Calling AL (Alabama) peeps...

James A. · 05-17-2007

Julie, the boys and I are heading to Orange Beach this weekend. We will be heading south on I-65 and would like to split the trip up.

I was hoping to make reservation at a motel off the interstate just south of B'ham that is close to a Cineplex.

Any ideas?

MWC · 05-17-2007

If nobody chimes in, I've always found travelhero.com to be a real help in planning stops. You'll need to sit with a map, but it gives you all the hotel listings for individual towns, plus info on what's nearby. Usually I use it for CT-FLA roadtrips, but there's no reason it wouldn't work for you.

James A. · 05-17-2007

Never heard of it. I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

Ronaldo · 05-17-2007

James, if you get a chance, stop at the Florabama and get your self a Bushwacker. Great music too. It's on Perdido Beach Blvd. as you travel east toward Florida. The bar is half in Alabama and half in Florida. Been there twice in the last 3 months. Have a great time.

UGAplaya · 05-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronaldo

James, if you get a chance, stop at the Florabama and get your self a Bushwacker. Great music too. It's on Perdido Beach Blvd. as you travel east toward Florida. The bar is half in Alabama and half in Florida. Been there twice in the last 3 months. Have a great time.

I second that. The Florabama is not to be missed. Orange beach is a really nice place. Very laid back.

bemarshall · 05-17-2007

My avatar was taken at the FloraBama

Sorry, can't help you with your question.

Just have to say I agree it is not to be missed! And those bushwackers are the best ever! I do miss the old days, before the hurricanes destroyed part of it ... but it's still a blast!

Have a great trip ... love that area and get over there as often as we can. Going to Perdido in June.

James A. · 05-18-2007

I've been to the Florabama a couple of times when on leave from Camp Shelby. I think it was pretty fun.

BTW, we've decided to plow on through to Montgomery, so we are set on the hotel search. Thanks.

TAPPY · 05-18-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by James A.

I've been to the Florabama a couple of times when on leave from Camp Shelby. I think it was pretty fun.

BTW, we've decided to plow on through to Montgomery, so we are set on the hotel search. Thanks.

You were at Camp Shelby ?
Did you ever go into Hattiesburg ? Back when I was in college all of the guys from Camp Shelby would come into town to party.
Good times on the Ms. Gulf Coast !

James A. · 05-18-2007

Yep. Hot and dusty.

I also use to live in N.O., Uptown on the corner of Walnut and Magazine.

**Heather** · 05-18-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by James A.

I've been to the Florabama a couple of times when on leave from Camp Shelby. I think it was pretty fun.

BTW, we've decided to plow on through to Montgomery, so we are set on the hotel search. Thanks.

I never knew you were in the service, James!

What branch? When?

James A. · 05-18-2007

Yep...Sgt. Anderson in the Army N.G. 1/155 Field Artillery. I left as a gunner on a M198 155mm howitzer. I went to Basic at Ft. Sill, OK in 1988, then AIT in 1989. I was discharged in 1996.

I don't miss it, but I am really glad I did it. It gave me a perspective that not everyone has (you can relate, Heather). Plus, I got to shoot all of these really cool weapons!

**Heather** · 05-18-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by James A.

Yep...Sgt. Anderson in the Army N.G. 1/155 Field Artillery. I left as a gunner on a M198 155mm howitzer. I went to Basic at Ft. Sill, OK in 1988, then AIT in 1989. I was discharged in 1996.

I don't miss it, but I am really glad I did it. It gave me a perspective that not everyone has (you can relate, Heather). Plus, I got to shoot all of these really cool weapons!

Wow, we were in at the same time. I had Basic in 1989 at Ft. Jackson, had lots of friends later who were at Sill, though. I ended up just SPC AndersEn, however, as I turned down Sgt. school in favor of my 'lifer" friends, as I knew I was getting the hell out after my 3 yrs. I was a RATT operator, high-tech stuff, I know.

I was also a machine gunner for my platoon, that was fun!

James A. · 05-18-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

I was also a machine gunner for my platoon, that was fun!

M60?

**Heather** · 05-18-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by James A.

M60?

Yes...in the beginning I had some pretty good bruises on my shoulder from the kickback, but I was tough then and refused to cry about it...I ended up learning how to lean into it. Carrying it was a real bitch, though. I don't think I could do half of the stuff today that I could do then. Also, my favorite thing was throwing the live grenades. I could do that every day.

James A. · 05-18-2007

I was really surprised the first time I was allowed to use a live grenade. I was expecting a huge fire-ball explosion, ala Rambo. Instead, there was a sudden black cloud and a dull ka-WHUMP!

I think my favorite to fire was the M203 grenade launcher...probably because they had all these old jeeps and stuff for us to hit. Who wouldn't love to launch grenades at old beat-up trucks all day?!

05-17-2007	#1 (permalink)
James A. sandbagger vidiot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bell Buckle, TN Posts: 3,102	Calling AL (Alabama) peeps... Julie, the boys and I are heading to Orange Beach this weekend. We will be heading south on I-65 and would like to split the trip up. I was hoping to make reservation at a motel off the interstate just south of B'ham that is close to a Cineplex. Any ideas?

05-17-2007	#2 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6,500	If nobody chimes in, I've always found travelhero.com to be a real help in planning stops. You'll need to sit with a map, but it gives you all the hotel listings for individual towns, plus info on what's nearby. Usually I use it for CT-FLA roadtrips, but there's no reason it wouldn't work for you.

05-17-2007	#3 (permalink)
James A. sandbagger vidiot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bell Buckle, TN Posts: 3,102	Never heard of it. I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

05-17-2007	#4 (permalink)
Ronaldo beachaholic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 335	James, if you get a chance, stop at the Florabama and get your self a Bushwacker. Great music too. It's on Perdido Beach Blvd. as you travel east toward Florida. The bar is half in Alabama and half in Florida. Been there twice in the last 3 months. Have a great time.

05-17-2007	#6 (permalink)
bemarshall life=playa Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pass Christian, Mississippi Posts: 519	My avatar was taken at the FloraBama Sorry, can't help you with your question. Just have to say I agree it is not to be missed! And those bushwackers are the best ever! I do miss the old days, before the hurricanes destroyed part of it ... but it's still a blast! Have a great trip ... love that area and get over there as often as we can. Going to Perdido in June.

05-18-2007	#7 (permalink)
James A. sandbagger vidiot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bell Buckle, TN Posts: 3,102	I've been to the Florabama a couple of times when on leave from Camp Shelby. I think it was pretty fun. BTW, we've decided to plow on through to Montgomery, so we are set on the hotel search. Thanks.

05-18-2007	#9 (permalink)
James A. sandbagger vidiot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bell Buckle, TN Posts: 3,102	Yep. Hot and dusty. I also use to live in N.O., Uptown on the corner of Walnut and Magazine.

05-18-2007	#11 (permalink)
James A. sandbagger vidiot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bell Buckle, TN Posts: 3,102	Yep...Sgt. Anderson in the Army N.G. 1/155 Field Artillery. I left as a gunner on a M198 155mm howitzer. I went to Basic at Ft. Sill, OK in 1988, then AIT in 1989. I was discharged in 1996. I don't miss it, but I am really glad I did it. It gave me a perspective that not everyone has (you can relate, Heather). Plus, I got to shoot all of these really cool weapons!

05-18-2007	#15 (permalink)
James A. sandbagger vidiot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bell Buckle, TN Posts: 3,102	I was really surprised the first time I was allowed to use a live grenade. I was expecting a huge fire-ball explosion, ala Rambo. Instead, there was a sudden black cloud and a dull ka-WHUMP! I think my favorite to fire was the M203 grenade launcher...probably because they had all these old jeeps and stuff for us to hit. Who wouldn't love to launch grenades at old beat-up trucks all day?!

register to remove these adverts