Okay, so here it is, Wednesday, June 11th, and I've already been packing for my upcoming trip north for most of a week already. (I've been working on my route and stopping points now for several months!) While the packing has become "old hat" (even though I won't be wearing one), technology continues to change. THIS new blog site is proof of the ages-old military philosophy of, "If it ain't broke, replace it with something new."

So after hours and hours of putzing, experimenting, failing, tweaking, guessing, poking, and generally frustrating the crap out of myself, I finally got this darn blogging software installed and, with any luck, working! If you're reading this, you'll know I cracked a smile when this finally published!

Pensacola, Blue Angels, and Gerri Downs' Beach House

Okay, my Blog has been silent for quite a while. Sorry. But my bloggable trips have been few and far between lately. (I've been riding, just not blogging.)

For this trip, I packed up and headed south on May 27th for a quick overnight trip to the Gulf Coast.

I got off to a late start, despite actually getting up early for a change. I had several errands to run before leaving town, and didn't hit the highway until about Noon. Along the way I stopped to fill up with $4.18/gallon gas. I pulled into my planned campground (Big Lagoon State Park) at about 4 p.m. I pitched the tent and headed off for a little ride around the countryside.

Back in the Upper Midwest, there's a saying, "Knee-High by the Fourth of July." Unlike life around my house, this does not mean "weeds." Back up in Minnesota and Iowa, we're talking about corn. And "knee-high" corn by July 4 usually means a good crop is in the future. Obviously not down near the Gulf. I rode by one corn field where the corn was beautiful.

Tall and healthy -- and was as tall as I stand! Head-High by the end of May? It's amazing to think they'll be able to harvest that crop and plant another in the same year.

May 30, 2008

The campground was cool and quiet all night, and in the morning I headed down the road a short 6 miles to Pensacola Naval Air Station. There, a couple times a week, the Navy's Blue Angels practice their show, and it's open to the public. I was joined there by a small gathering of some 3,000 people. The show was, of course, spectacular. I've posted a few photos in my photo album. Since the Naval Air Museum is also right there, I spend a little time looking at a few of the aircraft available to look at. (I had to qualify it that way because MOST of the aircraft were roped off for some reason, so I could only get close to a few of the old birds.)

As always, my photos are on PicasaWeb - see the link at the top of the right-hand column.

I also experimented with a video from their show. Hopefully if you go to http://www.ray-vitam.com/BlueAngels1.wmv it will launch your Windows Media Player and play for you.

After the Blue Angels practice, I went back and packed up, then headed for Gerri's beach house about 100 miles down the coast. My trusty little GPS routed me down the highway that runs right along the coast. Interesting scenery -- huge apartment buildings, condos, houses, shacks, stores, tourist traps, gas stations, fast food eateries, hotels, resorts, and stop lights. And tourists. Lots and LOTS of tourists. I even caught a glimpse of a beach once!

I found Gerri's place, and spent several VERY relaxing hours with her on the pier. I remember Gerri saying, "This is the life." Twice. No, three times. Wait, maybe it was eight times. Okay, truth is I lost count! And she's right. What a great place, and a great way to live. (If only she didn't have to go back to work next week.) In all, had a GREAT time visiting with her in the sun and cool breeze coming in off the bay.

Fearing that maybe the weather forecasters might be right for a change, I headed home early to beat the rain. (Of course, they were wrong again, and the weather was perfect all the way.) And I'm happy to say that on the way home I was able to pass up a gas station touting the tempting offer of $4.28/gallon gas.

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