Blue Angels and Blue Skies

Yesterday Jeff and I drove to Pensacola to go to the Naval Air Museum on the Pensacola Naval Air Station (NAS). This was an incredible treat. Not only did we get to see about 100 authentic service airplanes (and learn even more military history) but it was FREE! We did fork over the $8.50 pp to see the IMAX movie about the Blue Angels (who are stationed at NAS). Well worth it. We had been fortunate enough to see the Blue Angels in San Fransisco during Fleet Week a year ago and once you see them, you are forever awed by their skill and bravery. These guys go through intense, almost inhumane, training and devote their lives to flying as a Blue Angel (no smoking, no liquor, no life).

As we left we asked a volunteer guide were to get a little lunch and he suggested we go to the "old" Pensacola downtown and marina. Good idea...the little downtown was reminiscent of the French Quarter with ornate balcony iron work. We had an awesome salad and a beer (from a list of about 150 tap and 200 bottled beers).

Jeff's eyes popping out at the beer list!

After lunch we walked the 6 blocks to the marina. It had turned out to be a very warm day, though overcast, and we enjoyed the walk and Pelican watching!

We also met this guy, who proudly informed us that this particular Pelican, Bucky, was his buddy and that the bird was indebted to him because a few weeks ago he had saved the birds life after finding him wrapped up and tangled in fishing line and hooks. He even had been featured on "Channel 3" news the night before. Bucky did seem quite taken with this gut and even allowed him to hold and pet him.

In accordance with my sign fascination I have two from Pensacola to share. Kind of two from opposite spectrum's, but fun anyway!

This morning we were on the road by 9 a.m. heading to Carrabelle, Florida on the Emerald Coast but not part of the touristy part like Destin or Panama Beach. This is a quiet, little coastal town more known for fishing than beach babies. We had planned on going to a Passport America park in a town west of here (PA parks are 50% off) but in a completely out of character move, I found this lovely, beachside RV park and decided we should treat ourselves to 4 days of sand,sun and surf! It was the right thing to do. The park is gorgeous, the pool clean and warm and the beach is directly across the street and has a good mile of walkable sand.

Today's temp topped off at...

so I wasted no time getting set up and then sprinting over to the beach for some sand time (Jeff opted to play on the computer). The beach is actually on St. George Sound since several islands (St. George being one of them) form a barrier from the Gulf of Mexico. The water isn't that beautiful "emerald" I expected but tomorrow we will get out to the island and maybe the hue will be different from there. Very pretty none the less and I am sure not complaining about being on ANY beach in January.

Along the way, I did see what seemed like an excessive number of what I think are beached Jelly Fish. Most the size of a salad plate but several that were easily ten inches across. Disgusting things.

Also saw this odd thing. Gelatinous with a blue bag on the top that was "breathing". Can anyone tell me what this is???

Thankfully there were more interesting creatures along the shore. Birds of all kinds. And two fisherman who told me that dolphins frequent the area and get so close to shore that they reel their lines in for fear of snagging them. Also told me another guy caught a sand shark from shore yesterday. Cool. Not going swimming, by the way! I went back to the BP and convinced Jeff to talk a sunset walk on the beach with me. He gladly obliged...