Fri, Nov 11, Ft. Pickens, Pensacola, FL, to KOA, Perry, FL:  Left at 9:30 this morning which we thought was pretty good, but we forgot we lose an hour because we’ll now be on Eastern Time (ugh!).  Took us 45 minutes just to get to I10 where we continued east and dropped south on 19/27 which is a limited access four-lane highway.  This is a pretty drive on 19/27 through a rural area of sprawling ranches with huge live oaks covered in Spanish moss, all enclosed in neat white- or brown-board fencing.  We drove through tiny little towns with names like Eridu and Iddu that haven’t changed for decades.  We pulled into the KOA in Perry at 4:30—just in time for dark (sigh).  Leave tomorrow for Lake Manatee in Sarasota.  

Thu, Nov 10, Ft. Pickens, Pensacola, FL:  After breakfast we headed back to the ACE Hardware Store in Gulf Shores to return some things and get a towel bar for the bathroom.  After that we came back and parked by the campground store and walked out to the beach.  A beautiful, sunny day today.  While at the beach we heard some plane activity and headed down to the fort to watch the practice session.  The stunt planes were performing first.  Watched for a while and then headed to Pensacola Beach to get some lunch.  Went to Peg Leg Pete’s and we both had Cajun shrimp wraps.  Really good.  We were starved by then.  Back to the campground and the Blue Angels were rehearsing.  Saw the show from our campsite.  They are spectacular.  Their homecoming shows are Friday and Saturday.  They’re gone all summer performing in other parts of the country, and they come back “home” for the winter.  They lost one of their pilots at an airshow a few months ago.  74 today and beautiful.  We leave tomorrow morning for Perry, FL, for one night and then on to Lake Manatee for a week. 

Looks more like Minnesota in the dead of winter than Pensacola.

o 

Some of the flora on the sand dunes.

The beach is pretty--and devoid of humanoids.

The Blue Angels as seen from our site.

Wed, Nov 9:  Ft. Pickens, Pensacola, FL:  Cloudy and cool, but not raining this morning.  Around noon we headed over to Gulf Shores to see the movie, “A Man Called Ove”.   After the movie, we stopped at an Ace Hardware in the same strip mall and picked up a couple of things and headed back.  Drove down to the fort before going back to our site.  Still cloudy at this time.  The fort is directly across Pensacola Bay from the Naval Air Station where the Blue Angels fly out of.  What a great viewing spot for the air show.  If the show is early enough Friday morning, we may watch the show and then head out.  We’ll see.

The beach here in about 10 miles long.  Hardly anyone around.

Ft. Pickens is a pre-Civil-War-era fort.  Constructed in 1834.

These gravestones are from Stonesfield Plantation Cemetery, on land that is now Pensacola Naval Air Station.  Chasefield Plantation was the home of Major William H. Chase, who supervised the construction of Ft. Pickens in the early 1800s.

Tue, Nov 8:  Ft. Pickens, Pensacola, FL:  A nasty day today—rainy and windy.  We had the fireplace going and just hunkered down inside.  Talked about going to see a movie, but decided not to after we checked out the conditions outside.  After lunch we were both hanging around reading and we heard the Blue Angels practicing.  The rain had stopped and that brought everyone out.  They practice every Tuesday and Wednesday.  Tomorrow we’re going to head down to the fort at the far end of the island and watch the show.  They’re having their first public show this Friday and Saturday.  However, we leave Friday morning.  

The only halfways decent picture I was able to get of the Blue  Angels.  They did a six-plane formation, but I couldn't get that one.  What an awesome show!

Mon, Nov 7:  Fairview-Riverside SP, Mandeville, LA, to Ft. Pickens, Pensacola, FL:  Got hooked up, stopped at the dump station, and were on the road by 9:15.  After about an hour we ran into rain.  Heavy rain.  Could only see about two car lengths in front of me.  Slowed down and turned on the flashers.  There was a couple of accidents on the west-bound lanes of I10 which tied up traffic.  We looked for a place to pull off—with no luck.  Kept going and we finally ran out of rain just before Mobile.  Mike took over driving and we made it with no further issues.  Stopped once for something to eat and were set up here by 2:30.  80 degrees here and windy.  We fought a head wind most of the way.  We’re here until Friday.  

Going through Mobile with blue skies ahead.

Approaching Ft. Pickens.  The white sand looks more like snow.

There are some really huge waves out there.

Sun, Nov 6:  Fairview-Riverside SP, Mandeville, LA:  A really lazy morning.  We gained an hour since the clocks went back last night.  After lunch we drove over to the other loop and got our laundry out of the way.  Came back and sat outside in the warmth of the sun and watched the boaters going by.  There were even some water skiers and tubers out there.  The water must be a bit chilly—not to mention the possibility of gators.  Talked about going back to Morton’s for dinner, but had left-over soup instead.  Tomorrow it’s back on the road again—this stop will be Ft. Pickens National Historic Site.  We’ll be there for 4 days.

Watching some of the boat traffic on the river.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera when a few of the yachts went by.

Still no call-back from the RV help people--so much for RV "help"...

Sat, Nov 5:  Fairview-Riverside SP, Mandeville, LA:  Really chilly this morning.  Had to pull the bed spread up for extra warmth.  Around 12:30 we headed to Rips on the Lake for fried green tomatoes topped with shrimp remoulade.  Really good.  Brought some home for later.  On the way back we stopped to fuel up and pick up some groceries.  It warmed up nicely in the afternoon and we sat outside reading for a while.  Talked with some girls behind us who have two really neat dogs—both rescue dogs—one totally blind.  Everyone around here getting ready for the LSU-Alabama game.  Party time!

Before dinner last night, we decided to walk the swamp trail, which sounds really ominous...

but there are boardwalks throughout.  Very benign.

Saw a lot of litter on this trail.  What is wrong with people?

While we were walking the swamp trail, I told Mike I had been thinking about the onion rings at Morton's.  So we headed back there and had an order with drinks.  This neat house is right next to Morton's.

Some of the homes on the north side of Ponchartrain.  Love the architecture.