Cruising the gulf coast.

Here are a few pictures of a flight to the Alabama Gulf coast to Orange Beach.  Last spring we flew down for lunch in my buddy's Citabria.  Nice plane but it only cruises at 90kts.  It took two hours to get there from central AL. and we bounced around in a crosswind down and back.  This is basic stick and rudder flying and a lot of fun but cramped to be in for too long.  Reminded me of sitting on a go kart or straddling a horse for that long.  The back seater has to straddle the front seat to reach the rudder peddles, and there isn't enough room to put your feet anywhere else without blocking the controls.   With the shoulder harness  you are pretty much locked down.  The front seat has limited leg room for any one over 5' 10" or so.  It is a fun plane for sightseeing, but it isn't much of a cross country type.  After lunch at the Florabama Club, we flew down the coast for some sightseeing.

It is a nice flight to go down the beach and look at the scenery.  Notice that we are lower than the condos.  Got down to 100ft. at one point.   No minimum altitude over water unless you are within 500 linear feet of a person, vessel, vehicle or structure..  You could see the larger fish in the water.

Here's a shot of a campground behind the coast.  Probably full of snowbirds right now.

Another shot of some condos.