Mobile Alabama

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. I began Day 2 of my ongoing retirement road-trip to and from North Texas unlike any other day – via an Interstate highway. My hotel for the first night was right along I-10 just south of Quincy Florida (about 20 miles west of Tallahassee). I got on I-10 westbound for exactly 150 miles (from Exit 181 to 31). I then transferred over to U.S. 90, and I took that (and Alternate U.S. 90) to the other side of the Pensacola area. This was a planned-in-advance transfer from Interstate to U.S. highway. It’s a good thing that I did so, for on this particular morning I-10 was at a near stoppage starting just before that Exit 31 due to an accident ahead. Unfortunately – others got off at that same exit before me, and I encountered a long and slow back-up for several miles along U.S. 90. I suppose that it was just a typical Tuesday morning rush hour headed into Pensacola.

Fun Facts: Over a half-million residents live in the Pensacola metro area (which includes Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties – the two western-most counties in Florida). A very short portion of I-10 is located within the city limits of Pensacola. I get very nervous driving on the wide and suburban portion of I-10 approaching, thru, and leaving the city (including the 2.6-mile bridge over Escambia Bay). The U.S. 90 / Alternate U.S. 90 bypass to the north works out better for me.

Northwest of Pensacola I got back on I-10 for the final 5½ miles of far-western Florida and across the Alabama state line. I stayed on I-10 for 35 miles into Alabama (my birth state).

My first stop on Day 2 was the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. The USS Alabama (BB-60) was beautiful and fun to tour with multiple levels / decks (12). Much of the ship is accessible for viewing; although, you need to be in good physical shape to navigate and climb through many of the tight spaces. (Only the main deck is ADA-accessible.) The stairways / ladders are very steep and narrow. You can easily spend a good 2 to 4 hours navigating the ship (and seeing everything there is to see). I saw much of the ship, but I skipped many of the upper decks.

Upon entry into the Alabama State Park is a large hangar (Medal Of Honor Aircraft Pavilion) that serves as a traditional indoor museum with lots of military aircraft, vehicles, equipment, and memorabilia on display. In addition to the historic 84-year-old battleship you can also enter and tour the (same age) USS Drum (SS-228) submarine. (Both the battleship and the submarine are only accessible via the aircraft pavilion.)

It was a fun couple of hours at this military historical Park. I’m glad that I finally got the opportunity to visit instead of just driving by with a quick glance over at it.

Next #TravelThursday – I’m still in Mobile Alabama to explore more history – not just as a tourist, but also as a fellow docent of a historic house that serves as a museum. Let’s keep traveling together.