Alabama's Meaher State Park

  

Traveling west we stopped at this neat state park on the east side of Mobile in a town called Spanish Fort. Very convenient to visiting Mobile and the surrounding area.  One of the attractions is Battleship Memorial Park, home of the USS Alabama. Just down the road are 3 or 4 great seafood places. Two things we were warned about in reviews:  Ants and traffic noise from I-10 and US 98.  On both visits we didn't see any ants and traffic noise was not a factor.

 

  

There are 71 sites, all paved, level and have full hook ups. 50/30/20 amp electric. Seven are pull-through. Ours, #7, is at the west end near the day-use lighted fishing pier and playground area. This end of the loop has minimal or no shading, but is on Bay John and there is usually a nice cool breeze coming off the water. 

Past sites #12/13 the shade begins. All the sites on the north part of the loop are shaded. The bath house/laundry building is updated and very well  maintained.

 

  

Our backyard. There is a large field between the sites and the water. The T-shaped fishing pier is a short walk away.  There is a nice grassed area between the sites and the bay.

  

The entrance to the pier on Bay John. Good views of the Mobile skyline, both day and night and the sunset.

   

  

A Sabine's, or Laughing Gull takes off from the pier railing.
 

Just off shore in Bay John was a lone alligator that cruised over to the shore to welcome us.

 

And, a family of Canadian Geese wandered around our backyard. Mom and Pop showing off their newborn.

Later they all went for a swim.

Dinner is served. A Shrike. Cute bird, vicious killer.  It impales its food on spikey objects to aide its eating of the victim, or storage. 

At the west end of the loop is a tenting area with 10 sites. They have 20 amp elecrtic and water hook-ups.

 

Adjacent to the tent area are two stilted cabins. The closer is Catfish Camp and behind that is Redfish Retreat.  Both look very modern and well maintained. In this area is the boat ramp and beach.

Along the north edge of the park is a large wooded area that has several trails within. There is also a pavilion and several individual picnic tables in the area for campers or day visitors.

 

The trails can be used by hikers and bikers.  There are about 2 miles of combined loops in the woods.

 

Most of the trails are wide and well maintained. A few could use a little grass cutting.  There are no elevation changes and the trails are all easy. Some tree roots prevail.

At the east end of the loop a path leads to one of the attractions of this park.

 

A Swamp Rabbit, also known as a Cane Cutter rabbit, along the path leading to the boardwalk.  He is twice the size of a cottontail rabbit. These rabbits like water plants and will feed in 3-4 feet of water.  Where's that gator?

OK, back to the attraction.  The boardwalk trail to and circumventing an island in Ducker Bay.

Read and heed.

 

Sights from the boardwalk.

 

  

Ducker Bay.

 

A Common Gallinule (prior to July, 2011 called a Common Moorehen) sits among the dead reeds waiting for an unwary insect or tadpole to wander by.  It is about the size of a chicken and has long yellow-green legs and feet.
 

A Tri-colored Heron searches the reeds for dinner.

I'm stumped.  From the orchid or lily family?
 

  
Blackberries are abundant on the island.

 

Cahaba Lily

Rough-seeded Flameflower

Also, from the boardwalk. Five o'clock traffic on I-10 at a standstill for about 30 minutes. Glad we are in camp.

Meanwhile back at the campsite

   

Later in the afternoon two aggressive geese flew in.  Trying to take over the territory, I guess. For all the honking and challenging, they were unsuccessful. 

A Mercedes Benz Uni-Mog based RV from Germany pulled in. Big all-terrain vehicle.  Travelling the world.

Sunset over Bay John.