Trip to Pensacola, Florida

The Blue Angels headquarters are at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

We traveled to Pensacola, Florida. It was only a two hour drive from Biloxi. Our trip to the beach was fabulous. This was the first time I'd ever seen the Gulf Of Mexico. Friends from the RV Park told us how white the sand was and how blue the water was. It was just as beautiful as they said.

David and I are considering spending a couple of months somewhere in the panhandle of Florida during the winter of 2010.



During our visit to Pensacola we toured the National Naval Aviation Museum. The tour took 2 1/2 hours. I was so impressed with the number of aircraft that were inside this building. Here a few of the planes used by our Navy during the years.

De'Iberville Mardi Gras Parade

We enjoyed a Saturday afternoon Mardi Gras Parade with friends from Hannibal, Mo., Danny and Linda Hinds. They came to Biloxi and spent the month of February. We had a great time just visiting and doing some site seeing.



The big thing during Mardi Gras is catching as many beads as you can during the parade. The floats aren't as elaborate as the ones in the New Orleans parade. It's kind of crazy at times. I think Linda and I both ended up with around 5 pounds of beads each. Here are just a few of the floats that I photographed.

BAYOU TOUR IN MOSS POINT, MS.

Bayou history trivia: ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: from Louisiana French, from Choctaw bayuk.



November 21, 2008

Dan, Jenny, Mason and Griffen Taylor stopped in Biloxi to visit us on their way to her parents lake house in Paris, Tenn. They wanted to see some Alligators so I called and made reservations to take a tour of a Bayou in Moss point, MS. We were hoping it was going to be on a airboat but it was a johnboat that seated 25. It was really a private tour because it was only the six of us and the guide

The day was very sunny and blustery. In fact it was just down right cold when we traveled along the shaded areas. As we rode along we searched the banks for Alligators sunning themselves. The guide said it was probably too cold for them to be out of the water. He did take us to areas where he had sited Alligators before. The boys were disappointed we didn't see any.

We did come upon several Wild Hogs. As soon as they heard us approach they scattered into the underbrush. If you look closely at the following photo you can see a couple of them. Especially the black and white one.



The guide told us that years ago there were a lot of Cajuns that had stills (an apparatus for distilling alcoholic drinks such as whiskey) hidden in the bayous. As we road along my imagination went into overdrive and I started thinking of how easy it would be to get lost out here. I conjured up images of Bootleggers (rum-runners) escaping the long arm of the law by navigating these water ways. Even thoughts of how many bodies might be buried out here.

He told us that there are still small communities of people that live in the bayous. Even today these backwoods people only come to town when absolutely necessary . He said it is not safe to travel to their communities as they are very territorial.

Enjoy the photos and let your imagination take you back to another time.

NASHVILLE, INDIANA

I took a day trip to Nashville, Indiana October 17, 2008.
Fall colors were just starting to show. This quaint little town is referred to as the Gatlinburg of Indiana. As I strolled along the crowded streets I captured the Fall Celebration that was going on.





We left Camp Allendale on October 21st to start our journey South to Biloxi, Mississippi.

KATRINA MEMORIAL

David and I didn't see this memorial last year while we were in Biloxi. Some friends took us to see it just a few days after we arrived in Oct. I was overwhelmed by it's size. When I stood in front of the granite wall I was able to realize how massive the tidal wave was. Where this Memorial is located is just about a block and a half North of the beach front.

This is what is written just below the sculpture encased in glass of the Memorial.

On Monday, August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina, the worst national disaster in United States history, struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

In February 2006, Roy Anderson Corp partnered with he ABC reality television show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," to build the Hurricane Katrina Memorial on the Biloxi Town Green.

Roy Anderson Corp's construction team, including 130 employees and subcontractors, broke ground on Saturday, February 11, 2006, the hurricane Katrina Memorial was unveiled during a public ceremony just five days later on Wednesday, February 15, 2006.

The granite wall titled "Katrina" with the date Aug 29, 2005 stands at 12 feet tall and symbolizes the height of Hurricane Katrina's powerful tidal surge.



At the base of the granite wall is a sculpture encased in glass. The sculpture is made of personal keepsakes donated by victims of Hurricane Katrina.





This Memorial is a must see if you are ever in the Biloxi area.

Indianapolis Speedway

The day before we left the Indianapolis area Chad drove us around to see some of the sights I wanted to visit during our three months in the area. What can I say, we always wait until the last minute to do things.



Here we are Kissing the Bricks!!!



I got down into this car OK, but trying to get out was a different story.

Years End

Well, I really have fallen down on blogging. I'm going to start entering again in Jan. The high speed Internet service at Majestic Oaks isn't ... high speed.... I have tried to catch up a couple of times but it takes too long to download photos.

When I start it up in Jan. I'll have to do it in the office to get a better hook up. Be patient with me.

David and I spent an uneventful Christmas. We went to the show to see "Four Christmases". It was very funny and I needed a comedy to enjoy the day. This year it seems to be a little harder to be away from family and friends.

David and I want to wish our family and friends a 'Happy New".

Sending blessings to all of you in 2009.

This photo was taken at the Indianapolis Speedway in Sept. 08'. I will be blogging this site seeing trip in Jan. 09' along with a few other road trips David and I took on our way South for the Winter.

Winding up our stay in Indiana.

Our time in Indiana has been good. We had some very special times with our Grandson, Cash. Once in a while we even let Chad and Hannah spend time with us. :-) We will miss all of them. But, we are looking forward to returning to Biloxi.

Nothing much else happening here. Praise the Lord gas prices have started to come down. Be ready for them to go back up on Oct. 21. That's the day we will be filling the motor home up for the trip south. ouch!!!!!

Look for news from Mississippi in the near future.

Thought I'd put a smile on your face with the following photos. We spent some time with the Koeber children. Brenna got a Guinea Pig for her birthday. David and I became Guinea Pigs with the make over the girls did to us. It was so much fun and a real memory maker.


Enjoy!!!!

Camp Allendale

LAKEVIEW LODGE


Greetings from "Camp Allendale".

This is a 180 acre church camp located in the rolling hills of Trafalgar, Indiana. You are probably wondering what on earth are we doing at this church camp!

We are volunteering our many talents. David is enjoying himself visiting with the guys, mowing, visiting with the guys, painting, visiting with the guys,
checking out the air conditioning in the lodges, visiting with the guys. Did I mention that David likes visiting with the guys. :-)

I am relaxing, reading, exploring the grounds, helping in the dinning hall and riding the golf cart we were given to use during our stay here.

David and I were camped at the KOA in Crawfordsville, IN. during June and July. We went to this area to be closer to Chad and his family. In July, Chad was spending a week at Camp Allendale with his youth group. Chad needed help from David setting up the chapel with a sound system, lighting and a smoke machine.

DINING HALL/CHAPEL

While helping Chad, David got re-acquainted with Michael Proctor, the Maintenance Manager. (We have a history with Michael. We went to church with him in Keokuk. He and Chad grew up together).

David approached Michael with the idea of us spending a few weeks volunteering at the camp before we return to Biloxi for the winter. In return for volunteering, our camping is free. Our meals are furnished when ever they have campers on the grounds.

THERE ARE FIVE MINI LODGES

In one of the wooded areas of the grounds there are four tree house dorms. These are really cool.

In another area of the woods they built Fort Allendale. In here there are two Log Lodges.

CEDAR LODGE

We are truly enjoying the peaceful setting here and will miss everyone when we leave in October.

BEACH AND DOCK


Be watching for the photos of David and I getting a beauty make over at the Koeber house.

INDIANA BEACH

Update on our travels.

Back in May I blogged about my dad's heart surgery and our stay in Hannibal, MO. Dad is doing great. He was released from his heart surgeon on June 5th. David and I were able to leave Hannibal on June 6th. YEAH!!!!!!!!! Don't get me wrong. We love our family but the long stay there was not on our agenda. We are still very thankful we were able to stay and help out after his stay in the hospital.



We traveled to Monticello, IN. on the 6th and stayed at Indiana Beach Campground. The name would have you believe there's a beach. NOT!!!! There is a huge amusement park just down the road from the campground. The beach is at the water park there.


One perk for staying at that campground was you received free passes to get into the park. We walked through the park just for something to do. We didn't participate in any of the rides. Just did some people watching, which is always fun.





Some of the photos of are a Dare Devil Ride. People were harnessed together and then rode a tether up to the top of a very high pole. Once they reached the top they were released to swing out over the lake. NO... way would I ever do something like that. But I bet some of my viewers are CRAAAAAZY enough to do it. I'm referring to the Schulte clan. They are the Dare Devil Type.





Catch you up another day and let you know where we went from there.