Picken Pensacola

Time to depart Orange Beach and head for the land of Oranges.  Another nice morning, if not a little cool and we are off again!  As we thread our way down the ICW you are struck by how many houses, huge homes are crowded along the water front.  Not because it's not beautiful...it certainly is that.  But because it's so exposed to...the Gulf...and storms and hurricanes (oh my!)!!  I've heard it said that the Federal Flood Insurance program is a subsidy the taxpayer gives to these homeowners to rebuild.  It's not free but the cost isn't even close to matching the high risk (which is why it's a government program...no private insurer would touch it).  Still seems like a 'crap shoot' to me.  But again...it's beautiful so I can appreciate the draw.  Guess that's why I'm here!!!

Departing Orange Beach

Sport Fishers - boat of choice in these waters!

We made it!!!  Only a few hundred miles to go!!!

Here comes the welcoming committee!!!!

In front of that Ponce guy.

We stayed at the Palafox Pier Marina which is right at the edge of downtown Pensacola.  The town is pretty and has lots of restaurants and bars (they even have a World of Beer...that was promptly put off limits to me!  I didn't want the World...but maybe a Continent or two!!).  We rented a car and drove out to the eastern end of Santa Rosa Island.  Santa Rosa Island is this huge barrier island that basically protects the main land (from storms & hurricanes) but more importantly is the home of Pensacola Beach!  Oh to be here during Spring Break!!  At the far eastern end is Ft. Pickens.  Built to protect the homeland from the British the only fighting it saw was during the Civil War (the North successfully defended it against the South).  Interesting in this day of missiles and drones back then defending against attack meant protecting ports as they were the only entry points for an offensive army.  Of course to protect our freedom thousands of slaves were used to build these high tech forts.  Maybe not a good trade off?  But if it weren't for those tough decisions we maybe speaking a different language...or maybe the King's English...which is kind of a different language.

Fort Pickens

Our tour guide.

In more modern times Ft. Pickens was modernized with two huge
guns for WWII defenses.

Bet you could fit your head in there Kevin!

Smooth...I think not!

So much for history...time for the beach!  A little windy and cool for Chris and I to walk so we stayed behind and talked to a couple on the pavilion.  Guess where they're from...Bay City, MI!!!

So what to do next!!  Obviously no trip to the beach is complete without a ride on the "Wheel of Excellence"!!!

Bridge we will be going under on the ICW

High end RV park...with no RVs

So this is where we say goodbye to our Zombies.  The heart can't fully describe to the brain in words how much it meant to have them on-board.  Thanks for sharing in our adventure!!  We love you!!!