Leaving Pensacola

 Looks like our time here in Pensacola, FL is coming to an end. Tomorrow we head out for Jacksonville, FL and the Mayport Navel Station. We have really enjoyed our time here and have done a whole lot of just relaxing. However that does not mean we haven't been keeping ourselves entertained. Sheryl has been busy working on Christmas presents for our kids and grand-kids.

 As well as getting in the Christmas spirit with some craft projects. Sheryl is a Snowman fanatic and made these cute little guys. Now I just have to mount them so the'll stand up.

 

 We had a Veterans Day Breakfast with friends at a local diner. It just so happened to be our friends birthday so we killed two birds with one stone.

 We found a great place for drinks right on the beach, Did a little beach combing and watched another amazing sunset.

 Seems you can never have too many amazing sunsets!!!

While getting ready to head home, I found this sign in the bar. Don't see too many Sunday services taking place in bars, but hey, what ever brings you in. The sign just struck me funny and had to get a shot of it.

So that is it from Sunny Pensacola Fl, next stop the East Coast on our trek toward Key West. So Stay Tuned and we'll see you next time...............................

Pensacola Sunset

 The past few days the rain and clouds set in for some gloomy weather. But last night as the front pushed on through, we were left with another amazing Florida Sunset.

Hope you enjoyed!!!

Pensacola Florida and the Blue Angels Rec Area

 After a very enjoyable few days in Dallas, it was time to hit the road again and make a bee line for Pensacola Florida. Initially we were going to make this a three day trip, however, once we got going we pushed a little bit harder and made it in two. Arriving a day early, we hoped we would be able to get into the park as our reservations started the next day. Boy, did we luck out, there was a cancellation and it just happened to be one of the prime waterfront spots in the park!!! We jump at it and before we know it we were sipping drinks and soaking in the view. Now, of course this all could not have gone with out a hick-up that drove us crazy for a bit. You see we got all set up, I plugged the coach in and no park power?? hmmm this never happened before?? Ok, go back out and check the power pole, yup breaker is on, surge protector is showing power, hmmmmm?? Back inside check all breakers, open the elec area, look for lose wires, wiggle everything and still nothing, dang!!! Starting to get really aggravated, let me try one more thing. Back out to the pole, unplug the surge protector and plug the coach strait into the pole, Woo Hoo power to the coach!!! Turns out the surge protector went bad, thank goodness I have a back up, hooked it up and we were all good! Time to relax.

 Relax we did, walked down to the beach here on the bay and enjoyed a nice sunset.

 After a couple of days of relaxing and doing a whole bunch of nothing, it was time to get out. Dinner and music seem to fit the bill. We had heard the International Songwriters Festival was going on down on Perdido Key, sounded like fun and a nice date night out. First was dinner at the Flora-Bama Oyster Bar, good food with a great open are view.

 Then it was across the street to the bar area for some live music. Now we had never heard of this festival before and figured it was just going to be some local songwriters and bands. Boy were we wrong, these were the big name songwriters in the business, who have had many many popular songs to their credit. We we're lucky in the sense, that they were mostly country writers on this night and we knew most of the songs they had written and were playing. What made it special was to hear the back story to each of the songs and then hear it played and sung by the writers themselves.

It was a great night out for us. We have been to Pensacola before and have seen most all the sights, so this stay here is all about just relaxing and enjoying the area.
After our first day here (had reservations for a week) we liked the park and our spot so much we extended our stay another week...........ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Hard to believe we've been here a week already, Trying to decide on a route to Key West and how long we want to take to get there, man if I only had tough decisions like this to make when I was working..................retirement is good!!!

Ok, we're all caught now, so until next time....................................

Ft Barrancus, NAS Pensacola

 Did you know there is a National Historic Site ran by the National Park Service on NAS Pensacola?? neither did we until we happened to drive by this old fort on a hill. Curiosity got the best of us, so the search was on. We found the visitors center for the old fort and found out it was Fort Barrancus, part of the National Park Service. It a Civil War era fort, built along with two others out on the barrier islands to protect Pensacola Bay and Naval Shipyard there. We took the guided tour, which the NPS always seems to do a great job with, learned alot about the 3 forts and the Civil War history surrounding them.

 Cross Fire Moat

 Hallway of Arches

 Gunpowder Room

 Drawbridge Mechanism

 Lone Cannon and Old Glory

Cannon and Glory

It was very interesting to learn the history of the area, so if you happen to find yourself at the primary tourist site (Museum of Naval Aviation) on NAS Pensacola, drive down the road just a bit farther and check out this Hidden Gem. 

Thanksgiving at NAS Pensacola RV Park

 In 4 years of Fulltiming, this is the first time we have been away from family for the holidays. When we checked into NAS Pensacola the folks were so nice and told us they were putting on a Thanksgiving pot luck if we were going to be here. We had originally planned to leave on Wednesday, but decided to stay for the Thanksgiving event and we're glad we did. Most of the park turned out, all with goodies in hand. Sheryl made her world famous Candied Yams and Embrosa Salad, neither of which lasted very long.

 Turkey abounded, with at least 4 different types, smoked, deep fried and baked....yummmmm.

 Sides galore, it was quite the feast and more deserts than you could shake a stick at!!!

 Dinner was at 2:00, at 4:30 there was a Pickin and Grinin Jam. A couple of the RV's brought their guitars, even a professional signer showed up for the first couple of hours, so it was quite the show.

 The local Pro.

Our RV Park duo. A great time was had by one and all. We made some new friends and really enjoyed ourselves, sure helped keep us in the spirit, since we weren't able to be with family. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving holiday!!! We are headed out tomorrow and will be spending a couple of days at Eglin AFB FamCamp before continuing our journey south. With that being said, we'll see you fine folks back here again before long.

Sunset Romp!!!

Scrappy just loves the Beach!!!

Kayaks and Tiki Bars, Whats not to Love!!!

 Saturday the weather finally cooperated and gave us a calm day. We had been wanting to get the kayaks out in the bay since we've been here, however the tropical breezes had a different plan. There is a small marina just down from the park here on base, it was perfect because it's located in a cove just off the main bay. So it was time to get the kayaks wet (us too) and get out on the water. We paddled around the cove, mainly exploring the shoreline and seeing what wildlife we could.

 Scrappy Doo even got in on the action, he's loves the water and really took to riding in the Kayak with me. At one time he decided to try and ride the bow, but with my cat like reflexes and a quick grab of the tail kept him inside the boat and not furry fish bait....lol.

 The water was calm enough we decided to paddle out into the bay a little. Ok, not actually the bay, but a channel right outside the cove. With the white sand beaches of the base on one side and a deserted barrier island on the other it was just beautiful paddling. Of course the camera died right after this shot, so you'll have to imagine the dolphins swimming in the channel just to the left. We also paddled on over to the island to the right and explored the beaches. What a great time out on the water and finally getting the kayaks wet!!!

 Of course whats a little work, with out a little fun??? We were invited down to the Enlisted Club tonight for $10.00 all you can eat and drink BBQ. It was the last day of the season for the Tiki Bar to be open, so they go out with a bang. We were surprised that more folks didn't show up, but then, Hey, more for us!!! The Tiki Bar as you can see is located right on the beach, what a great little find!!!

The Pensacola Light house as seen from the Tiki Bar, not my best night shot, but you get the idea. So another great day of fun and making new friends has come to a close. Take Care and we'll see you back here again.

St Michael Cemetery, one of the Oldest in Florida.

 Yesterday was a day of just hanging out and resting (pardon the pun to the subject matter....lol) so as Sheryl was resting, I took a trip down to check out a local Photo Shop. After looking around a bit and chatting with the owner, it was time to head back to the house. As I was leaving the shop, I noticed this old cemetery just down the street, so I thought I'd have a look around. I grabbed my camera and was looking from outside the fence when I noticed an information kiosk inside. I found a gate and went in, once at the kiosk, I found the cemetery was set up for visitors and is actually one of the oldest established cemetery's in Florida.
Now some may say taking pictures at a cemetery is morbid, however as long as you are respectful to the grounds and the photos being taken, then as far as I'm concerned, it's ok. Besides, you just don't see cemetery's this ornate anymore, unless of course it's in a very well to do area.
So, I'll leave you with a few shots...............

You probably noticed they are all in B&W, something about a cemetery, they just seem to lend themselves to be photographed that way. Hope you enjoyed the shots and we'll see you back here soon.

Naval Aviation Museum and the Blue Angels

 While here at NAS Pensacola, Sheryl and I just had to take in the National Museum of Naval Aviation. This is by far one of the best done museums we have ever been to. There are are two large building housing more displays than you can shake a stick at (yes I tried.....lol) as well as several outdoor displays. We were told by the folks at the RV Park to allow 2 days to see it properly, of course we thought that was kinda extreme, but they were more than right. We only spent a couple of hours and barely scratched the surface. One thing we can recommend is to take one of the guided tours, which we did. Our tour guide was a retired Navy Capt who was a Naval Pilot for 32 years, which was great as could inject a lot of personal experience in his tours. Long story short, if you ever get a chance to stay in Pensacola, FL. either on or off base, make it a point to go to the museum, you won't be disappointed...........heck, if nothing else it's free!!!

Today we heard what seemed like more than the normal aircraft noise that you come to expect at airbases. Stepped out of the rig to find the Navy Blue Angels were having a practice session. I grabbed the camera, went out to the road and manage to get a couple of good shots. One of the great parts about about the RV Park here on the base, is it's right across the street from the Blue Angels practice area.......how lucky were we, nothing like a private airshow with out the crowds!!!
That's been our last couple of days, so I think we'll take a day off to just chill. We wanted to get the kayaks out in the water here but the winds have bad the seas just alittle to rough for that, were hoping for a calm day before we head out though.
Ok, so until next time....................see ya back here soon!!!