Morning, everyone.
Back from Destin, a little redder and a a little poorer.
We had a good time although it was really hot and humid. The tropical storm stirred up the rip currents for the first two days and then we got the attack of the jellyfish so didn't get in any snorkeling.
I did get to teach my daughter how to snorkel in the pool. They had so offshore snorkel trips but neither she nor the wife are ready for that yet.
We went to a water park the first day. Stayed about four hours and managed to ride down all the giant pipes. Daughter didn't where any sunscreen because she "always tans and never burns". She is now my Alabama lobster. Went to several overpriced tourist trap restaurants and a few good ones. The girls just about got heat exhaustion spending eight hours at the outdoor outlet mall. I went to Eglin AFB to see the Air Force Armaments Museum. It was really much more than that. with a terrific aircraft exhibit and just about every weapon ever mounted on an an Air Force plane. Very well done and it was free, which was the only thing free in Florida.
Took a sunset cruise on the Gulf the next day and saw a few dolphins and a LOT of condominiums. When that place takes a hit from a big hurricane, it's going to be really bad.
Went to the Gulf Aquarium yesterday before the drive home. It's more a performing animal type place than an aquarium but the girls liked the cute dolphins and such. Had thunderstorms on the way home, which was a welcome relief from the heat.
Stopped in Georgianna, Alabama on our way back. This is the boyhood home of Hank Williams, who was a friend of my wife's late father. Too late to see the museum but I did spy some railroad tracks and black engines I'd never seen before. It's the Three Notch Railroad, one of the Gulf and Ohio shortlines. I have no idea where they came up with that name. It's part of the old Alabama and Florida that ran from the L&N in Georgianna to Port St. Joe in Florida. The CSX (ex L&N) still runs through town and the Three Notch RR interchanges there and then covers 34 miles southeast to Andalusia. The property is in bad shape. There are two GP-38's (ex-SOU) that were repainted into the standard M&O black but they are really in bad shape. There's so much diesel fuel leak from the tanks that they have big absorbent pads underneath the engines. There was another patched out GP-38 that obviously hasn't moved for a long time since the Kudzu has started growing up around it. There were also three UP SD-40's on the property that I guess are being held for rebuilding but are slowly deteriorating. I'll post some pictures in the Prototype section. Looks like Southern shortline railroading at its poverty-stricken worse.
Way too many posts to keep up with but it sounds like things are going reasonably well for everyone. Jeffrey, I have no idea how you can remaster all those DVD's. You must
really like Star Trek.
I guess you guys up north are still getting soaked. We had .35 inches of rain yesterday from a passing storm, which is the first rain we've had this month. Looks like TS Eduardo behaved itself and went off into Texas and gave them some much needed rain. Nothing else happening in our side of the tropics so the drought continues. But, we had a nice vacation, so no complaints. I hope you all have a good day.