A great day in Pensacola

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH
 

Trip Day:	242	Latitude:	30°20.07' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:		Longitude:	087°08.66'W	Locks Total:	108
Total Miles:	5,249	Location:	Pensacola Beach, FLORIDA  MM 189

A big shout out to Betty and Marc’s neighbors who lent their Suburban to them to use as a tour bus today.  This motley crew of loopers were able to tour the  National Naval Aviation Museum for another great day in Pensacola. This museum of flight had a more extensive collection of aircraft than the Smithsonian.

 

The Blue Angles were featured in a four-story glass and steel atrium with four A-4 Skyhawks in a diving   diamond formation.  The history of flight was chronicled from a replica of the Wright Brother’s plane, WWI biplanes, WWII bombers, through space capsules.  

 

 

 

 

 

 There was a diorama that immersed visitors into the WWI Western front and an exhibit of Main Street USA in 1943 complete with a general store showing prices from that  period.  We hate to admit we remembered when a can of Campbell Soup was only 19 cents. 

We tried to imagine being a teenager sitting in a Erco Ball turret staring down the enemy in WWII.

This Banshee photo-reconnaissance plane was a one-of-a kind which was rescued from a park where children climbed on it in 1988.  It has been fully restored to its former glory. 

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We completed our visit with an IMAX movie about rescue missions.

 

The guys’ ears perked up when Marc suggested we go to the Oar House after the museum—imagine their disappoint when they realized it was a restaurant. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great lunch—all twelve of us. 

 

 

 

 

 

Betty proudly took us on a tour of Historic    Pensacola    Village with its quaint downtown built around town squares and parks.  The historic neighborhoods with their nicely restored homes were just lovely.   It appeared Pensacola has a healthy economy—we didn’t see any empty storefronts and it appeared to be a very active area. 

 

The guys felt it important to help support the local   economy by visiting the local microbrewery.  It just happened to be tour time—timing is everything!

 

After returning to the marina, Betty and Marc visited on our boat where we were able to catch up on their news and plans for the future.  We reminisced about the 5 months we traveled together and made plans to cruise together next year.

We ended the night with dinner at Hemmingway’s just across from the marina.  With full bellies and tired feet we said goodbye to Marc and Betty and thanked them for a great stay in Pensacola. 

Tomorrow will be another travel day since the weather looks  promising.