THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12

Finally…the sun!!!!! Steve and Nancy Bachand picked us up at 8 am and took us for an all day tour of the area. It was great having our own personal tour guides. First we went to Crystal Beach, which is east of Destin Florida. It was low tide and the beach is beautiful. The area is known as “the Emerald Coast” because when the sun shines on the white quartz sand at a certain angle reflects and appears green.




We continued on to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola. The Naval Air Museum is located there. As we were entering the museum an Air Force F16 buzzed everyone and then put on his afterburner. He was most likely practicing for the air show that would take place over the weekend. I can’t begin to describe it, but everyone totally loved it. The speed, the noise, the ground and your body shaking. Believe me, it was a first hand exposure to the power of those jets.

The museum was fabulous. Every aircraft in the museum had been flown by Navy pilots except for one. And that aircraft looked liked a model airplane of sorts. The display presentations where so well done. Whatever area specific aircraft had been used in, the surroundings depicted the actual conditions. One was set up like it would have been in the pacific. Complete with sandbags, outdoor shower and an officer’s club.

WHOA!! And I thought our props were big. This is one of the props from the aircraft carrier
Intrepid.








We ate lunch at the museum’s Cubi Points café. The original Cubi Points Officers’ Club was located near Subic Bay in the Philippines. That base has been closed so they removed all the plaques and used them to decorate the museum café. Each plaque had the names, and nicknames, of each squadron. Not only did pilots has squadrons but also mechanics, nurses, etc. who had squadrons. It made us speculate how some of these people got their nicknames. But we think alcohol may have been involved.





The Naval Air Station at Pensacola is home to The Blue Angels. They have been on tour but have just returned home. They put on an air show that we watched. These guys flew like they were happy to be home. They were short a pilot though so when they heard Ross had his pilots license they asked him to fill in.









Just kidding!!!

These pilots are nothing short of amazing. But I’m glad I’m not any of their moms. I was nervous just watching. Especially when they would fly at very low altitude directly at one another and then at the last second roll their jets over and miss one another.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11

Left Homeport Marina before dawn. This was LuLu’s restaurant at the marina that has been home to us for many days.





After many weeks in Mississippi and Alabama, today we entered Florida.







It was good to be traveling again. It was cloudy and
windy all day. I think we maybe saw 2 other boats all day. It wasn’t a pleasant ride as there were some 4-foot waves coming across our beam as we crossed Pensacola Bay. Just before entering Pensacola Bay I noticed a dolphin swimming along side of us. I couldn’t get a good photo but you can kind of make it out in the photo. I will have to learn how to take a video with my camera and see if I can put it on the blog in the event I have the opportunity again.





We saw quite a few kite boarders on Pensacola Bay. You know that crazy Ross. He had to try it too. So here he is kite boarding.


















Just kidding. But it does kind of look like him. This guy saw that I was trying to photograph him so came over and went by us. The guys in by shore were going airborne maybe 10 feet and doing tricks. I couldn’t get pictures, unfortunately as they were too far away.









The sand along the ICW looks almost like snow it is so white.




Our destination was Bluewater Bay Marina at Niceville, Florida. Nancy and Steve Bachand are retired military dentists who went to dental school with Ross and now live here. They picked us up at the marina and brought us to their home for a delicious dinner. Ross and I were feeling a bit wobbly. We’ve been on the boat so long that we’ve lost our “land legs.” It was nice to get off the boat for a bit and we very much appreciated their hospitality.

SUNDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY

Waiting out Ida.



Remember this guy? King Neptune from Halloween night. He granted us safe travels, and so far is keeping his word. Ida was a hurricane due to come ashore right where we sat. Thankfully he calmed her down and changed her mind.




We have been sitting at the Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores Alabama for three days. Mostly watching the weather channels, reading and napping. Just waiting for Ida to arrive. Much to our relief, she lost most of her punch and was a tropical storm when she came ashore early this morning. The eye passed over us and it became dead calm and so humid it was unreal. Then it passed and turned windy and temp dropped. The tide was high, but we were fine. It was wonderful to have floating docks. At least we know how to tie up to cleats to deal with wind. Tying to a piling is something completely different for us.

It has been a relief to find out that our Looper friends are all fine. Scattered about between the ICW and back up above Demopolis.

We spent a lot of time glued to the local weather channel and the NOAA weather site on the internet. There was a scroll at the bottom of the tv screen as to closings of schools and event cancelation. Just like at home when we have snow. Ross commented on all the kids probably cheering about a "hurricane day" when they saw their school's name listed.

We have felt safe here but are now anxious to be on our way. Our plan is to leave at daylight and continue east on the ICW.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7

We left Eastern Shore Marina at Fairhope before 7:30 a.m. The photo is from our slip looking out toward Mobile Bay at sunrise. Mobile Bay only had about 1 foot seas and a 10 mph east wind. Mobile Bay is a large body of water, but quite shallow. Average depth is only 10 feet. It is supposedly home to one of the largest populations of dolphins. We saw only one. And that was when we entered the ICW. It was an easy trip down Mobile Bay to the ICW. (Intercoastal Water Way)

We met quite a character at the Eastern Shore Marina. Before we left this morning I went up to the office to see if I could get his picture. He either doesn’t work on Saturdays or hadn’t arrived yet. Yesterday his ride had already picked him up when I went to take his photo. His name is Chuck and he’s a large, very vocal tabby cat. He spent the first four years of his life living on a boat in the marina with his owner. When Chuck’s owner married, sold the boat and bought a townhouse, Chuck was not happy. Chuck eventually returned to the marina where he works as the welcoming committee. Boats have been know to leave the marina, only to return after discovering they have a stow-a-way on board named Chuck. There are many night creatures that would love to take Chuck home some night so there is an elderly gentleman who picks up Chuck each night before dark and returns him in the morning.

This photo is of a commercial fisherman who was netting something along the ICW. No idea what, but it was interesting watching the process.

Our destination today is Homeport Marina located at Gulf Shores, Alabama. Very nice floating docks. The restaurant here is LuLu’s. It is operated by Jimmy Buffet’s sister. I guess he makes surprise appearances once in a while and sings.

We continue to keep a close watch on the weather and Ida.