11/8/2010 EASTERN SHORE MARINA IN MOBILE BAY AND TOURING THE USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP

MONDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED:  0 NM

Oh how nice to be here just a little further south than we have been. The night was not nearly so cold and the day started out glorious. We used the courtesy car to steal away to the local IHOP and the market then waited patiently for Enterprise Rental to ready a car for our use. We did discover this armada of shrimp boats behind the marina office and a little reminder of Vermont in the parking lot. Small world.

SHRIMP BOATS



A LITTLE REMINDER OF VERMONT



By 2:00 we were off to explore the Battleship Memorial Park. We were allowed to troop all over the 1942 USS Alabama Battleship. Under battle conditions she weighed in at over 45, 000 tons and could cruise 16,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. During her WW II career her primary job was to escort convoys of cargo ships and large aircraft carriers through the dangerous waters. She downed 22 enemy planes and earned 9 Battle Stars. We saw everything from the magnificent 16” guns and 50 caliber machine guns to the mail room and mess hall.



BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK

Image via Wikipedia

16" FORWARD GUNS

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS

MAIL ROOM

CRAMPED QUARTERS

MESS HALL

The USS Drum, a Gato Class Submarine built in Portsmouth, NH in 1941, is the oldest United States Submarine left in the world. It was credited with sinking 15 ships during its WWII career.

USS DRUM BELL

DAN ON THE DRUM DECK

GAGES GALORE

Scattered all across the grounds were examples of our leadership in aerospace. The B52 with her immense, droopy wings commanded respect alongside the Coast Guard rescue plane and the super sleek fighters.

B 52 WITH ITS DROOPING WINGS

COAST GUARD RESCUE PLANE

SLEEK AND BLACK AND QUICK

After our afternoon of guns and ships and fighter planes we met Kai and Chayil, previous neighbors of Erin and Dwayne in Kauai, for a great dinner at Felix’s Fish Camp Restaurant. We all enjoyed catching up on the news of their family since they were transferred to Mobile a few years ago. Kai, part of our hardworking US Coast Guards, was able to tell us much about the waters in this area. We said good night with hugs and hopes of visiting again, hopefully back in lovely Hawaii.

JUDY, CHAYIL, KAI AND DAN