Good morning from Pensacola, FL. We will move on today to Destin, FL after spending two nights here in Pensacola. It has rained for our two days here, but we were still able to have some fun and see the area.

That being said, our 34-mile trip from Gulf Shores to Pensacola was anything but fun! We knew that the weather was going to be raining and a chance of a storm coming off the Gulf as we moved, but it was not forecasted to be as windy as what we saw.

As we left the winds were 10-15 out of the SW, not any big deal when you are running the canal.

The welcome to Gulf Shores on the canal heading west as we left!

So, the Coast Guard started calling on the VHF just 1 hour into our 3-hour journey! They were warning of a storm moving NE off the gulf with 50+ MPH winds and waterspouts. It was a large storm and covered the Gulf shores of MS, AL, and FL! OK, no canal will help with that! We were directly in the path of this storm. So now it is time to make a decision. Where do we want to ride the storm out? We could find a protected area to anchor, or keep going and control the boat as the storm hit.

We decided to keep going and get into Pensacola Bay where the water was deep and I could drive the boat in an open area as needed. We did hug the barrier islands to our south for protection from wind and waves. As the storm approached, it took a north turn and our decision to keep moving was a lucky one. Most of the storm was to our west and missed us. We did get hit by some winds, but mostly rain.

As we pulled into our marina, Yacht Harbor Marina, in Pensacola, Amy and I were happy to be tied to a dock in a well-protected marina.

So, time to see what Pensacola has to offer. We took an UBER into town for a late lunch and found Jaco’s. What a great restaurant. Even had a couple drinks to calm our nerves from the storm!

We started walking town to see what was around, and walked right into Pensacola’s Christmas Party.

So we did not get a train ride, I didn’t fit!

Standing outside the gate to visit Santa, and everyone wanted him to wave. He wouldn’t even look at us, so I gave a loud whistle, and this picture is what happened next!! Santa does not look happy.

Not our first choice, but they were there!

65 degrees out, but you have to love the bubble snow machine! It was very festive and a lot of fun to walk.

We woke up Saturday after a loud night of storms. Not sure how much rain we had, but the boat is clean.

Perfect place to spend a rainy day, the Naval Aviation Museum here in Pensacola.

We were told to take the free guided tour, and it was great. 2 hours as we walked two large buildings and learn the history of aircraft in the navy.

Amy on the Aircraft Carrier as a plane lands just next to her.

Pensacola is the home for the Blue Angles, so there are a lot of old planes around as well!

It was the perfect day to relax. Museum tour and then back to the boat to watch college football all afternoon. Boy it will be interesting to see who the final 4 are!

We are waiting for the last of the rain to clear, we hope, and then heading to Destin this morning.

Hope you have a great Sunday and more posts to come as we move east toward our Gulf crossing in a week or so!