Relaxed until after dinner then set out to find a DISH TV satellite dealer. The address given as the closest dealer by the DISH TV website was a non-existent address on the GPS and the computer (Streets and Trips).
Down the road I found "The DISH Doctor" - Donnie's. I talked to Wally and he will call tomorrow with options and prices. The problem, as he explained with DISH, is that their HD satellites coverage in the NorthEast USA is limited due to a low satellite angle.
Continued on to Foley, AL where we checked out a liquidation warehouse - nothing we needed. We continued on to the Tanger Outlet Mall. Charlotte found a few items including a double spoon rest for the countertop that matched our dish set at home.
We then continued on to Gulf Shores with top off on the Del Sol to enjoy the sunshine. We drove (35 mph speed limit) to the west (dead) end. The beach houses are pretty - most painted in pastel shades. The east end is mostly high rise condos - not as pretty.
College "Spring Break" groups have begun arriving. Several groups of boys, girls or both were walking along the roadside - all going somewhere. The unisex groups were mostly in 3's for some reason while the boy/girl groups were usually 2 pairs.
Several beach houses (built for the purpose) with up to a dozen bedrooms. Many had a dozen vehicles parked underneath. The beach houses are built on "stilts" to protect from the storm surge - cars (and boats) park underneath. College kids here are not deprived - 9 out of 10 were new SUV's. Beach house rental prices range from $1200 to $5200 dollars a week - and summer prices are double the Spring Break prices (info courtesy "Beach Guide" rental magazine).
Time for supper - the real reason for being in Gulf Shores. Since we had been to Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet's restaurant in Key West, FL - we had to visit his sister's place "LuLu's" at Homeport Marina.
Lulu was born and raised in one L.A. (Lower Alabama) found herself living in another L.A. (Los Angeles, California). Lucy Buffett had just about enough of the plastic pace of Hollywood and yearned for the sweet comfort of home and a way of life that is more about living life than "lifestyle." As she reached her 40's, the memories of a childhood scented by magnolias in the spring, crab boils in the summer, tire swings, and the glories of Mobile Bay, were calling her back home.
The first LuLu's was little more than a bait shop, an outdoor burger joint and bar, situated on the edge of a nationally protected bird estuary, in very the same spot Lucy's father used to take her and her sister and brother fishing as children.
In 2003, when the Alabama state government decided not to renew Lucy's lease on Week's Bay, a new home was found for LuLu's on the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shores, AL at the Homeport Marina. It was a bittersweet move, but like any Buffett faced with a difficult decision, she decided to throw a party and move forward. She enlisted the help of a buddy with a barge and, literally, moved the ENTIRE establishment to its new locale by water.
On our arrival the 2 block long parking lot (and an additional overflow area) should have been a clue to the size of the restaurant. We arrived shortly after 6 p.m. We were seated at 8 p.m. They are only open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (10 p.m. Fri/Sat) - probably because it takes them 2 or more hours to clear those still on their pager list. They DON'T TAKE RESERVATIONS so arrive early. They cap waiting time at two hours to ensures better service. If you still have that hankering for LuLu's food, though, check out their SUNSET GRILL; it has a small-scale menu for a small-scale wait! Lulu's serves over 750,000 customers a year - wow! At least there were places to sit and things to do while waiting.
The restaurant seating is mostly "outside" with huge garage doors and plastic windows that disappear in the hot weather.
There were places to sit and sandy play areas for the younger kids. Not too many old folks on the "Mountain of Youth".Many folks were occupied with the outside "Ring Fling". The idea is to toss the ring (on the end of the rope) so that it stays on the hook on the pole. If it hit just right the ring would swing over the hook. A few were successful - usually resulting in a display of jubilation.
There is an outside band stage; however, today (being cool) the "Blues" musician was playing inside. LuLu's usually features a different musician on weekdays.
The "big kids" had bar areas where they could wait. There was also a non-alcoholic stand for ice cream and smoothies. Not much action there as it was a little cool outside.
The long wait has nothing to do with slow service. Our order arrived only minutes after our drinks were served.
Of course, Charlotte had a Cadillac Margarita - A smooth, top shelf Margarita made with Margaritaville Gold Tequila, Grand Marnier and their special Margarita Mix. It was excellent even if served in a plastic cup.
Virtually everything is served in baskets - at least their waxed-paper type liner is thick enough not to disintegrate like those used in so many "basket" serving restaurants. This style totally fits the atmosphere - and LuLu's has plenty of that.
We stopped in their store which is filled with "Lulu" items. We took the "2 for" special deal which included 2 "Crazy Sista Cooking" cookbooks (identical) and a Lulu's Magazine Premier Edition.
It was less than a half-hour ride back to the RV. It was a busy and fun day - asleep by 10 p.m.
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