Blue Angels and a bit of the beach

We have visited the Museum at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola at least twice - maybe three times. It is one of the best military museums and we have visited quite a few!  Today was the first practice day for the Blue Angels and since we were close why not - Ben had seen them when they were in Tri Cities once years ago but I had not seen them - well maybe once years ago at the Gray Fair but only faint memories.  We needed to be there well before the 11:30 show time. 

The drive over from Gulf Shores took about 45 minutes.  Crowds attend - did not do justice for what we encountered.  Lines and lines at gates, parking in way way overflow areas, and people - lots of people.  We will not be going into the museum today!  We walked quite a way and then took a golf cart ferry the last maybe 1/2 mile.  I asked the guy driving the golf cart about how many people he thought would be there - he said this time of year 8,000 - 9,000.  In the summer he said maybe twice that!  Lots of great traffic directors - we assumed naval recruits. ID and bag checks several times.  We found a nice spot on a hillside and were soon surrounded with people.  Cute little 18 month old beside us was really loving all the people and later the planes.

This was before it got really crowded!

We got there about 11:00 and the show started right at 11:30 lasting about 45 minutes.  They were well prepared - lots of port-a-potties, traffic directors, caps, shirts, and drinks.  The planes were a delight to watch, such precision in their work. I managed to get a few photos no easy feat since you had to anticipate the speed and direction to get them right.  Ben I think got some video.  Bright blue skies and temps in the 60's made for a perfect day.

Getting back out took longer than getting in since everyone was leaving at once.  We headed back towards Gulf Shore and stopped along the way in Perdito Beach FL for lunch.  We picked the number two restaurant because it was beach side instead of bay side.  We made a great choice - the Crab Trap.  It had outside seating as well as inside - we sat on a covered patio overlooking the gulf.  We chose Peel and Eat Shrimp, Warm Crab Dip with Pita Bread, and Ben finally had his Oysters on the Half Shell.  He has had oysters 2 or 3 times but kept wanting the raw ones....finally did it!  All the food was GREAT!  We are giving them the award for best food of the trip.  After our lunch we walked down to the beach from the parking lot and sat looking out over the smooth water for about half an hour.  Too cold for really getting in the water but needed to get a bit of beach fix before we left! Clear calm water and oh so white fine sand.

Ben at the Crab Trap

Ben's 3 Oysters

Crab Dip

Peel and Eat Shrimp

Pure White Sand and the Gulf of Mexico

Back to our hotel for a short rest and make a few plans for the trip home as we leave tomorrow.  We had a quick supper at the Diner where we had been earlier in the week.  Jane had a hamburger and Ben a waffle and ham....he had really liked the ham earlier in the week and Jane really was not hungry so that was the decider!   The place was really crowded - we did not have to wait but there was a long line when we left about 6:30.  Lines at all the restaurants - glad we are not here in the main season!

Jane wanted to stop in the Rouses Grocery down from our hotel - it is a Gulf Coast family grocery chain.  It was interesting to see all the local crawfish special items.  Crawfish Pies, Huge containers of Crab boil.

This does not do justice - these were larger than the regular salt container

A Mix

Or buy the real thing

Fun day!