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.

FLORIDA WEEK 1 and FREE TACO

We have been in a routine. We wake up and workout. I have been running around 3 miles a day. Next week I will increase to 3.5 ~ 4 miles in hopes to get at 5 miles a day by next month. My goal is to run 100 miles a month. Then, lay out on the beach to work on my sun tan. Other days we go on base to get food or just drive around getting to know what is in the area. Lastly, around 6:00 pm (CST) we walk out to the beach to see the the dolphin eat and watch the sun set.

We are going to try and go out at least once a week for sightseeing. This week we went to Pensacola Light House. It is located on NAS base. We saw sightseeing buses so even if you are military, you can get on base to see it. The House is free to tour. To climb the step to the top of the light house is $5 and $3 for 12 & under and 65 & over. No flip flops. We were wearing flip flops so we did not get to climb to the top. The light house is still on our to do list. After looking in the house and finding out it was haunted. Yes you heard me right haunted. It was even on an episode of Syfy "Ghost Hunters".
http://www.syfy.com/ghosthunters/episodes/season/s05/episode/e522/pensacola_lighthouse

Right across the street is the Navy Air Museum, also on base and we saw tour buses pulling up to the door.  We must have ran out of luck, because the museum power was out all morning and they did not open their doors for visitors. We did find out that there is no cost to enter, except to use the fight simulator and watch IMAX films. The security guard informed us that it was an all day event to view everything inside and outside. It's a free day of entertainment and is on our list to do.   

Next weekend is the Blue Angel Air Show on base 2 & 3 November and it will be open to the pubic.
http://www.naspairshow.com/


Even if you do not love baseball, but would like to have a Doritos Loco Taco from Taco Bell. Thanks to Angel Pagan (San Francisco Giant Outfielder) everyone in America can get a free Doritos Loco Taco. Taco Bell has a promotion for the 2012 World Series if any player steals a base Taco Bell would give away free taco. In game 2 in the 8th inning Angel Pagan had a stolen base and event the broadcaster on FOX told viewers how to receive the taco. I hope you enjoy your free taco.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/26/angel-pagan-free-tacos-bell-stolen-base-world-series_n_2020961.html

ARRIVE FLORIDA

     Normally, a 958 miles in 15 hr 46 min turned into 1,887.1 miles in 16 days. We enjoyed the trip and seen lots of interesting places. We are staying at the Blue Angles Campground in Pensacola, FL (Close to Naval Air Station). We are located in the Central Time Zone, something we have to get use to. We hope to enjoy what the northern pan handle of Florida has to offer before heading down south in February for baseball spring training. Most of the blog until then maybe dry and routine daily life, but we will continue to  visit nearby states and attractions during our stay. If we are within a 3 hours drive one way we will try and take a day trip.

     This weekend we spend the days relaxing and getting to know the area. We found the base exchange, base commissary, base gas station and our bank. Finally, my bank is close to me. This week we will look for the veteran's club American Legions and VFW. 

     Out RV site is under lots of trees and acorns are falling all the time. When they hit the roof most of the time they roll off, but when they do it sounds like a pachinko parlor (Japanese example) or dice at a craps table (American example). The Campsite sites right along the Ocean banks. There are several fishing docks (I need to get a salt water pole and fishing license first), water craft launch, two beaches, a small marina ran by military, fitness center (no free weights) mini golf, frisbee golf paintball and laundry room. The best part of it all, there is not a cloud in the sky during the day and the sunset view is breathtaking at night. 

OHIO TO FLORIDA

(PART 4 ... Final)

DAY 14

    After getting the RV secure for the road we went to the Commissary to get needed 

rations for the next few days. We decided to take just the RV to gas station so we could 

reverse if needed. Good thing, because there was more parked cars then usual and had to.

If we had the car tow on we would be stuck and could not move. The gas station was set 

up for cars and not RV's. Also, the gas station was giving away free pack of Reese's peanut better cups when your filled your tank of 8 gallons or more. I filled up 28 gallons, but could still only get one pack.We checked out and hit the road around 11:00 am.

                                    When putting the tank hose back away, I found a little visitor.

On our way South on I 49 to I 10 East we were crossing highway over swamp land. We arrived 

at the Atchafalaya, LA Welcome Center just as it was closing and was luck enough for 

them to let us in. We got maps and information on New Orleans to read at night. We could 

have stopped there for the night, but thought we could get a few more hours on the road. We

Finally stopped at a truck stop to spend the night. It was in a small town about 4 miles 

off the main highway. To our surprise, there was only one truck on the lot. We read the

visitors guide and played cards before going to sleep. I won most of the game.

DAY 15

     Woke up and still only one truck on the lot. However, some of the truck loads were 

gone. Trucks must have picked them up while we were sleeping. I must have sleep good,

because I did not wake up.

     As we passed the Super dome I had flashbacks of the news when Katrina hit New Orleans. 

I was crossing the highway overpass where I saw people living on right next to the Super dome. 

Less than a mile we got off the highway and arrived at the visitors center. There is no 

room for a RV to park in the parking lot. There is a RV site to stay over night. However, 

we did not want to spend the night. There was a big empty parking lot on the back side of 

the school that side adjacent to the visitors center. A cop stopped us to ask if everything

OK and I said I was just looking for parking. He said the open parking lot would be OK.

We walked into the visitors center to get maps of the French Quarters and locations of the 

two National Parks. We Arrived in the French Quarters and visited Jean Lafitte National 

Park and New Orleans Jazz National Park. The national Park rangers hold free concerts in 

the hall. Unfortunately, we arrived after the last concert of the day, but everywhere up 

and down streets are people play jazz in restaurants or on the streets. We even stopped 

at the Hard Rock Cafe to get a beer, ....add another glass to my collection. We stopped by

Deanies to get catfish and shrimp dinner. The wife has never had catfish before and we both

enjoyed the meal. After I few hours walking we headed back to the visitor center and the 

host ask how was our trip. We then went back to the RV to get back on the road. We finally

stopped at a Flyig J (#676) in Gulfport, MS to spend the night. There was only one RV spot

left open. All the other spots was full of cars and vans. Not sure why they did not park in

car spots, but I got in the spot and stop getting upset. We saw people sleeping under their

truck. I guess it was just to hot inside the truck. We read the Mississippi tour guides 

and played cards before going to sleep. Yes, i won most of the games again.

                                                           Cafe Du Monde famous for beignet

Beignets taste soooooo good 

 Me with a cut out full size of Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) from the big Bang Theory. Standing in front all place in a comic book store window. The Big Bang Theory is one of my top 5 comedy shows on TV.

                                              Side streets of the French Quarters in New Orleans

Welcome Center rest stop in Mississippi

DAY 16

    Woke up to a rain storm. The wife thought it was a typhoon. The RV was rocking back 

and forth and the rain storm passed in a few minutes. I did the rest of the driving in the poorest weather conditions we have seen all trip. We crossed into the Florida State line and the sign said, "The Sunshine State". Sunshine State my A$$, it was cloudy and raining. We arrived at our destination, Blue Angles Campground in Pensacola, FL. http://naspensacola-mwr.com/corry/mwrblue.htm The site sits on Military land and only active duty, retired or DoD (Department of Defense ie Government Employees)  can stay, but I think anyone can visit the beaches, fishing pier and boat dock. For active or retired full hook-up is $20 a  night or $540 a month and DoD $22 a night or $600 a month. Electric and water only for active or retired is $13 a day or $350 a month and DoD is $14.50 a day or $400 a month. No matter what way you decide to camp it is a bargain for any snow bird compared to other Florida campground in the winter months. The only down side I have seen so far is there is no free internet. You have to buy internet access from the Navy Exchange either by the day, week or month and the account can only be used one device at a time. We are sharing our access logging off when we are finished so the other person can use the internet. A 30 day internet access account is $21.95.     

 

Welcome Center rest stop in Florida

 

The view from the steps of our RV looking out over the Gulf of Mexico