1300-mile trip planned this weekend

[ArmyJoe]

The Army is giving me a 4-day weekend, so I have a 1300-mile trip planned. http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=386&pictureid=11894

Wed Night: Leave Augusta, GA. Sleep at Maxwell AFB, AL.

Thurs: Arrive in New Orleans on Veterans Day to see the WWII Museum and Bourbon Street.

Friday: Head to Pensacola Naval Air Station to see the Naval Avation Museum.

Saturday: Another day at Pensacola NAS to see the Blue Angels.

Sunday: Head back to Augusta, with stops at the EOD Memorial in Eglin AFB and Florida Caverns State Park.

This will add three more states to my visited list. The route is here: http://tinyurl.com/2b4epaj

[pierrelogic]

Nice road trip. Keep the rubber down. :D

[Big Arm]

Take the camera. We like pics here. :2thumbs:
Sounds like a neat trip. Enjoy

[Raptor]

Ride safe, Sir. Enjoy the heck out of your trip, take LOTS of pictures!! And thank you for your service.

[Lone Spyder Ryder]

Ride safe and have a beautiful ride. :2thumbs::clap:

[Yazz]

Went through the Pensacola Naval Avation Museum a couple years back. Awesome place! Could have stayed all day in there.

Glad your getting to Bourbon Street too. Good food, good fun!

You have one great road trip planned.:clap:

[FANG]

Ryde safe and have a great time.

[SpyderAnn01]

If there was a Military History version of Trivial Pursuit I'd definitely want you on my team. Have a great trip and soak up all of that history.

Also, I believe that all Applebee's are giving free meals to Active Duty and Vets on Veterans Day.

[Boriken]

Ryde safe and have a great time.
:agree:& thank you for your service.

[ArmyJoe]

Also, I believe that all Applebee's are giving free meals to Active Duty and Vets on Veterans Day.

Yes, and Golden Corral (http://www.goldencorral.com/military/) is doing their free meal on Monday.

[ArmyJoe]

I left Augusta around 5 PM. Stopped for dinner and fuel in the eastern suburbs of Atlanta. Except for sneezing in my helmet, the ride was uneventful. Before taking off again, I added the liner to my jacket and switched to my winter gloves.

Even that wasn't enough to keep off the chill of 51 degree temperatures, so I stoped at the Alabama Welcome Center as soon as I crossed into the state. I added a long sleeve t-shirt and my rain pants. The security guard there asked if I was scared of hitting a deer at night. I jokingly shushed him and asked if he was trying to jinx me.

I stopped for fuel in Auburn and then finished the 302-mile ride into Montgomery. I checked into Lodging at Maxwell AFB. In the morning I head 312 miles to the WWII Museum in New Orleans.

[Raptor]

I left Augusta around 5 PM. Stopped for dinner and fuel in the eastern suburbs of Atlanta. Except for sneezing in my helmet, the ride was uneventful. Before taking off again, I added the liner to my jacket and switched to my winter gloves.

Even that wasn't enough to keep off the chill of 51 degree temperatures, so I stoped at the Alabama Welcome Center as soon as I crossed into the state. I added a long sleeve t-shirt and my rain pants. The security guard there asked if I was scared of hitting a deer at night. I jokingly shushed him and asked if he was trying to jinx me.

I stopped for fuel in Auburn and then finished the 302-mile ride into Montgomery. I checked into Lodging at Maxwell AFB. In the morning I head 312 miles to the WWII Museum in New Orleans.

Sounds like you are off to a great start, sneeze aside! :D ENJOY SIR!!

[ArmyJoe]

Pictures from the WWII Museum:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12945

A Higgins Boat:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12946

Various vehicles:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12947

C-47:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12948

Dauntless Dive Bomber:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12949

[docdoru]

:2thumbs:

[Yazz]

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing your road trip!:2thumbs:
May you never sneeze in your helmet again...

[ArmyJoe]

I went down to Bourbon Street for dinner.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12950

A place called Acme Oyster House (http://www.acmeoyster.com/) was highly recommended on tripadvisor.com (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60864-d463899-Reviews-Acme_Oyster_Seafood_House-New_Orleans_Louisiana.html) and now I see why. I ordered a half-dozen of the chargrilled oysters and the New Orleans Medley (gumbo, jumbalaya, and red beans and rice with sausage). It was by far the best meal I've had in a long time.

After dinner, I got a to-go drink and walked around the French Quarter.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12951

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=12952

At one point, I passed a party of well-dressed 50-somethings out on a balcony. All of a sudden, this GILF points at me and I barely have time to juggle my beer as she's lobbing this necklace of huge beads right at me. I thanked her for the souvenir and was glad I didn't need to show her anything in return.

Tomorrow, I ride 214 miles to Pensacola and the Naval Aviation Museum.

[Yazz]

Its hard to get beads on Bourbon Street unless there's a parade. Are you SURE you didn't incite the tossing?:joke:

[ArmyJoe]

Arrived in Pensacola. The "improved" DPS has been failing intermittently. Since this is similiar to the problem I had before (http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=226998&postcount=62), I'll check the battery wiring before I take it to the dealer.

[ArmyJoe]

From the Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow at Naval Air Station Pensacola:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/004.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/016.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/018.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/047.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/050.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/068.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/081.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/094.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/103.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/112.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/127.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/150.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/154.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/180.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/182.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/195.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/207.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/222.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/227.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/233.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/259.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/263.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/265.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/266.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/282.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/289.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/294.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/303.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/333.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/von_landstuhl/Airshow/348.jpg

[Big Arm]

:2thumbs: GREAT PICS :2thumbs:

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Barbary]

:2thumbs::clap::bowdown:

[fastfraser]

:2thumbs: Sounds like you had a great trip . Awsome photos or are they post cards ?

[rnet]

Great pics, I sure would like to know what you were using as well.

[ArmyJoe]

Thanks for the compliments on the photos. They're all mine and most are uncropped and only editied for size.

My camera is an Canon EOS 10D (the cheapest pro camera available when it was new) with a 70-300 zoom with auto-focus and image stabilization.

I'm packing to head back to Augusta. I'll be making three stops on the way home: Pensacola Beach for a sample of sand, the EOD Memorial at Eglin Air Force Base, and Florida Caverns State Park, the only above-water cave system in Florida that's open to the public.

[rnet]

Had a feeling it was a Canon. I have been looking at the new 14 mega-pixel EOS that just came out with a couple of lenses, and close to a grand. That's whats holding me back. I still use from time to time my AE-1 when I want to get special pics. I also have an SD800IS that's pretty amazing and convenient.

[ArmyJoe]

Home safe, but cold. Looking forward to a hot shower. Will post final update in a bit.

[ArmyJoe]

I left Pensacola about 8 AM. The skies were overcast, but there was no rain.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13002

I traveled across the barrier island (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+Gregory+St&daddr=30.37432,-86.90303+to:FL-293+S%2FWhite+Point+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FU4Y0AEdKIzN-g%3BFbB5zwEdCvfR-inP-nUmn9iQiDHH0jgmwE8CqQ%3BFY640AEdcGbZ-g&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&sll=30.42973,-86.796112&sspn=0.690336,0.918732&ie=UTF8&ll=30.402491,-86.829071&spn=0.690529,1.441956&z=10), from Pensacola Beach, through Navarre Beach, Fort Walton Beach, and Destin. After a slow, but scenic ride, I got to Eglin AFB, home of the Explosive Ordnance School and Memorial (http://www.eodmemorial.org/). My grandfather was the only EOD member to die on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and his name is on the memorial for those that died in the line of duty.

When I arrived, there was a group of Air Force EOD members there for their annual reunion. It was only then I found out access the memorial is normally closed on the weekends.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13003

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13004

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13005

I went to into the school to use the bathroom and on the way out, I talked to two men that looked military, but were wearing civilian clothes (the EOD school is run by the Navy and they were probably there on a day off to unlock the gate and the building). I asked them if the school was collecting memorabilia from those listed on the memorial. They didn't seem interested until I mentioned my grandfather, the circumstances of his death, and that I had his burial flag, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star. That got their attention and they offered to take it, but I quickly explained that I planned to keep them while I'm alive, but if my kids aren't interested in the family history, I'll donate the items to the school.

From there, I went to Florida Caverns State Park (http://www.floridastateparks.org/floridacaverns/), which they advertise as the only above-water cave system in Florida that's open to the public. The tour was supposed to last 45-60 minutes, but we only had 7 in our group, so we were done in 35 minutes.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13006

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13007

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13008

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=13009

After that, I started the long ride home. Most of it was not Interstate, but I was blessed with fast traffic and no cops. After sunset, the temperature quickly dropped, so I pulled over to get some food and layer-up. At 9:00 PM, the thermometer on the Spyder was reading 50-degrees.

Total distance for the trip was 1545 miles. Addding three more states to my map was a good way to complete the riding season and my geographic bachelorhood before I return to Ohio next week.

Mission complete.

[Lamonster]

Thanks for taking us along on your trip. Those were some great pics. :2thumbs:

[ArmyJoe]

Thanks for taking us along on your trip. Those were some great pics. :2thumbs:

Thanks, Lamont. The travel threads always get a lot of views, but never a lot of comments. For example, the write-up for my first trip (http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14750) took hours per night to do and got 825 views, but only 27 comments (3.2% of the viewers).

I often wonder if it's worth the time to post these trips.

[Lamonster]

Thanks, Lamont. The travel threads always get a lot of views, but never a lot of comments. For example, the write-up for my first trip (http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14750) took hours per night to do and got 825 views, but only 27 comments (3.2% of the viewers).

I often wonder if it's worth the time to post these trips.
I know the feeling.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24123

I say keep posting Bro. :thumbup:

[Al Bragg]

Great photos :firstplace:. Thanks for the trip report.

[JimAlpha]

I was thinking you should retire and start touring and take trips like this so we can read about it. Awesome pictures, some tough shots to get but they came out great! Put a smile on my face! Thanks for sharing. :thumbup:

[Yazz]

I was thinking you should retire and start touring and take trips like this so we can read about it. Awesome pictures, some tough shots to get but they came out great! Put a smile on my face! Thanks for sharing. :thumbup:
:agree::clap:

[Fire Joe]

Thanks, Lamont. The travel threads always get a lot of views, but never a lot of comments. For example, the write-up for my first trip (http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14750) took hours per night to do and got 825 views, but only 27 comments (3.2% of the viewers).

I often wonder if it's worth the time to post these trips.

I for one love reading your trip threads. You take some awesome pics to go along with every detail provided. I thank you for letting us take part in your journeys by making these threads :2thumbs:

I just wish I were half as good as you are with taking pictures:D