A letter from the birthday girl

What a gorgeous week we are having!!! This is my favorite time of year!!! And no, it's not just because it's my birthday (which I celebrate all month long!), but that does help....The traffic has slowed at the resort which gives me time to catch up on work and conversations with owners and renters; the weather is just perfect (high 70's to mid 80's with a coastal breeze and no humidity) and it's football season (need I say more?!). I feel the need to put on a pot of chili and embrace the relaxed tone on the beach these days. I will say, my chili recipe deserves a blog post all on its own as people down here have never seen anyone put noodles in it (my Louisville, Ky friends and family need to back me up on this!).

I want to share these gorgeous pictures from yesterday. The 1st are from the Webb's, who took some guests by boat to see the Blue Angels practice (which you really should put on your to-do list if you are ever in the area!). Then later in the day they joined friends for an anniversary celebration. There were 2 Linda's, 2 Donna's & 2 Jim's!! And if that isn't ironic enough, all 3 couples celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary within 3 weeks of each other...Can you imagine all of the great stories that were shared over dinner and wine last night?

I guess the dolphins had received word that it was my birthday. I hadn't seen them in a few weeks and then yesterday before I left work 4 of them popped up right outside my office window-as if on cue. This isn't the best picture in the world but if you've ever tried to photograph dolphins you understand how tricky it is!! They are fast and you can never predict where they are heading. By the way, this picture is from my seat at my desk - I put the office window up and grabbed a few quick shots as they passed by!!!

Well, it's time for me to get busy. I hope you all enjoy your day today as much as I'm enjoying mine!!!

-Heather

Notes from Jim

Perfect Day yesterday for Donna & my 43rd Anniversary (hard to believe she has put up with me for that long). Sunny and 80 degree day, blackened Mahi Tacos at the Hang Out right on the beach followed by a long walk on the beach. Evening found us having cocktails and firecracker shrimp at Cobalts watching an amazing sunset and the dolphins while talking to our grandkids back in Oregon about their first days in High School & Middle School.

Today started out with a 6 AM walk on the beach. Lots of shells and coral washed up from the weekend storm (oil & tar ball free though). Sunrise was spectacular and the water was warm. Hand in hand with Donna; start of another perfect day in paradise! Donna is headed off on Jim & Linda Webb’s boat with other owners and guests at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina to watch the Blue Angels practice. It is great to have Jim & Linda back from their Alaska Adventure this summer. Time to go to work!

-Jim

ZZ Top & Lynard Skynyrd

For our ZZ Top & Lynard Skynyrd fans: we have less than 10 tickets remaining! Make your reservations today for Memorial weekend and receive 2 complimentary tickets to see these legendary bands!!

Make it a wonderful getaway weekend with this concert on Sunday the 29th of May and entertainment at our resort on that Saturday. With our own private beach & marina set in beautiful Orange Beach, you are bound to make this a weekend to remember!

Call Heather today: 251-923-3400

Punxsutawney Phil was on to something....

Spring is in the air! Though it may not officially be Spring yet, you'd beg to differ if you were in Orange Beach this week...After a colder than usual winter we are all glad to see the budding flowers, feel the hot sun on our faces, and get back into the water, be it by boat, boogie board,kayak.... This morning I was admiring the sun from my office window and saw some splashes...Went to investigate and saw a dolphin's fin pop out of the water just beyond our dock! I've been told by everyone that they see them out here playing and chasing fish but I hadn't witnessed it with my own eyes yet until this morning. What else says Spring other than the dolphins, the boats in the water and mid 70 degree temps? Construction!! Maybe that's just my opinion but I know that my dad, who owns a construction company in Kentucky, was always really busy from the beginning of Spring until the end of Summer...So either business picked up or he was out fishing ;-) We have a lot going on here at Heritage, we have an owner getting ready to build a covered patio...A couple who just finished with their patio and another couple who are finishing out their coach house.

Mardi Gras

There is such a buzz going on down here about Mardi Gras and it started back around the holidays....I remember a pre-mardi gras parade as far back as Thanksgiving. For those of you not from the area (like myself), you really should visit down here around this time, particularly within the 10 days leading up to Fat Tuesday, which will be March 8th this year. For all of our local friends and our guests as well, I've compiled a bit of information about the beginning of what we now call "Mardi Gras". Also, here's a link for the Mobile, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach & Pensacola Mardi Gras Parade schedules: http://www.gulfshores.com/things-to-do/calendar-events/default.aspx?viewall=1

Like I said, I'm not from the area, I moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama from Louisville, Kentucky, and like most people who aren't from this area, I assumed that Mardi Gras originated in New Orleans, Louisiana. Boy was I wrong! I've done quite a bit of homework on the subject recently and found that Mardi Gras actually originated here in Alabama...In Mobile to be exact. On a side note: I also found out that New Orleans wasn't the original capital of Louisiana (guess I missed that lesson in grade school! I will talk more about this in a bit). As most people know, Mardi Gras is a festival that traditionally precedes the Catholic Lenten period, ending the day before Ash Wednesday. The name is French for "Fat Tuesday," which is the last day of merriment and feasting and refers to the traditional practice of eating a fattened calf in preparation for the fasting and self-sacrifice of Lent.

A type of Mardi Gras celebration first came to what is now Alabama with the early French explorers, who were led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. He recorded the first observance of Mardi Gras in Mobile in his journal in 1699. Men in the camp marked the occasion with feasts, dancing, and a night of masked revelry. The celebration was originally called Boef Gras (Fat Beef).

After the construction of Fort Louis de la Mobile (1700–1702), the settlers celebrated Mardi Gras in Mobile in 1703, beginning an annual tradition, only occasionally canceled because of war. The Carnivale began on Twelfth Night (January 6) with torch-lit processions.

Mobile was originally the capital for the entire area (Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama), which the French settlers called "La Louisiane". It wasn't until 1720 when Biloxi became the 2nd capital of Louisiana.

As I mentioned briefly above, New Orleans wasn't always the capital of Louisiana. It wasn't until 1723 that the capital was moved to the inland port, "Nouvelle-Orléans" (New Orleans), due to fear of tides and hurricanes. This is 24 years after the Mardi Gras celebrations began in Mobile...Which may or may not settle some age long debates that have been going on down here between Cajuns and Alabamians for centuries over which is the "Original Mardi Gras"....

The Mardi Gras that we know now (full of parades, floats, picnics, balls, secret societies) some say started when on New Year's Eve, 1830, Michael Krafft and his friends were reluctant to end a dinner party at the customary time. They raided a nearby hardware store, took up rakes, hoes and cowbells and proceeded to wake the town. They soon formed the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, the first of Mobile's many modern mystic organizations. The Cowbellions presented their first parade, complete with floats and theme, in 1840.

Mardi Gras has evolved over centuries in the Mobile area, nighttime parades and other public festivities begin about 10 days before Mardi Gras Day. Carnival Season balls, receptions and other private functions begin in November and continue through Mardi Gras Day.

Beautiful Weather, Delicious Food and Great Company

All of the pieces fell into place for a perfect Owners Weekend at Heritage October 7th – 11th. Owners and guests started arriving earlier in the week and by Friday, the resort was bustling with over thirty –five coaches. We also had the pleasure of having Chad Dupuis of Marathon Coach, Dave Wall with Liberty Coach and Mark Woltjen from Camping World, bring display coaches for the weekend. The 53 ft. catamaran, Wild Hearts,
treated passengers to a sunset cruise Thursday evening, and we thank Captain Shu and his crew for their hospitality. Our new Resort Director, Jim Howard, provided a special treat on Friday by serving smoked salmon, cheeses, wines and beers from his home state of Oregon. Dinner followed with a meal of white beans with shrimp and sausage provided by Ricky Crain, one of our Heritage owners. Saturday brought football, catching up with friends and more football! Rebecca and Anthony Toups
treated the crowd to a roasted pig while others pitched in with side dishes to make the evening meal a group effort. Thanks to Brenda and Harold Barber for bringing everyone together for a Sunday breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits.
We could not have asked for more beautiful weather or a better group of people. Our owners are truly special and the weekend proved that Heritage is much more than an RV resort; it is a community.

Owner Spotlight - Carolyn and Todd Cutrer

New owners, Carolyn and Todd Cutrer, have wasted no time in settling into the Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina lifestyle. From their custom designed Millennium Prevost XLII Coach to their 2010 Tomberlin Anvil street legal electric resort car, the Cutrers enjoy getting away with their two sons, Evan and Price, and spending family time together on the great Alabama Gulf Coast.

The Cutrers got into the motor coach lifestyle after some less than desirable hotel experiences. They knew that the only way that they could have their own bed while traveling was to do so in a motor home. They bought their first RV, an Allegro bus, in 2004. After keeping it for 2 months, they decided that they wanted to try their hands at designing their own coach. They sold the Allegro and designed a 2006 Country Coach Affinity which took 7 months to build. After traveling in the Affinity for 18 months, the desire to design another coach took over and they began working with Millennium Luxury Motor Coaches to build their current Prevost XLII.

The Cutrers had been traveling to the Gulf Shores area for a couple of years with their bus when they decided to purchase a lot.
After looking at several resorts, Todd made a quick trip to see what Heritage had to offer. From the cobblestone streets and trees to the beautiful waterfront location, Todd was sold upon his first visit and made a purchase on the spot. According to Todd, at Heritage he saw a resort where the developer had a vision and over delivered on his promises. Remember how Carolyn and Todd enjoy a good design project? Well, Heritage offers them another…the Cutrers are in the process of designing and overseeing the completion of the interior of their coach house, that when finished, will provide them even more space to entertain family and friends.

Todd says that his dad questioned the wisdom of their first RV investment. After seeing the enjoyment that they have living the lifestyle, he has retracted his “bad investment” statement. The Cutrers know that there is no price that can be put on a family who has fun together and enjoys their new home away from home. If there is anyone out there who can’t find a way to relax…give Todd a call. He’ll be the first to tell you that Heritage is the answer.