Dauphin Island, Al:  This morning dawned bright, sunny, and cool.  Warmed up quickly.  After lunch we walked over to the estuarium and Ft. Gaines.  Next to our park is a Coast Guard station and next to that is Ft. Gaines.  The estuarium is across the street from the fort.  A short walk.  Ft. Gaines was established in 1821 and was involved in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. “Damn the torpedoes…full speed ahead.”  Walked back and sat around enjoying the last of the sun’s warmth.

Bang!
Ft. Gaines--established in 1821

Cute little creatures in the estuarium

Butterfly soaking up the sun and some nectar.

Structure on the left is the Sand Island Lighthouse.  The structure on the right we thought was an oil rig--but most of the platforms around the bay area are natural gas rigs.  They drill down up to 5 miles!

Sally Port at Ft. Gaines