for future reference. Encourage all to collect "souvenirs" like napkins, coasters, postcards etc. to add to the records/scrapbooks. Homemade photo gifts are nearly always welcomed by parents, grandparents and other family members!

A shop like Gigi's ScrapBookin and More in Foley offers packages to create anything from cards to photo frames. Organizing a scrapbook, making craft "memories" is a perfect "Rainy Day" activity --- and one that can bond your family in "active" participation  to commemorate your wonderful vacation events.  

 
Of course, if you are like us, you may come to the conclusion that professional photographers like Michelle C. Stancil of MCSPIXS , Diane Davis of Diane Davis Photography and Lynn Jordan of  Lynn Jordan Photography have already captured some of the most unique and spectacular photos that you may want to purchase as posters, coasters, books, cards, handbags, shower curtains, necklaces and more!

 

 

PHOTO FOR SALE BY DIANE DAVIS (Gulf Shores, AL) A Summer Day at the Beach.

Want To Learn More About The Beautiful Bon Secour River? There's A New Book For That

Foley, AL ---  Guests to the Gulf Shores, AL area may hear much about the beauty of the Bon Secour River. Several popular fish markets, a restaurant, a historic mansion/ museum (Swift Cole Historic Home video courtesy Picard Rentals) and a National Wildlife Refuge seduce plenty of travelers to detour off the main drag leading toward Gulf Shores beaches.

What guests may not be aware of is that the river has very distinct personalities and scenery between the "North" and what has been loosely called by locals ---  "Bon Secour South." The scenery varies as much by land, as by water.

In Foley, (North) where we launch folks to paddle, the river is cool, with Artesian-fed springs feeding the cool temps. Live Oak canopies shade and color the water an intensely dark green and the river is shallow, narrow and winding. Private property lines the banks and the river is dotted with Century-old Homesteads, a Quaint Historic Bed and Breakfast, a Southern Gothic "Mansion"  --- to ramshackle shacks and dozens of vacation rental cottages peering over their pilings.

PHOTO BY BEACHNRIVER KAYAK RENTALS --- You most likely kayak by this home when paddling from BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals. The house is simply called "The White House" at Cooper's Landing Circa 1874. According to a sign in the yard, the home was originally part of a 54-acre home site awarded by a Spanish Land Grant in the 1700's.

Observing Nature is a sensory delight during this Northern stretch of the river. As you paddle, you may come across a log with  dozens of turtles sunbathing. Bream and mullet visibly swim under you in the clear water. Herons and the occasional Brown Pelican may glide overhead casting Dinosaur-sized shadows.

PHOTO BY BEACHNRIVER KAYAK RENTALS (Foley) --- If you are a quiet and stealthy kayaker, you may come across a scene like this of at least a dozen turtles sunbathing on a log. Turtles are very "in-tuned" to sounds however, and will splash into the water at the slightest bit of noise.

Paddling this stretch of the river intimates an era where homes had blousey gardens speckled with native and exotic plants like Pinecone Gingers, Gardenias, Bananas, Jasmine, Hydrangeas, Nerine, Cahaba, Spider and other Lillies. Their perfumes permeate the air. Lawns aren't "manicured"  --- they have "developed" and "matured" through the years.

PHOTO BY BEACHNRIVER KAYAK RENTALS (Foley) --- It is a challenge to take photos during some portions of the kayaking experience. The tree overhang is dense, light can peer down streaks through cracks in the canopy. It is difficult to see, but if you look to the right in the photo you will see white flowers.
 They are gardenias
that hang lazily into the water. 
Someone, some time ago must have loved flowers to plant this shrub on the water for us to enjoy.

 Kayaks, Canoes, Jon boats and wooden boats line banks. Docks may be pieced together from old telephone poles and metal scraps. Rope swings sway and almost reverberate with the sounds of happy children jumping into the depths below. This Northern part of the river suggests a smidgen of simpler times.

PHOTO BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOG MICHELLE CARROLL STANCIL (Foley) --- Scenes like this are plentiful along the back rivers of Gulf Shores, AL. Although ropes along the river are intended only for use by their private property owners, the mere sight of them evoke a "feeling" of a simpler time in life.

Within a couple of miles of  traveling down-river from our BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals location, you enter into the Gulf Shores portion of the river. By car you'd travel West off Hwy 59 South onto Cty Rd 8.

The water warms, widens and smells brackish. You are likely to see dolphin and leaping mullet. Draping Live Oak tree canopies give way to Sentry-like Pines. Wax myrtle shrubs securely grab the banks and provide cover for the many varieties of birds from Red-Winged Blackbirds to several species of shorebirds. Cormorants and Herons heavily populate nests high in hurricane-stripped Pines along this stretch.

PHOTO FOR SALE BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER MICHELLE CARROLL STANCIL (Bon Secour) --- This photo was taken while on a kayaking excursion with BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals on the Bon Secour River. The water is brackish, warm and one is likely to hear the sounds of Red-Winged Blackbirds call out  "O-ka_LEEEE!"

Homes lining these banks are most likely professionally landscaped with stately Palms, hedged Azaleas and ball-shaped Hawthorns. Lawns are fertilized and mowed to the water. Docks announce football affiliations and banks are shored up by metal or wood.

The wild and "wooley-ness" of the Northern, Upper River lends itself to a more civilized "community" of River-front homes ranging from the mid $500K County Rd 6 Home on the Bon Secour River For Sale to $3 Million "Stardance" Home On Bon Secour River For Sale. These homeowners own motorboats and enjoy toasting sunsets on colorful benches or Adirondack chairs. If you paddle by these homes during summer months, you will see homeowners grilling on their docks. Kiddos surround fire-pits toasting marshmallows and crab baskets filled with chicken parts are inconspicuously dangling in the water.

But make a turn off the main river and you find an entirely different river life ---one where Shrimp Boats are parallel parked in protected canals. If you are lucky to catch a shrimper just returning from his stint in the Gulf, you may be able to purchase flash-frozen or freshly-caught shrimp right off the boat. You keep your eyes peeled to the grasses. Gators inhabit this area. You think you can "feel" them lurking. If you're feeling lucky you'll never see one. We haven't --- and we've paddled the river for the past 16 years.

PHOTO FOR SALE BY DIANE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY --- The Bon Secour River bustles with activity.

 How often have you ever paddled from a shaded spring-fed river and ended up where you can purchase freshly caught shrimp right off the boat in about a three hour paddle?

 This type of diversity is the lure of the Bon Secour River.

 But this is as far"South" as I can describe the river. Our personal knowledge of the area via river is limited to our kayaking endurance.

PHOTO CREDIT JAMES RIXE, a BEACHNRIVER KAYAK RENTALS GUEST (Bon Secour) --- This is as far "South" from BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals as our strongest paddlers explore. By vehicle you would travel nearly to the end of Cty Rd 10 in the tiny town of Bon Secour. This is still considered "Bon Secour North." Across the river is "Bon Secour South." Although you are still paddling in the river which gives protection from strong winds, the water is now "big" and you will feel more of the current --- but a trip to (and return from) this location can be accomplished in three to four hours with little rest.

We've paddled all the way to Oyster Bay  --- located at the intersections of  Cty Rd 4 and Cty Rd 6 in Gulf Shores where Happy Harbor Pizza once sold some of the best Pizza, Calzones and Hoagies around. Fond memories still linger of the now defunct Fish Camp Restaurant (located on Cty Rd. 6 near the former Happy Harbors Restaurants) and of paddling and eating Smoked Mullet at the former "The Galley Restaurant" located near the bridge on Cty Rd. 10 (Foley).


With all these words I just expended, and all the images you've conjured in your head, nothing I've written fully paints a picture of the scope of the river. "Land of the Beautiful River" by author Cos Davis promises to fill-in-the blanks of the history and story of the Bon Secour River "South."

"Land of the Beautiful River"

“'Land of the Beautiful River,' by Cos Davis, tells the tale of Bon Secour, the first people here, history, interviews with locals and more,"  writes  Allison Woodham of Gulf Coast News Today.


If you have paddled the Bon Secour River ---  if you have become enamored with its charm and you want to learn more, you may want to read GulfCoastNewsToday.com story Posted: Thursday, May 19, 2016  by Allison Woodham:   Davis Helps Tell Story of Bon Secour


According to Woodham, "Davis will begin writing monthly columns in June for "The Foley Onlooker," a local newspaper. They will be about the book itself and also informing people about the progress of the work to identify the area properly."

I will look forward to reading more from the author.