We made it to Dothan, Alabama where we'll spend the final days of 2011.
Details on the area and our latest RV park coming up in the next couple days, but first a quick tour of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. We really wanted to see this museum before leaving southern Alabama so we spent several hours exploring the museum on Tuesday.
My Fella and I agree that it was the highlight of our Gulf Coast adventure. Actually the Gulf Coast Zoo was #1, but this museum was a veryvery close second. I still can't believe there's no admission charge. The sheer volume of displays, exhibits, war planes and history packed into the Naval Aviation Museum is overwhelming.
Here's what we saw:
Below is the NX44VY, the first ever plane to land on a ship, ushering in the era of Navy aviation in 1911.
Pictured below is a Felix the Cat Squadron plane. From wikipedia:
VFA-31 or Strike Fighter Squadron 31 is known as the Tomcatters, callsign "Felix", a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. The Tomcatters are the second oldest Navy Fighter Attack squadron operating today.
Seriously, this hangar was stuffed full of 150 fully restored warplanes, jets and choppers ... and these are only the first half of our pics.
Tomorrow I'll post the rest of the museum tour including shots of the Blue Angels, the U.S.S. Shangri-la and the interior of a WWII Catalina Flying Boat.
Pretty impressive, and like you say... free! Wow!
We went through the Aviation Museum in Tucson and it was pretty good as well, but not free by any means.
Posted by: Croft | December 29, 2011 at 02:40 PM
We absolutely love aircraft museums....cars too....and trains....and pretty well anything that features motors of some type. We'll note this facility on our 'TO DO' list.
Posted by: Rene' & Jeanette | December 29, 2011 at 03:43 PM
Wow! The USA always does things in a big way. The museum looks like a place that I could easily spend a week exploring.
Are you excited to be moving on? I noticed you don't mention the weather, it must be good.
Even with your loss on one of your investments you are still doing well for the kind of year we had, probably better than most investors.
Posted by: Don | December 29, 2011 at 09:05 PM
Mexi-Croft, I think I'm spoiled now for any other aviation museum. It was really quite amazing. Too bad we went on our last day before leaving cause I would've liked to go back and walk thru again... there was so much to see and I know I missed a lot.
Hope Senora Mexi-Croft gets better soon!
Posted by: kelsi | December 31, 2011 at 05:51 AM
Rene & Jeanette,
This is not only best aviation museum I've ever seen, but possibly the best overall museum I've been in.
Can't stop using the word 'overwhelming' to describe it, but that's what it was. Definitely check it out if you're ever in Florida.
I see you're hitting the road today - yaaaaayyyy!
Drive safe!
Posted by: kelsi | December 31, 2011 at 05:56 AM
Mr P - Yup, we were glad to get on the road and head to Dothan. This is a neat area.
Re: my 2011 investments... We did well overall, but between my $32,000 Yellow Media mess and selling Daylight Energy the day before it was bought out and losing ANOTHER $30,000 there, well - that was two full years of living expenses down the drain. Arrrgggh! Makes me wanna bang my head against the wall.
(Which I refuse to do in JohnnyDisco, cause I don't want anything else in here to break!! :)
p.s. the weather is perfect - sunny and 20C during the day and 8C at night
Posted by: kelsi | December 31, 2011 at 06:13 AM