After watching the Blue Angels practice at McRee Cove on Tuesday, we made our way to the Palafox Marina near downtown Pensacola. We sailed a bit but switched to motor when we had to head North into the wind. As we approached, the winds continued to pick up and we started seeing white caps, though the waves were not too big. Amazingly, as we turned into the harbor, not only were the waters completely calm behind the breakwater walls, but there was barely a puff of air. We are sheltered by the surrounding buildings I guess.
After some afternoon work and school work, we all took showers, and started some laundry. The marina is really conveniently located in almost the heart of downtown Pensacola, right next to their minor league baseball stadium. We decided to go out to dinner and had a lovely 15 minute walk through the downtown and past a square block of preserved historic buildings. We sat outside and enjoyed tacos and margaritas for taco Tuesday. The weather was perfect!
On Wednesday, we focused on school work and work. The girls and I took a walk to the stadium to check out a playground nearby. We ran some more laundry. And, I spent probably hours trying to brainstorm our itinerary going forward. Ugh. I really hate weather planning because it seems like there no good options and we are just spinning our wheels. I wrote down wind and wave predictions at five different locations from here to Bay St. Louis over the next week; I ran the forecast on Predict Wind using four of their models; I considered the time to motor to and from various locations; I looked into the suitability of various anchorages using our two nautical chart apps - Navionics and Aquamaps - which include descriptions and boater reviews. Still haven't figured out a plan I like.
By the time Jaosn was finished with work it was too late for the afternoon ice cream had planned, so we decided to have an early dinner and then go out. We went to Bubba's Sweet Shop, just a couple blocks a way. They have ice cream, sweets like fudge and chocolate covered marshmallows, and a variety of candies like salt water taffy, jelly beans, Haribo packages, and some we haven't seen before. We were served the biggest single scoops we have ever had! Even Jason could barely finish his--the rest of us had to throw away our leftovers.
On Thursday, I got up early to go grocery shopping. I took an Uber there and back and fortunately did not have to wait too long. After reorganizing the refrigerator and under-setee storage boxes to fit our new provisions, I helped the girls with some school work. Then we took an Uber to the National Aviation Museum at the Naval Air Station right on Pensacola bay. We had lunch at the Cubi Bar Cafe, which is designed as a replica of the Cubi Point Officers’ Club in the Philippines with plaques commemorating different squadron's tours. Next we joined a tour of the museum with a really informative guide who explained how the planes land and take off on the flight deck and the origin of the aviation force in the Navy. He also told us the stories that go along with the extensive collection of navy (and at least one army) plane in the collection, mostly in chronological order. We saw the first plane to have crossed the Atlantic in 1919 (not in a straight shot though) and a replica of the living quarters of an aircraft carrier.
The girls got to sit in the pilot seat of Blue Angels planes. And of course they enjoyed the gift shop.
About 45 minutes before closing I realized my phone was almost dead and power was dropping fast. 20% . . . five minutes later 10% . . . yikes. This was going to be a problem because we needed an Uber to get back to the marina. And the museum is not even close to walking distance from anywhere because its in the middle of the military base. I went to the front desk, the snack bar, the gift shop, but no one had a charger I could use or really any help to offer given my predicament. One staff member rather unhelpfully told me that they close at 4:00 p.m. and they are strict about everyone being out by that time. Another scoffed at my suggestion that perhaps I could use a phone to call a taxi, saying there were not any taxis out here. Fortunately, though, a mom came up to me and said she had a charger in her minivan that I could use if it would help. Yes, please!!! Thank you so much stranger for coming to my aid. I sat in the car with her father-in-law for about 15 minutes until my power crossed the 20% threshold. Phew. We made it back no problem.
I'm afraid I probably spent another hour discussing weather and routing options with Jason before I decided to take a shower and start making dinner!