Gulf Coast

Since May first, we have been camped at the Fort Pickens National Park Campground on the Gulf Islands National Seashore just south of Pensacola.  Another well-maintained and patrolled campground and another beautiful and seemingly endless white sand beach.  Shells are rather sparse here, but the sand is beautiful and our weather has been as well: nights around 40 degrees, days mid-60's and sunny.  One day we drove over to old Fort Pickens , construction begun  in 1829, completed in 1834.  The ruins are interesting and picturesque.  Click on the Fort Pickens link in the previous sentence for more information about this historic fort and its place in American History.

Yesterday we visited the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, located on the grounds of the Pensacola Naval Air Station. John was impressed with the "up close and personal" contact this museum permits with the aircraft, and how very nicely maintained and organized the exhibits are.  I was impressed with the portions of the displays that tell the stories of the people behind the planes - the designers, the builders, the commanders, the pilots, the mechanics and other support staff, emphasizing the courage, foresight, and determination of all.  Although its focus is naturally military, the museum does a good job of portraying the impact of manned flight on various aspects of recent civilization. We  iwere both impressed by the caliber of docents in the museum, who were not only knowledgable, but demonstrated exceptional follow-through, as in the case of one question a docent could not answer, but left, researched, and found us a bit later to give John the explanation for the piece of equipment on the aircraft.

This morning, John went into town to run some errands and I remained in my travel office (see photo below) to catch up on work files, emails, and this blog.    While it seems decadent and somehow just plain wrong to "camp" with wi-fi and computer capabilities, still we are pretty much on the low-end of people who travel with gadgets.  This particular campground has a large spectrum of humanity and camping styles: college-age kids and young parents with little kids in tents, retirees in lovely new RV's - some compact, some huge, a young couple from Zurich, Switzerland traveling around the US in their camper van, folks in large campers with multiple pull-outs, people driving old cars and campers, apparently here partly because they can help supplement their food with the abundant fish available in these waters, a couple in a lovely old 13 foot vintage camper, lovingly restored and sparkling with pride (both the camper and the owners).....   And then there is our neighbor: we've had fun watching him pull out a whole series of toys and equipment: various chairs, cookers, smokers, a drink-mixer powered by gas motor, large flat-screen TV on the OUTSIDE of his camper, various flags and Clemson U. paraphernalia - the man is very obviously a serious, nay, fanatical fan!  The piece de resistance: a giant blow-up Clemson Tiger figure that graces his front door.  His whole campsite is outlined (on the ground) with string lights, and from his awning hangs - are you ready for this?  Really ready for it? -  a working DISCO BALL!!!     Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, this morning he brought out a large green tarp and placed a dog fence on it, where he deposited his little fluffball dog.  When we walked by and saw that the dog also had a stroller, I thought perhaps it was old and infirm, and they were doing their best to make it comfortable in its declining health.  NOPE!  The dog is young and energetic - they apparently just don't want the little darling to get its paws soiled on ground or grass!     While this all seems a bit over the top to us, the gentleman who owns this get-up is very proud of and happy with his possessions, and is a good camping neighbor. 

Clemson Fan - Day View

Clemson Fan - Night View