Pensacola, FL

Parked at the Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area on Perdido Bay.  We tried to get into the campground at Gulf Island National Seashore, but they were full.  After getting here though, I think we have a better campground anyway.  The gulf is just a block away and if it wasn't so cold, I'd put the kayak in the water.

Downtown Pensacola had the Peacemaker docked and you could tour the boat for free.  But as Max said, it wasn't free since we bought some pastries they had for sale and he gave a donation.  The Peacemaker was originally built in 1989 in Brazil by an Italian shipbuilder.  It was taken to Savannah, GA, to be finished, but sat for 8 years untouched.  The Twelve Tribes bought the ship and finished it in 2008.  

The ship, both inside and out, was beautiful.  All wood and stain glass, it was luxury like I have never seen on a masted ship.  The Twelve Tribes is a religious organization which believes in separation from the things of the world.  When you join you give all you have to the tribe.  All money you make from then on goes to the tribe.  You live, eat, and do everything together as a tribe.  For more info, google the Twelve Tribes.

This area is known for its white sand beaches.  Some of the whitest, finest sand I've ever seen.

Fort Pickens is at the end of the barrier island.  It was one of 3 forts built to protect Pensacola Harbor.

It is probably most famous as the home of Geronimo when he was sent out  here after his capture.  Although he only lived here 2 years before being returned to Ft. Sill, OK, Florida capitalized on his presence while he was here.

Pensacola Naval Air Station is home of the Blue Angels, the Navy's premier air show troup, and also has the Naval Aviation Museum.  This is my second time here and neither time were the Blue Angels here.  When they are in town they practice on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and you can go watch them for free.  But the museum is worth going to anyway.

This Stearman is the aircraft Cadet George Bush flew while in training for WWII at the Naval Air Station in Minneapolis, MN.

This funny looking plane is actually the first plane to cross the Atlantic.  We usually think of Charles Lindberg when we think of the first Atlantic flight, but he was the first non-stop Atlantic flight.  This aircraft crossed the Atlantic some 13 years earlier, in 1919, make 2 stops.