Florida part 2- Naval Aviation Museum

Florida is the home of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, also known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation" because this is where it all began back in the early 1900's. Today Navy pilots are still trained here and this is the home turf of the world renown Blue Angels. On base they have one of the worlds largest aviation museums, and best of all- It's FREE! (You know how I feel about free now.)

They boast over 150 beautifully restored aircraft and 4,000 plus artifacts and lots of hands on fun.

A few of the highlights are:

"Marine One" for President John F Kennedy.

The "S-3B Viking" that delivered President George W Bush to the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

And a "Grumman A-6 Intruder", the plane that Joel worked on as an electronic technician in the Navy (as a matter of note; this one is from Joel's old squadron).

They have displays here on everything from WWI to hot air balloons to space capsules.

One of the displays we found was a list of Enlisted Naval Pilots (something they do not have anymore, all pilots are Officers now).

This was of special interest to Joel, because his uncle, Jeff D Woodson, was an enlisted pilot in WWII. His entire squadron, save one man, were all shot down and killed during the Battle of Midway.

Seth decided to try his hand at being a pilot. Maybe he will try out for the Blue Angels someday.

Mom and Dad couldn't let him have all the fun!

A fun day and a place well worth visiting.

The Emerald Coast- Florida part 1

We still had a week before we were due in Texarkana, so we took advantage of the fact that we were so close to the Gulf Coast and decided to stay a week on the Florida Coast just a little east of Pensacola. This was my first time to Florida and the Gulf Coast, and I thought it was great! Mind you it's fall, so the weather was if-fy and ever changing throughout the week.

Once you see the beautiful shore, you have no doubt why they call this area the Emerald Coast. The water was so green and the sandy beaches so white; a world away from what I am used to back home.

While we were here we even did a little beach driving :-)

We finally got a warm day in the low 80's, so we hit the beach! Boy was it windy though.

It made for some great waves for Joel and Seth to play in.

Our beach bum and beach beauty!

The day came to a close and we headed back toward our trusty traveling home, by way of another gorgeous Florida sunset.

Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, TN

RUBY FALLS

After we left the Pigeon Forge area in eastern Tennessee, we headed southwest for Chattanooga. We needed to go in that general direction anyway, but we had seen a pamphlet for a place called Ruby Falls and that cinched our plans. It is an underground waterfall under Lookout Mountain inside a natural cavern that they have enhanced a bit for easier navigation.

It was a half mile in and a half mile out and well worth the walk.

Seth walked it with enthusiasm. Joel is the only one who had any trouble, because he had to watch his head on all the low overhangs.

Love seeing all the formations.

This is a big naturally round room that the falls are in.

(note the water spots on my camera lens)

And finally the falls! It is almost 150 feet tall and a very fun sight to see. They have used some creative lighting throughout the cavern to enhance the experience. The man who discovered the falls named them after his wife, Ruby. What a romantic!

We never did get a chance to see the Chattanooga Choo Choo, but I read up on it- they have taken the old train station and a period train and made the two of them into a hotel and restaurant and shops. You can rent a sleeper car as your hotel room for the night, starting at around $150. I think it sounds pretty cool, but maybe more the kind of thing to do for a special anniversary night if you lived in the area. Who knows- maybe next time!

Tennessee on a whim- oops!

Dollywood or Bust!

Because of the possibility of snow (that didn't amount to a hill of beans), we packed up in just a couple of hours and left Nauvoo a week early. Since we weren't expected in our next destination for another 2 weeks we decided to head for Tennessee where Joel wanted to show me the fall colors on the rolling hills. Well, we got to thinking- why not pick a real destination, something like Dollywood? We didn't know much about it but that never stopped us before! So as we were driving I grabbed the map and quickly rerouted us and off we went. We drove until 2 in the morning, went to church at a little branch sized ward in southern IL then pushed on into the wee hours again in an effort to arrive near Dollywood at a decent hour the next day and get un-hitched and set up in our chosen campground.

Finally, after all that was successfully accomplished, it was Monday afternoon at 4pm and we sat down and got around to looking up details about the park on the internet. What's that? The park is closed tomorrow and they close at 6pm today? And it cost how much?! $104.00 just for the two of us?!

Ok, change of plan... Welcome to the Smoky Mountain National Park!

And it cost how much? Yea it's $FREE !

A note to those of you who have never been to the area: Dollywood is near Pigeon Forge, TN in the southeast part of the state where Dolly Parton grew up. I don't know what it was like back then, but know the road is a 10 mile strip of Outlet stores and tourist attractions. Your eyes don't know where to look next there is so much going on.

And then you get to the entrance of the Smoky's and everything stops and you enter a different world.

It's a beautiful park and we definitely got to enjoy the start of all the fall color.

I've done more than my share of chatting already so now I'll sit back and just let you enjoy the view.

True to their nature (hence the name I'm thinking) by the late afternoon the fog had rolled in to the "Great Smoky Mountains" and it was time to head back home.

Nauvoo Continued (#2)

PHOTO OP'S IN NAUVOO

We had a great time in Nauvoo with Mom and Dad and Janice and Matt.

Here are just a few of the snapshot portraits of our time together.

Seth and Ellie, Sunday morning

Uncle Matt and Seth- first day, on a wagon ride

Joel and Ellie checking out the sights

The whole gang just after Rendezvous

Uncle Matt with Seth running the camera

Seth and Ellie with Grandpa (Elder Dickson) outside the Blacksmith shop

Janice getting cozy with some of the locals (Matt doesn't look too jealous)

Ellie after a long day of slogging around the sights

Seth loving his time with Grandma

Seth and Aunt Janice being real hard drivers while mom does all the work and dad looks on

Grandpa mugging for Seth's camera

Three gorgeous ladies- one great backdrop

Elder and Sister Dickson (Mom and Pop's)

Matt and Janice

Joel, Sherilyn, Seth and Ellie

So much fun and so many memories. I'm so glad that we were able to do this with Janice and Matt. We are so proud of Mom and Dad for their willingness to serve the Lord and for their example to us and all their grandchildren.

For those of you who would like to see a little more of what they are doing in Nauvoo, I would direct you to their blog: lynnandsharondickson.blogspot.com