National Naval Air Museum

Not one to pass up a collection of old war planes, a stop at the Naval Air Museum at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, was something we didn't want to miss. This, like the Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio, are true national treasures. With immaculate buildings and grounds, this fantastic collection of naval aviation is certainly worthy of a visit.

One of my highlights was listening to one of the visitors relive his Navy experiences to a small group of youngsters. The visitor was a WWII fighter pilot who had earned his wings at PNAS and fought in the Pacific. The youngsters, to whom the very sprightly 81 year old was telling his story to, were Naval and Air Force pilots who served in Vietnam. What a moment. The 'youngsters', seasoned combat veterans in their own right, were in rapt attention of the old warrior. I could have listened all day.

I took a few images of this neat place and I'd like to share them with you.





Make a point to stop here next time you're in the area.

Not Lulu's again!

Back in Gulf Shores, we got a call from John and Linda who had recently returned from a trip to central Florida. They suggested we head back to Lulu's for drinks and a little live entertainment.

Seems like I had been to a Lulu's when I was in the Army on the island of Okinawa but I suspect the live entertainment there was a little different.

John said we needed to get there early as the headliner was a popular attraction and the Geritol crowd would be taking all the good seats. Sharon and I did get there early and got a table right up front near the stage. As predicted, the blue hairs and bald pates soon began to trickle in. Well not actually a trickle but, by the bus load. Must be passing out free Depends tonight I thought. Here it is, 5 in the afternoon and shouldn't these people be napping somewhere or getting ready to listen to the 'Amos and Andy' reruns on AM radio tonight? I'd not thought to asked John what kind of entertainment we were having but was getting an idea. Myron Florine or maybe one of the Mills Brothers grandsons? It was shaping up to be a long evening.

John and Linda soon arrived and we ordered some beers. Drinking can make one forget so this was an easy task. There was some activity on stage as the headliner began getting his sound equipment setup. I looked around and this trendy, parrot head style party stop was nearly filled. I figured that there wasn't a nursing home within 20 miles that wasn't represented. Wait a minute... these weren't patients but folks from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Oh I get it... these aren't just oldsters but people just like me. They're snowbird retirees! Within just a few weeks of heading north, these folks were getting their entertainment fix with one of the more season acts around.

Brent Burns (www.brentburns.com), as it turns out, knows how to entertain. With an eclectic repertoire of ballads, blues, and country, this guy can put on a show. From a wide range of original songs that lyrics had the audience in stitches, to some old Beatles tunes... this was a fun evening. We sat through three sets until close and had a chance to chat with him a bit after the show. He's on the road most of the time in the summer and will be in Caseville (in Michigan's thumb) this coming August. Check out his website and plan to catch his act... you'll have fun.

Thanks again to Linda and John for setting up another great evening.

Animals are pairing up...

Not that we mind a little sprinkle now and again but the last few days at Miramar Beach and Destin has got us looking for a place to take scuba lessons. More like the typhoon I was in back in 66', this was some serious, and dangerous weather. I bet if Noah had it this bad we wouldn't have near as many species as we do now. Visibility was near zero, high winds, and Sharon's favorite, lightening was ongoing for three days. Just short of 7 inches of rain fell within 48 hours. Locals said this was really unusual but probably say that to all the tourist so as not to scare them away. But driving rain and Charlton Heston sized lightening bolts aside, we had a great time with our friends J and K and Denny and Marilyn. Miramar Beach, our first stop, with J and K, is about 70 miles east of us and the drive over was scenic as it follows the gulf coastline. Through Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, Mary Ester, and Destin we arrive in mid-afternoon. The closer we got to Destin the bigger the condo complexes became and the density of shopping malls increased. Foolish me had never given a thought that this stretch of the country has so catered to the vacationing public. We're not talking about a row of double-wides here folks but real estate that can easily be in the seven figures. We located their complex and wheeled in like we owned the place; hoping that security would look the other way. They did but we'd forgot one small detail. Which of the four buildings were their's and ...what floor did they live on? A quick cell call to Kathy got us pointed in the right direction and before long two people were waving at us from the second floor balcony. They came down to help us with our luggage (two Hamady sacks and an Avon duffel bag) and took us up to their condo. Pretty nice place I'd say. Someone must have been a lottery winner somewhere along the line. Didn't even have to share the bedroom or bathroom and the pool was the size of Uncle Otis's pond next to the hog pen. They wanted to show us around town so we headed off to see the sights and later catch dinner at Callahan's Island restaurant. At the time the weather was nice with sunny skies and little on the cool side but better than snow (if you know what I mean).

We soon got caught up on all the friends and family news then continued our little sightseeing trip. It was a treat for me as I didn't have to drive. Gawking around is one of my passions and I can never (seldom) succumb to that urge while driving the motor home (not safe with a 19 ton rig); therefore getting someone else to chauffeur me around is 'a-okay'.

On this particular day I had a special agenda. Maybe not since stone henge, was the notion of watching a full eclipse of the moon deemed exciting. I however, get charged up as I wanted to get some photographs of the event. Everyone acquiesced and we returned to the condo before 7:30pm when the event was supposed to start. J agreed to go along with me and we headed out. We didn't venture far as the eastern end of the parking lot seemed to be a good dark spot so I got set up and began the wait. The evening was a little cool with the wind blowing but the sky was mostly clear except when I wanted to take a photo. The leading edge of the monsoon storm was starting to work its way into view so I had work around that obstacle when wispy cloud fragments passed by. The wonders of the universe seldom disappoint as the eclipse began. The earth's shadow slowly crept across the face of our lunar neighbor until it was fully covered. Coincidentally it was also the same time as the lawn sprinklers were timed to go on. Call it Divine intervention or bad luck but I got the message, and we headed in. The hour and a half adventure had served it purpose. I got the images I wanted and had the chance to visit with J. It had been a few years since we had had that opportunity, it was a perfect time to get caught up.

We slept in a little the next morning and when we finally did get up, J and K had prepared a super breakfast for all of us. During breakfast we were entertained by mother nature's orchestra playing a medley of thunder claps, lightening bolts, howling wind and pounding rain. We needed to move on to our next stop so we said our farewells and planned on getting together again when we all got home in the spring.

As Sharon and I continue on with our trip, we often remark that what has made this trip really special is the wonderful people we've seen along the way. K and J are no exception. We thank them for their hospitality and friendship.


Feeling like soggy Bedouins, we headed back to Destin to see Denny and Marilyn. As it turned out, only a 7-mile trip and that was welcomed as the weather had not gotten any better. Denny and I both retired from the same company and had known each other for over 20 years so we were looking forward to getting caught up. Sharon and Marilyn were both in education in the Flint area and also had much to talk about as well.


Denny and Marilyn have not been in the south all that long but certainly have learned the finer points of 'southern hospitality'. We settled in at their 4th floor condo and enjoyed watching the fearsome weather continue to ferment out the patio window. Marilyn served up a plate of goodies to ward off any afternoon fainting spells prior to all of us wading out in our Coast Guard Humvee to find a place to have dinner. When we finally stopped gabbing, we finally headed out into the driving wind and rain. They suggested Fisherman's Wharf http://www.fishermanswharfdestin.com/. A picturesque eatery located at the fishing docks in Destin. This 5 star restaurant had the character you'd expect with seaside dining. Big exotic fish tanks, great views of the marina and great seafood. After a plate of amber jack and grouper we waddled home only to be served some illegal ice cream called 'carmel coyote'. I say illegal because Sharon and I should be jailed for eating it but when teamed with some cinnamon cake (of lesser caloric count) it all balanced out. (didn't it?)

We had a good night's sleep and were greeted by a scrumptious breakfast Marilyn whipped up. We decided to finished off the morning with a little shopping in the rain. We visited a nice little wine shop that allowed lots of sampling and continued on to the Bad Ass Coffee Company (next door) http://www.badasscoffeedestin.com/ to see what they had to offer. Sharon and I had been to their main store in Hawaii some years ago and we were surprised to find another one on the mainland. The rain continued but we pressed on to the Stein Mart store at one of the big malls nearby. I luckily got out without spending any money but it wasn't easy. Meeting up with old friends is one of life's more comfortable and rewarding times. No matter where we meet them, Denny and Marilyn are a first class couple who have always treated us so well and we're thankful for their friendship.

Billy's and Lulu's ...

Some days we get focused on things we probably shouldn't get focused on. We got up late (what's new), the frig was empty and we got a late start so ... why not go out to lunch. Since each stop brings new temptations, eating out is really a pretty easy trap to get into. So rather than fight it we headed to Lulu's http://www.lulusathomeport.com/.

This trendy waterside spot was just a few miles from our camp and since we've never been in Jimmy Buffet's sister's resturant before, we thought it a good choice. Located on the Intercoastal waterway and next to a small marina, this brightly painted eatery apparently attracts big crowds as there is a large overflow parking area and a large covered pavillion for those who have to wait to be seated.

Since we got there for lunch there was no wait but all the "primo" tables on the sunny deck were taken so we settled for one inside. All the exterior walls were actually large garage doors and were all raised so it was almost like eating outside anyway. The four-year old resturant's menu had a few goodies not found at your average diner. Sharon tried the BLT with fried green tomatoes and a spicey mayo/mustard concoction. We both can attest that it was delicious (she gave me a bite) and my gastro experiment was a little less exotic hamburger.

The resturant was a little on the pricey side but redeems itself with a great location, live music at night, an outside beach area with bar, and for those who insist on bringing the little ones; a sand box the size of Maryland. Our waitress was pleasant and we thought we'd ask if she knew where the best place to buy fresh seafood in the area. As it turned out, both her mother and father have worked at Billy's Seafood for the past fifteen years and if we wanted the best, go there. 'Down Highway 59 then west on County Road 10, all the way to the end' she said. So after lunch we made a bee-line for the place.

Billy's (http://www.billys-seafood.com/), another landmark in the area, is literally at the end of the line as county coad 10 ends at water's edge. There sits Billy's. Not exactly a candidate for the cover of Architectural Digest, but a real working fishing port, with real shrimp boats, nets, guys who actually have to fish everyday to make a living, large trays of iced seafood, and a generous dose of fish smell. Their motto "If it swims, We've got it" is pretty accurate. We found our way inside to be greated by our waitresses mother and tubs of iced shrimp of all sizes, fresh snapper, grouper, flounder, and red fish. Even though we'd just had lunch not too long ago, drooling soon started and , we knew we would need to buy something from this place before we left.

We orignally went there to find out how much it would cost to ship some fresh shrimp north (shipping costs more than the shrimp) but when that idea collapsed, 'what's for dinner' took precedent. At $6.99/lb the huge Royal Reds were our first choice. On sale, these huge shellfish were about 6 inches long and a bright red. We learned that they were a deep ocean critter normally netted in waters greater than 1500 feet. Their meat was 'sweeter' than most shrimp, closer to lobster; or so the person behind the counter said. So we asked for 3/4 of a pound of those and the same amount of the regular 'large' shrimp. Not real sure on how to cook these denizens of the deep, we inquired and learned it would be very easy. Boiling water, toss them in, wait one minute (no more) after the boil returned then get out the bib and cocktail sauce. Or... they said. "let us steam them for you". For $.50/lb, they'd cook them up and all we'd have to do is find the sauce, the bibs and the napkins. "It's a deal" we said and off our little pile of seafood delights went to the steamer. A couple of minutes later our treasure came out all packaged up to take back to camp.

Racing at Nascar speeds, we got home and began the feast. Knowing that we'd bought far too many of the little morsels to eat in one sitting, we thought that the ones left over would be great in the next day's salad. With wild abandon we began popping heads off (not as gross as it sounds) and de-shelling these little jewels. Lathered in melted butter or red cocktail sauce, this was seafood eating at its best. As advertised the Royal Reds were lobster-like. Sweet and meaty, the taste of really fresh seafood is far better than we're use to. As you may have guessed, none were left for the next days salad. Shameful, one might say but oh so good. If we can find time, we'll return to Billy's for another sample and the chance to say thanks for the great seafood experience. Another day livin' and eatin' the dream.

Lost $50 ... Found $500,000

An exciting day to say the least. Linda and John decided to join us for a trip to the Pensacola Greyhound Track for an afternoon of watching those skinny, long legged canines streak around the track. Their reputation as gamblers was well known so we were anxious to gain any little tid-bit of knowledge they might chose to share.

We pulled up to the almost civil war era track and ventured inside. It's such a treat to visit places that are still trying to get into the local historical registry. Having not changed a thing since the war, including the carpet and furniture, it was still a treat to see Jeff Davis' 1st cousin was still working one the paramutel windows. She was such a sweetie. Her attitude matched her beauty. The track itself was purposely kept on a pre-war footing with little or no water being wasted on plant material or fresh paint being used. You might be kind in saying it needed a little fixing up.

The dogs however were perky, especially after depositing one body fluid or another trackside, and ready to race. Sharon and I, though rank amatuers, had learned a thing or two from our track visit in Texas and soon began handicapping the dogs in order to place our bets. Silly notion, as it turns out, as the track savvy B's soon showed us what picking dogs was all about. Their methods, which are far too complicated to pass along here, were uncanningly accurate and, as the afternoon wore on, created a growing fortune. With our egos and bankroll now neutered by these track savvy winter Alabamians, Sharon and I swallowed our $50 loss and headed off to dinner.

Our trusty Garmin Nuvi GPS got us quickly to Pensacola's McQuire's Irish Pub; though via a slightly unorthodox route, we got there just the same. The landmark eatery was already filling up but we went inside anyway and I quickly figured out where I could recoup our $50 racing loss and fill our bank account with at least another $500,000. Stapled, tacked, and nailed to every square inch of every ceiling in every room of the restuarant, were $1 dollar bills. Like an upside down thatched roof, the bills fluttered gently wherever someone walked by. Visually interesting ... but oh so tempting.

I figured if I could ever get someone to look away, I could begin stuffing my pockets with all the Washingtons and any future financial issues would be solved. The signs said there was more than a half of million dollars affixed within the resturant, a local fixture since 1996 and apparently all meant as gestures to assure good luck. Most had names and dates written on them comemorating the previous owners visit. I'd been in a restuarant near Hilton Head that had a similar theme but no way near the extent of McQuires. John and Linda added their fifth donation and we our first.

Since our table wasn't quite ready, we found our way into the bar and the drink wench took our order but noted that it was still happy hour; or buy one get one free. We all agreed that bloody mary's were in order so she wrote it down and within a few minutes returned with our drinks. Working her way through the SRO crowd, she had a large tray filled with our celery stuffed, olive stabbed concoctions and began passing out the drinks; the happy hour 'thing' sunk in as she was handing each of us two drinks. Not quite sharp enough to order just two drinks (two paid for, two free) we each ordered one, but actually getting two. As they advertise ... feasting, imbibing and debauchery is their mantra so when in Rome... well you get the idea so we didn't send the extras back. Starting out the evening, with empty stomachs and two drinks each, the chance of being unruly and loud were high.

Our table became ready and we worked our way through the resturant being seated in a rather small room with only one other small group. We purused the menu and were asked if we were ready for another round of drinks. Gee wizz, we thought. Was it still happy hour? The answer was yes ...so another eight drinks made their way to our table. We all ordered a fish dish and thankfully it arrived quickly as we all needed something to help absorb the booze. Most of the juice had sunk in but some made its way to the bobblehead in each of us and the evening reached its pinnacle with Sharon trying to intice the bagpipe player into divulging exactly what was under that tartan kilt. Obviously not the first time the old piper had this question posed, he quickly moved on after playing a short strain of the funeral fugue in honor of John's recent birthday. As laughter is a universal cure for most of what ails us, the evenings' fun not only sobered us up but also made us all apprecate our good fortune and good friendship even more.
Having way too much fun again and still livin' the dream.

Dauphin Island ...

Today was 'see the sights' day. John and Linda gassed up the Hummer and off we went to the "Estuarium" on Dauphin Island. A small island in Mobile Bay off the coast of Alabama. For those who don't know (we didn't either) what that (estuarium) is ... it's like an aquarium but it showcases mother natures places where fresh and salt water meet. Specifically, Mobile Bay and its Dauphin Island is a perfect example.

Getting to the Island from Gulf Shores requires that we take a ferry. A ferry you say? In the past few days here it was so windy that bath tubs had white caps in them so the thought of bouncing around Mobile Bay gave one a slight pause. Undaunted we got up early (for us) and John and Linda picked us up and we headed to the ferry dock. The bay was pretty calm with good visibility. Visibility good enough to see that the bay was dotted with natural gas drilling platforms everywhere. I thought these were oil rigs but later learned at the estuarium they were not. We arrived at the dock to quickly learn we were the first one there. As the departure time came and went, a closer look at the big sign explained the problem. We had mixed up departure and arrival times. No big deal and the good thing was we were first in line. The sign also said that the ferry held eighteen cars but also excepted people walking, bicycles, and motor homes. After reading that, we figured this must be some big boat but all we could see in the bay in front of us was this little speck of a boat heading for our dock. As it came closer, the ferry really didn't get much bigger but what got our attention was a large motor coach that pulled into the line for the ferry. How was that behemouth going to fit with all the cars already in line? Would the ferry still float? Would it tip over? They lowered the ferry's ramp and motioned us on board. Parked at the bow, we kept looking towards the stern as more and more cars drove on. Thankfully just as the motorhome approach the entrance it turned away. Whew! I thought to myself. Fish food we weren't today. As it turns out the coach was over the length limit of 32 ft and couldn't get on board anyway. So with our little ferry, loaded to the gills, we shoved off to the island. With just a slight chop on the water, we traversed the bay and docked on the barrier island. Dauphin Island can be accessed via a bridge from the mainland near Mobile, but the 30 minute ferry was a much quicker and shorter way for us today.

We checked into the estuarium, paid our $6.00 admission fee and started the tour. Well done to say the least. Lots of huge tanks housing many of the areas aquatic creatures. From snakes to tarpon to octupi, they were all displayed in interesting environs with descriptive signs everywhere. There was even a touchy-feeling exhibit that allow us to touch live horseshow crabs in a big tank. Bawannah John stepped forward to sacrifice his hand without any outword signs of fear. A crowd had gathered and he, like so many men of the sea had before him, reached out to forge a bond between man and animal. An aura formed as the two met. It was almost religious. You should have been there. Afterward the crowd parted, some with tear stained cheeks knowing that what they witnessed was special. We left the estuarium far more appreciative of the complexity of of the areas ecosystems and the efforts being made to maintain them.

Seeing all those fish made us a little hungary, and since the esturaium wasn't cooking up any samples ... we headed for the mainland and some place to chow down. Passing several resturants of dubious quality, we settled on the Captains Table near the battleship USS Alabama dockage. Positioned next to the Alabama, several retired warbirds, a submarine, and a small air museum, it was still a surprise to find the interior walls of the resturant covered with old photograhs of WWII. Planes, air crews, naval vessels ... certainly all eye candy for me. We enjoyed a fine meal then headed over to view the old war machines. It's easy for me to forget that others may not enjoy these aged fighting machines as much as I do but they were pretty patient with me and after about 30 minutes I had my fix and we headed home.

Another fine day of quality friends and extrodinary surroundings. Can it get any better?

We again thank our hosts, John and Linda for their time and hospitality and we're still enjoying another day... livin' the dream.

Gulf Shores.....

The National Weather Service greated us with a Severe Storm and Tornado Warning about 5 minutes after arriving at our site. I'm writing this blog while under the coach... hoping that it will still be there when I open my eyes. However before they were squeezed shut, the park is nice, the site is okay, neighbors friendly and is near beach. Hotels, bars, and shopping as far as the eye can see. Sharon is the perverbial 'happy camper'. From casinos to shopping ... I'm now entertaining job offers. Stay tuned.

Whoops! 30 minutes later and now the weather has really turned sour. A determined knock to our front door and we are told that a real tornado is about 10 minutes away and to take cover at either the park office or one of parks bathhouses. Of course I'm just about to climb into the shower and Sharon has just fixed up her hair and makeup for an evening out, but we heed the warning and follow the rest of our fellow campers to shelter through 40 mph winds and horizontal rain. About 20 of us mull around the park office looking at either the local tv channel or one of the three computers logged into the weather channel. A tornado (actually a water spout) was spotted by the Coast Guard just west of us on Dolphin Island so our collective tension was growing. Luckily nothing other than some straight-line 70 mph gusts were recorded but the whole episode made for an unusual introduction to Gulf Shores. After mother nature calmed down a bit, we returned to the coach and finished getting ready for dinner.

Dinner was really a special one as we were meeting our friends John and Linda from Grand Blanc. Longtime winter guests of this area, it was really good to see someone from home and talk of things in common. They're going to give us a tour of all the hot spots in the area tomorrow so we're both looking forward to that. We also celebrated John's birthday; unfortunately he couldn't join us with a celebratory drink as he forgot his ID; he did however enjoy the balloons and party favors. Anyway... we enjoyed the evening and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Lousiana ...

Just a stop over-night for us near Lafayette, but a rewarding one just the same. Providing some much needed help as I was pulling into my KOA site, our new neighbors Hank and Linda, were what makes travelling so much fun. I never gave much thought to the idea of instant friendship but meeting them was it. After brief introductions it was apparent that we had some common interests (food and wine and travel) but the clincher was a taste of boudin (I think pronouced boo day) they brought out for us to try. Boudin is a cajun inspired sausage that is as unique as sausage gets. Spicey yet mild enough to enjoy. Something I needed to have in our frig. They invited us over for wine and chocolate later in the evening and we soon discovered that Hank knew his wine. A collector of fine wines, he introduced us to a couple of wonderful vinters and their products. Linda provided some far too good chocolate and along with great conversation, made for a great evening. We decided to meet again for breakfast and a trip to Don's Specialty Meats in Scott LA so we could stock up on boudin. We got stocked up with sausage and other cajun spiced meats and said our farwells. We plan to stay in touch and hopfully we'll cross paths again soon.

Mississippi ...

Miles and miles of some of the most beautiful beaches; a sun lovers mecca out our right side window. But looking left, towards land, gave us another vista. A horrific display of the power of Katrina. Though many months have passed since the storm's August 2005 arrival, the loss is immense. These miles of vacation paradise, with stately old mansions every few hundred yards are mostly vacant. Bare foundations, concrete stairways leading nowhere, twisted metal, the destruction is numbing. Sporadic restoration projects are underway to save some of the more prestigous homes. With either big insurance checks or deep pockets funding the work, human resources seem to be limiting some of the progress. My guess is that many trademen who once lived here have not returned, and may never.

As Phoenix rose from the ashes, there are some serious commercial and governmental projects underway that will ultimately be the salvation of this beleagured coast. Roads and bridges are under repair or have been completly replaced and the resort industry has begun its resurrection.
Closer to Biloxi, the frequency of hotel/casino complexes is greater with millions being spent to build or rebuild these economic anchors as quickly as possible. Hard Rock, Grand, Beau Rivage, Silver Slipper are all gearing up for the spring rush within the next few weeks.

We visited the Grand Casino, again making a special effort to help out the bottom line of another upstart casino, and found it on par with most of the big casinos around the country. Since it's all brand new, I guess it should be.

As we travel along we often consider if we would ever return to one of these tour stops in the future. After visiting this area we think a return in 3-5 years would be worthwhile. The infrastructure should be complete and this resort destination should be fully engaged by then. The winter weather is not too hot nor too cold and with the miles of sandy coast, great seafood, great hotels/casinos, and shopping, this area will be a fun get-away.

Just so we don't forget that little problems are a way of rv life... of all things the toilet broke about 3 days ago. Some of you may say that's no big surprise but anyway the little flapper in the bottom of the bowl went spastic and would not stop opening and closing. Outright dangerous for some of us I might say. The electrical driven device had something amiss in it so I called the company out in California and they diagnosed the problem and sent a new part via overnight UPS. Thankfully it arrived and I put it back together successfully. You probably don't really care but having a "wants-to-flush" every 8 seconds is the pits!

Tomorrow is again moving day. On to the Alabama Gulfshores. Weather looks good, the drive is short and we're looking forward to seeing old friends.

Houston...

Thankfully they have replacement underwear at roadside convienence centers along the concrete runways and canyons in the city of Houston. We needed to get a laptop repaired so it required a trip to the city today. White knuckled and hoping to keep between the white lines, we managed to get there and back alive. Whew! One thing quickly became apparent. Our Garmin GPS unit saved our marriage. Lacking this gizmo we would have been at the mercy of my navigator Emilia and we may have ended up somewhere west of Pennsyltucky with me whimpering at the nearest rest stop. Like I said, we did make it and actually had a good time.

We got back to Kemah and decided to take a little tour around the waterfront before dark. Amidst the oil refineries to the north and south, this little oasis with it's own boardwalk, quaint shops, roller coaster and trendy bars turns out to be a neat place.


Next ... Galveston

We got a late start (weather issues) today but since Galveston is only about 20 miles south of here, we decided to see of little of that area. Our short trip took us over many bridges and past enormous oil refinery complexes and oil storage tanks each the size of a Kmart superstore. Just so all you folks around the country think you're getting screwed at the gas pump, I found gas and diesel prices directly across the street from the refineries to be high, if not higher than any place on our trip. Very little transportation costs baked into prices ... I guess just more profit. Oh well ... off my soapbox.

So we get to the Galveston area and somehow end up on a street that ended at the ocean (okay sea). Anyway it was pretty spectacular with the high winds, big surf and something I heard about on the radio but had never seen ... sea fog. And foggy it was. It didn't seem to bother the folks we saw jogging along the sea wall but it was rolling in with the surf accomplied with a salty spray that had a rather fishy aroma to it. Looking at the condos and apartments that were adjacent the shoreline road, I couldn't help but think how ticked off I'd be smelling that for a couple of weeks; and at those prices.

All up and down the shoreline was a large contingent of surfers. Except for our trip to Hawaii, I had not seen as many in one place. They'd appear out of the fog atop the froth and work their way to the beach. With the tide coming in and the high winds, they were getting just what they wanted. I guess they all must have charmed lives as there are no life guards within a 50 miles of this place and as darkness was also approaching, any chance of getting help if they got into trouble was about as good as me winning the lottery.

Before getting away from the shoreline we found a restaurant that Sharon's Dad and Uncle Wes had been to years ago. Gaido's is a sprawling place with linen convered tables all facing out to sea. Looked like a nice place. Sharon went inside to look at the menu but discoved we were still a little early for dinner so we moved on. The sign said they had been there since 1911 so apparently a storied institution in the area.

While poking around the town we could see some pyramid shaped building on the horizon so we thought we'd investigate. As we approached, we stumbled upon an airplane museum that begged me to visit; but was unfortunatly was closed for the day. I will return as I now recall this was a good one to visit. I could tell Sharon was highly excited to.

Anyway we found the pyramid and discovered it was an aquarium adjacent to Moody's hotel/convention center. Quite a place that was also closed for the day. Guess we need to start exploring a little sooner in the day.

As this was 'Fat Tuesday' and the final day of Mardi Gras here in Galveston, we decided to drive around and see what was going on. They had a parade planned with bead tossing, colorful floats, marching and bands and all the other New Orleansesque' stuff. The town has many beautiful old Victorian style homes that I'd like to photograph another day. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating so we decided to finally find another place for dinner. We ended up near the cruise ship docks and found, to our great surprise, a resturant that we just had to go into. Obviously our old friend from Delton has another hobby we didn't know about so he now has some explaining to do. He's sure got the staff trained well as we enjoyed excellant service and ample amounts of salmon and red snapper followed up with creme brule and key lime pie. Since this was the only meal of the day, we splurged a little.

So Galeston has a lot more to offer so before we leave for our next destination, we'll return.

Another day ... 'Livin the dream'

Kemah ...

We arrived at our destination in mid-afternoon after surviving a little taste of Houston's Saturday afternoon traffic. Ugh. Ten lanes of madness but only 6 useable because of construction. Tense is an understatement. I really planned this trip based on my stupid thinking that no one would using the highways then but settled in at their favorite bar awaiting the Superbowl game. Sure was wrong about this as apparently everyone was out buying snacks and beer for the party at home. Anyway we're here. Lot is big...it's almost 80 degrees, the hosts are friendly...and with the exception of the young man across the road who received one of my infamous glares (and for whatever reason it worked) when he decided to pump up the volume on his new rap song, things are good. And ... we're only about a 3 wood from Galveston Bay... cool. Tomorrow we'll start our exploration and will report of that later. Stay tuned..

Victoria...Victoria

Pulled into Dad's RV Park and was greeted by several of the 'locals' who were all very helpful in showing us around. The park owner escorted us to our spacious pull-thru with full hookup including cable, which was a nice touch. A former Michigander from Chelsea who retired from Dana Corp., and also owned a farm. Several years ago he had a chance to buy this park so he sold the farm to get it. Several more folks stopped by and said hello as we were getting set up. They all said we should be staying for a longer time as this place was much cheaper than our last location. Getting down to specifics they said for less than $400/month you get it all. Electric, cable, the whole nine yards. So okay its cheaper but what's going on around here I ask myself. Is there any thing to do? As it turns out not a lot but then again maybe that's okay too.
I did stop a couple of old gents in the park who, by their ample girth, had not missed many trips down the chow line, where a good seafood place was. They directed us to the Bayside Seafood Restaurant. Boy did they get that right. Some of the best calamari, catfish and shrimp I've had in a long time. Well okay.. maybe a week or two. Anyway a good stop along the trail. We even met a guy in the parking lot who was born and raised in Swartz Creek. A native of Victoria now for the past 30 years, it just goes to show what a shrinking world we live in.

On to to gulf coast in the morning...