It was sunny although breezy at the beach. Had a quick lunch at The Hangout, a popular seashore bar and grill before taking a leisurely stroll on the white sugar sand beach of Gulf Shores. Lots of college kids playing volley ball, trolling and wishing the temperature was warmer, although all looked to be having a great time.
Took a tour of Buena Vista Coastal RV Resort, described as an oasis with a majestic overlook of the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of promises for a luxurious clubhouse, water park with lazy river, heated indoor pool, and a banquet facility along with 111 beautifully landscaped RV sites, including motorhomes, 5th wheels and Super Cs.
Went to Battleship Memorial Park Mobile, AL and saw the battleship Alabama and the submarine USS Drum, Inside the battleship big band music was playing to put you in the mood of the 1940s. Grandpa Gooch was on a destroyer escort ship and not as big as this battleship with up to 2,500 personnel on board. Usually there were 127 officers and 2,205 enlisted men.
We toured below the decks and the stern of the ship that included crew living spaces, crew galley, bakery, big, barber shop and laundry. In the forward part of the ship we toured the post office, sick bay, engine room, radio room and the Warrant Officer's living space
The main and upper decks included living spaces, main guns, anti-aircraft guns, the ship's bridge, flag plot room and the fire control tower. We learned the word scutlebut came from two words, one meaning gossip and the other meaning water fountain. Another interesting tidbit is that on calmer days on the sea the Chaplain was essentially zip lined to smaller vessels that didn't have their own Chaplain.
The submarine tour was much quicker but the hatches were smaller. Only 7 officers and 65 enlisted men on this underwater ship. The men slept where they worked whether you were the Captain or worked in the torpedo room.
I was wondering of you were blogging. Enjoy the ocean and the seashells.
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