Day 16 - January 14, 2016 Fort Pickens CG, Admiral Mason Park, Historic Pensacola Village

January 14, 2016

I wasn't sure if I wanted to venture out today because my eye is even worse then yesterday and I didn't know if I should subject other people to having to look  at my ugly eye.

 Anyway I opted to go out and wear sunglasses when I could. Didn't work too well indoors though. 

Our first stop today was at the Admiral Mason Park in Pensacola. There are multiple monuments throughout the park dedicated to our armed forces and the wars and conflicts fought.

There is also a smaller version of the  Washington, DC Vietnam Memorial. We were very touched and emotional when we first saw the memorial in Washington and felt the same way when we saw this one here. 

We found the names of two of our friends that were killed in that conflict and still feel saddened by their deaths so many years ago.

The park is beautiful and a real tribute to our men and women in uniform.

After  touring the park we took a ride to Historic Pensacola Village. 

http://www.historicpensacola.org/

We stopped at the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum to purchase tickets to tour several of the historic homes in the district.
We were surprised to hear that the tickets are good for seven days.

Our first stop was Tivoli High House that had been reconstructed for the bicentennial in 1976. Then we toured the Manual Barrios Cottage(1888)  with its' pyramidal roof common in Pensacola in the  late 1800's. Then it was on to Lavalle House (1805), the Lear/Rocheblave house (1890)  then the Old Christ Church (1832).

Ron didn't get many picture, just a few of the church because the battery in his camera was almost dead. He didn't have a back-up battery - unusual for him!

The church was built in 1832 and is one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Florida. Old Christ Church has served the community as an Episcopal Church, public library and museum. Today is continues to serve West Florida as a special event facility and meeting hall. 

After touring the homes we decided it was time for a very late lunch/early dinner. The area is very quaint and interesting. We decided that if the weather clears on Friday (big storm expected later) we will return and finish checking out the other historic homes. 

We stopped at O'Riley's Irish Pub and had delicious pulled pork sliders with the best barbecue sauce I have ever had. 

By the time we returned to the MH the skies were really getting dark and ominous looking. Ron took Jewel for a walk and I decided to lay down and catch a few winks. I'm still not recovered from the trauma of my fall and was feeling out of sorts. 

I no sooner got comfy when there was a  knock on the door. Hmmm, who could that be. It was a Ranger letting us know that a pretty significant storm was on its' way with seas projected at over 9 feet. And that it was possible that we may have to evacuate because the only access road could be  blocked with water and sand. We are at sea level here so when the sea rises the road is impassable. OK then. What next. She told us the rangers and National Weather Service people were meeting to make a determination and would get back to the campers.

We didn't here anything by 6 pm and noticed that there were quite a few new arrivals so I guess we weren't going to be evacuated. The rain didn't start until quite late and it poured with gusty winds and thunder. It woke me around 2 am with the shaking of the MH.  Ron slept right through. Lucky him.

We have to move to a different site on Friday so will be up early to make the move.  Hopefully it will be a nice day so we can finish our touring of Historic Pensacola Village.