Dirt Color and Burger King

We bid farewell to the throngs of 311 fans and sped towards the gulf coast.  Downtown New Orleans seemed fine in relation to storm damage, but as we made our way out of town on the interstate we passed whole apartment complexes and neighborhoods that were destroyed or still abandoned.  It got worse as we headed towards the Mississippi and Alabama coasts.  Nice new resorts stood next to giant hotels that had been abandoned since Katrina.  Workers had just reopened a major bridge into Biloxi and were still reconstructing the coast highway.  I ate at a Burger King that had just been rebuilt.  Apparently it was the first fast food place on the coast in years.  The lady who took my order used the word, “Babe” non-stop.  Similarly to how I would say, “Dude” or “Homie.”

We ate near the beach and Ryan was feeding seagulls from his hand.  I told him about bird flu and he said that none of the birds had sneezed on him.  So we killed one of the gulls and ate it.

Continued north towards a campground we spotted in the atlas in western Alabama.  On the way, we stopped in Greensboro, Alabama and picked up some hot dogs, Ritz Bitz Cheese Crackers, and some Colt 45.  With supplies we made our way to Payne Lake State Park in the Talladega National Forest.  The campsite was great.  Took a nature walk and learned about hickory and climbed fallen logs.  We had batting practice with pine cones and sticks.  Started a fire, drank some beers, and went to sleep.  Next day, no showers.

Drove north along Alabama backroads and saw a whole lot of nothing.  All of the dirt in Alabama is red or orange.  Stopped in Tuscaloosa where Ryan got a haircut and I ate at another Burger King.  There was a Goodwill next to the barber shop that sold single boots for a dollar.  I’m sure it was a peg-legged pirate’s dream.  Nothing in my size though.