FLORIDA WEEK 4: PENSACOLA BEACH and GULF ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

14 Nov

First we completed the lighthouse tour we started a few weeks ago. We could not climb the steps, because we were wearing flip flops. So today we returned to climb the 177 steps to the top of the lighthouse. The view was beautiful, you could see for miles. Gulf of Mexico with white sand beaches on one side, Blue Angels airstrip on another and downtown Pensacola skyline on the other. The wife was so excited to go to the top, when she did she got nervous. It took her awhile to get go outside and walk around the lighthouse. Finally, she waked around hugging the wall all the way around and then went back inside soon. She always want to stop and see lighthouses, but this was the first time we could climb to the top. I don't think we will be climbing any more lighthouses.

For lunch we went to Joe Patti for sushi. It is a fish market with a sushi bar in the back.

http://www.joepattis.com/

While waiting for the sushi to get made we was looking at the travel book and saw that Pensacola Beach was close and decided to make it part of our day. There was a 3 mile bridge we had to cross to get on Gulf Breeze and a smaller bridge to get to the Pensacola Beach town. It was $1 to get into the town, but free to go out. We got lucky and the weather was nice, but still to cold for anyone to be on the beach or in the water. We did walk up and down the beach and picked up some seashells.  

http://visitpensacolabeach.com/

Not sure if you can see it, but "PENSACOLA" is spelled out in seashells.

As you read my post in the future you will find out I LOVE BASEBALL. If it's MLB (Majors), MiLB (minors), NCAA(College) or NPB (Japanese) and if I have a chance to see a game or stadium I will, and I'll talk about it. On our way from Joe Pettis to Pensacola Beach we passed the Pensacola Blue Wahoos stadium I had to stop to take a look. The stadium opened in 2012 and are the AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Even though it's only a AA team the stadium reminds me of a smaller San Francisco Giants stadium with it's water front structure Blue Wahoos Stadium. For those who do not know, Billy Hamilton all time single season Stolen Base record of 155 in 2012 Billy Hamilton Stats (he is leading the Arizona Winter League in SB [10]), is one of the players on the team. After spring training he is more than likely to be assigned to AA and on our way out of Florida I will make a stop and see him in a game and try to get his autograph on a baseball.

16 Nov

We have decided to move our RV to Alabama and stay there for at least one month. The weather is about the same and the RV park is cheaper and they have activities to do. We had one last place on our checklist and it was Gulf Island National Seashore with Fort Pickens. Another national Park stamp in my passport book. The Gulf Island National Seashore is on Gulf Breeze and there is no entrance fee. There is a video about 45 minutes long and exhibits to look at. There is also a path to walk, but we did go because the temperature was in the mid 50's and strong winds alone the seashore. Besides, we had to get to Fort Pickens by 2:00 pm for the guided tour. Fort Pickens is on Pensacola Beach. There is $1.00 toll both to enter Pensacola Beach and $8.00 per car to enter Fort Pickens. Active Duty military is free, sorry no retired military discounts.
                     Gulf Island NS       Fort Pickens   

When driven on the park road the with sand blown across the road and looks like back home in the winter snow. We also braved the winds to get a picture together on the beach with the Gulf of Mexico behind us. We arrived 10 minutes before the tour started, so we waited inside the visitor center to keep warm. The tour had about ten people and took about 45 minutes. The guide knew I was retired Navy with a Japanese wife and he informed us that he was retired Navy and was stationed three years in Japan. he was also very informative of the Fort and told stories of the Fort during the Civil War. Around 1887 Fort Pickens was the home to a famous Bedonkohe  Apache prisoner of war named Goyahkla <One who yawns> aka Geronimo. On our way back I had to make a stop at the beach to collect some sand. Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but I got it anyways.

FLORIDA WEEK 3: AIR MUSEUM and USS ALABAMA

This week went by fast, even though it started off by turning the clocks back an hour. After all the hustle and bustle of the Presidential election ended we did three straight days of activities.

6 Nov

Today was our personal day. Living in a small space we have to give each other room. Most of the time I go outside to play video games or watch TV. This day the weather is cold (58-63 degree) but I went outside anyway. The wife took a picture of me.

7 Nov 

We placed another check mark in our to do list and spent no money completing it. We went to the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola Naval Air Station. I talked about this in the past post, but today there was power to the building and the day went off with no problems. There is no parking or entrance fee to the museum, however there is a donation box if you want. The only things that you have to pay for if you want to use are the IMAX theater and flight simulators. There is just too much to talk about, so I will hit the highlights and post their website link.  There are two buildings full of aircraft from the USA, Japan and German just to name a few. There is also exhibits for space and air blimps. We spent two hours walking around the two building and about a 45 minute trolley ride looking at aircraft outside that has not been completely refurbished. The trolley drive was very knowledgeable of all the aircraft and had good and most of the time funny stores. There is also a restaurant and gift shop. We planned ahead and brought our lunch with us. After our trolley ride we went back to the car and had our lunch before continuing on the tour. The down side was there was no tables to eat at outside, so we just ate in the car.  

 http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

8 Nov

With another cooler than normal day and the ocean bring gusts of wind to the campsite, we spent the day at Cordova Mall in Pensacola, FL. We did a little shopping for stuff we need, but most of the day was spent walking and talking to each other. There was a Red Robin (Yummm) we have only ate there once while I was stationed in San Diego, CA so we treated ourselves to endless fries. The burger was so BIG the wife had to cut it with a knife first.

http://www.simon.com/mall/cordova-mall

9 Nov

This trip was planned since the day we arrived in Florida, we just had to wait for the weather to get warm so we could enjoy our time by the ocean wall. We traveled to Alabama to see the USS Alabama. http://www.ussalabama.com/

There is a $2.00 fee for parking (car, there was RV's but the price was more), and entrance to the park to tour USS Alabama (Battleship), USS Drum (Submarine)  and a hanger of aircraft is $12.00, but there are $2.00 off coupons in Alabama visitor books. I even tried to get discount with my retired military ID, but it is free only to active duty. I was disappointed by the Quarterdeck (ship's entrance point) of both the USS Alabama and USS Drum. There was no one present to welcome you aboard the ship. I had visited the Battleship USS Missouri and Submarine USS Bowfin in Hawaii and other Naval ships that are no longer commissioned and they all had someone on the Quarterdeck to welcome visitors. However, the Ships themselves were awesome. While on the tour and reflecting back on my time in the service I felt pride and honor. I also found myself missing the times I have spent at sea.  Out of my 20 year Navy career I spent half of that time at sea. I did not really care for the stress of the job or missions, but missed the people I met that I called my brothers and sisters and the time we spent together is what I miss the most.    

My job was a Radioman (RM) before it merged with another job to form the new job of Information System Technician (IT). Anytime I visit old ships I always look for the Radio Room. I want to see the equipment that was used to transmit and receive information on and off the ship.

11 Nov

Veterans Day

If you know a Veteran or Active Duty Military give them thanks for all they did or do now. I called my father and thanked him, as he did the same to me.

For the last three years we have made our Veterans Day dinner at Applebee's. Veterans and active duty eat free. This time the waitting line was short. We were surprised, because Pensacola is a military town and the line to get a seat was only 10~15 minute wait.

FLORIDA WEEK 2: SANDY and AIR SHOW

27~29 Oct
We did not get hit hard by Sandy except for wind and colder than normal weather. Saturday night we were woken my heavy winds. Our awning was taking a beating, I had flashbacks of earlier this summer when rain and wind broke my awning.  I did not want to wait four months for the insurance company to pay to get my awning fix like it did last time. So, around 4:00 am I jumped out of bed and ran outside to stow the chairs, tables and awning. The clamps I use to secure the awning cloth to the side arms was blown off. Luckily, the clamps was still velcroed to the side arms and the awning cloth still intact. For the next three days we hunkered down and stayed inside the RV and watch movies and played games.

30 Oct
Tuesday arrived and we headed to a Taco Bell for our free tacos (relating to my last post). The wife thought that there was going to be a long line of people to get the free taco.  When we arrived there was not much of a line in the drive thru or in the store. Taco Bell did not advertise in the store and the people in front of use did not take advantage. When we stepped up to the counter we asked for the free taco and the cashier had to pull out a card to run across the register to accept the deal. 

The day was only half over, so we went on a drive and kept going straight. Soon we crossed the state line into Alabama. On our way to an outlet mall we passed a gas stations at $3.21 a gallon while gas stations in Florida was at $3.35/ $3.28 on base. When we need gas we'll cross into Alabama to fill our tank.  We walked around the outlet mall and it took about two hours to finish. We did not even do a lot window shopping. We did however spend a long time in Lindor chocolate. The wife loves her chocolates. On our way out the door the worker dropped some extra single wraps in our bag.

31 Oct
The winds have died down and we put the awning out and put our chairs and tables back out too. Starting to get back to normal weather, forecaster said it will be in the 80's by the weekend. We even got a new neighbor and they are from Ohio too. This is the second couple we have met from back home. The first was from around Kings Island amusement park and this couple was from Dayton.

I have changed my mind about running 100 miles a month. I would be running everyday and no time for weight workout. I will run about 50 miles a month and start to workout with weights at the base gym. Right now with about two weeks into my running I'm at 24.5 miles and on pace for a 50 mile month. I will also hit the basketball courts at the gym too. The basketball court at the RV park is close to the ocean and sand with uneven parking lot for a court is not a good mix. Beside the base gym has all the state of the art equipment. I do however love the RV park gym, no one is never there and I can listen to my own music when I run. I can see a change in my weight from 6 months ago when I started camping in the RV when I was at 179 lbs and now I'm at 165 lbs. Besides my new lifestyle in my RV, I have started to live more health. I have not felt this good since I was on active duty in the Navy.

1 Nov
Went to the base commissary to pick up groceries, and we saw a white funnel cloud in the sky. Turned out to be the Blue Angels practice run for tomorrows air show. We are going to go on Friday when most people are still at work, this way it should be less crowded and better changes of  getting good pictures and video of the air show. I will do my best to post the videos I record. I have not had any luck in posting them in the past.

2 Nov
Arrived at the air show around 10:30 am, four hours before the Blue Angels performance and parking was slim. We were directed to park on a hill, when we left it was a story all it's own. We walked around the display airplanes, took some pictures for the wife father (he love his airplanes). There was areas with bleacher seating, but the cost was $15, so we just used our folding chairs. We found a good area close to the fence line so we can see the planes when they did low level tricks. Turned out not to be such a good idea. At 2:30 pm when the Blue Angels started, seemed like everyone all at once ran up to the fence line and we could only see people heads.  I took pictures and video of the show, but 10 minutes into the Blue Angels show the battery died. I was taking picture and video all day and my luck ran out. We started back to the car in the hope of beating a mad dash of spectators to the parking lot. When we left there was a car behind us, so the only way out was to drive our HHR into the ditch, drive all the way down the water runoff and hope to get back up on top of the hill. With power poles and cars parked everywhere it was a challenge. I found one spot where both cars have left leaving a small area that lead back to the exit. With the ocean sand making the ground soft I had to floor the gas peddle so I could get up the hill and not get stuck in the sand. The first thing I thought of was the first day when we left Ohio when the RV got stuck in the mud.  I did not want to live that experience over again. I made it up the hill. When the wife came to get in the car, I must have dragged the front end of the car because I had a chunk of grass under my license plate. We made it off base with little traffic. When we arrived backed to the campsite I had a red faces from looking in the sky all day.

Sorry, again the videos would not load.