Our Last Day In Pensacola

We got up early yesterday morning to get some sunrise shots.  I was hoping for lots of color, this wasn't too bad.

After I took the one above the fog started to roll in...

And quick!

We went back to the National Naval Aviation Museum to finish up what we missed the first day.  This time we took a tour given by a Navy Vet.

We still didn't see it all and could have easily spent another full day.

This is for my dad... He was an Aerographer's Mate (weatherman) in the Navy.  Stu put the quarter there, since he didn't see one displayed with the other weather guessing "instruments".

I wonder if the people that put this mannequin fixing a propeller meant to have his hand cut off??

Our guide told us these Blue Angel jets are mounted in the actual position they fly in formation.  Amazing, they are so close!

This is the type of plane Amelia Earhart was flying when she disappeared.

We had to leave the museum early to get to the tour of Fort Barrancas, it is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.  It sits on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay.  The natural advantages of this location have inspired engineers of three nations to build forts.  The British built the Royal Navy Redoubt here in 1763 of earth and logs.  The Spanish built two forts here around 1797.  Above it was the earth and log Fort San Carlos de Barrancas.  

Bateria de San Antonio was a masonry water battery at the foot of the bluff. American engineers remodeled the Water Battery in 1840 and built a masonry fort on the bluff between 1839 and 1844, connected by a tunnel to the Water Battery.  

The Drawbridge: Operated by a counter weight and winch, it pivoted at the center.  It could be raised to prevent a surprise attack.  A harmless shot fried by a guard on this drawbridge on the night of January 8, 1861  is sometimes considered the first shot in the American Civil War.

 

The Ditch:  A dry moat covered  two sides of the fort.  Assaulting infantry entering the ditch would suffer heavy casualties from muskets and cannon fire through windows in the walls.

Scarp Gallery:  A series of arches supported the sand fill and allowed access to the loopholes for muskets.  

Vents at the top allowed smoke from the guns to escape.

Parade:  The center of the fort held a hot shot furnace where cannonballs were heated for firing at wooden sailing ships.  

Our "Traveling Bird" checking out the beach.

We landed in Gulfport, Mississippi this morning, stay tuned...

Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum

Today we went to see the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. The light was built in 1859 and is about 1/2 a mile from the campground on base. 

Across the street from the lighthouse.

We climbed the 177 steps to the top of the light and were rewarded with some amazing views!

The Aviation Museum. 

The runway, this is an air base after all...

Part of the museum and the gate keepers property.

We haven't seen beautiful water views like this since we left Italy!  OK, so being in Tennessee, we don't see any water views, but that is beside the point...

There we are, do I look terrified???

Yup, 177 steps up, and wouldn't you know it, 177 down...Advil for the crew!

Since I was wearing sandals, they made me go up barefoot (ick), so as soon as we got back to the bus I headed for the beach to wash my poor feet.

The sand here is amazing, powder white but not a shell to be found!

Crystal clear water though.

And refreshingly cool, ahhh that's better!

Run for it!

Nothing like a little beach therapy, so much better!

That's our bus in the background, so close to the beach!

Our site is pretty big, they aren't all this big, but we are in the "front row". 

We are also paying "front row" prices...  This is a nice campground, King's Bay and Mayport are still our favorites, we have been spoiled! The base is really nice, we could be here a week and never have to leave the base there is so much to do a see.  

Anyway, the laundry is cheap, but not free, there is a "clubhouse" but it's a little run down and is essentially just a room with tables, they have do have wi-fi, also not free... Like I said, spoiled.

Tomorrow we are going to finish up the Aviation Museum and check out Fort Barrancas, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.