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​Ticket To Ride

The Wharf - Orange Beach, AL

11/11/2018

5 Comments

 
It was a quick trip to The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach, AL.  It’s a beautiful marina with great amenities.  We stayed Tuesday – Friday this last week and took in all The Wharf had to offer!  I say this in almost every post, but it’s so true….every day on the Loop is different.  The Wharf couldn’t be any more different than the bayou on the Mobile River.  In addition to the great facility, there were shops, restaurants, movie theater, gym, yacht sales and a plethora of gorgeous boats to look at!
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The main drag at The Wharf
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Night view down The Wharf strip. Lighted palm trees and ferris wheel were beautiful
After we arrived Tuesday we walked the property, had a great lunch at Ginny Lanes and went to A Star Is Born (which was awesome) at the theater (got my popcorn fix too).   Wednesday, Tom was all about getting maintenance done on the boat and I headed to Moxie’s gym for a spinning workout and a salon for a haircut and little of my own maintenance 😊. 
We totally enjoyed the hot, humid weather this last week.  It got up to 81 and we soaked it all in, especially when we got calls from Sam back home in MN and Griff in CO telling us it was snowing in both locations!  The birds and wild life are abundant and I even caught a pic of little crab scuttling around at low tide in the marina.  
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Crabs at low tide
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Docks at The Wharf
​The Wharf was hosting the World Food Championships 2018.  It was so cool and being the foodies that we are, we attended Thursday afternoon with the Petersons.  The round that we sampled was seafood.  It was fantastic!  After the entries were judged, they were divided up and brought out to the crowd.  They were all incredible.  We indulged in lobster, crab, shrimp and other seafood that was prepared and presented beautifully.   We enjoyed seeing all the chefs at work slaving in the heat to wow the judges.  The competition ran from Wednesday – Sunday and the categories varied from sandwiches, bacon, dessert, burgers, BBQ, chicken, steak, seafood, etc.  Below are a couple pics from the seafood round.  Delicious!
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The main prep floor at the World Food Competition
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Tom with the Peterson's enjoying a libation and the view of the chefs hard at work at the World Food Competition
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One of many seafood entries
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A scallop dish on the left and lobster mac & cheese on the right
After the food competition, we all made our way down the Wharf strip and I tried my first, and probably last boiled peanut.  Not sure if I got a dud, but I wasn't impressed with this southern specialty.  Sorry Jimmy Carter!
​We've met some great folks in our travels so far.  While visiting the Peterson's boat Thursday night a beer and music, we met another couple from MN.  They did the Loop in 2015 and shared some Loop wisdom with us.  So fun to make those Minnesota connections and hear their stories and advice.  Ironically, they are friends with the Aherns (Jealous Mistress) who we met on our way down in Lock 8, way back 7 weeks ago!
The last shot is a night picture of a barge making it's way down the ICW.  It's a little fuzzy, but we thought is was kind of a cool view of the waterway at work at night.
​More later~
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5 Comments
Pamela Lund
11/11/2018 06:54:04 pm

We loved our Spring Break to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach when Maddy was a junior, we ate at Lulu's too. Lots to see & do down there, looks like you are having a blast! Love all your photos & blogs.

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Sue
11/12/2018 02:45:13 pm

I remember now BA talking about Maddy's senior trip here. Yes, it's a fun area with lots to do. My brother and his wife spend Feb-Mar down here and love it. It's a hidden gem!

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Pat Block
11/12/2018 05:31:44 am

Loving all your pictures and adventures. We were in Panama City,Fl on MMSII during hurricane Opal many years ago. You will find great Anchorage’s in and around St. Andrews Bay not sure how the marinas are since Michael. We pulled into Tarpon Springs for fuel and stayed a week enjoying great Greek culture and food. Looking forward to connecting. Hugs,❤️

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Sue
11/12/2018 02:49:01 pm

We are looking forward to our Gulf crossing and Tarpon Springs. We've not seen any of the damage from Michael yet, but have heard that St. Andrews, St. Joe's and that region suffered but are getting things up and running in some of the marina's. An anchorage will probably be our best option. We are definitely enjoying the big water after the rivers!

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Orange Beach link
5/8/2022 02:51:09 pm

It was fantastic After the entries were judged, they were divided up and brought out to the crowd. I truly appreciate your great post!

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    Tom & Sue Slightam

    Read along  as we circumnavigate the eastern half of the United States and southern Canada on the Great Loop on our boat BELLA, a Cruiser 460 Express.  

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