Saturday, March 7 – Sunday, March 8

Traveling just another hour from Biloxi to Mobile, we were absolutely spoiled by the incredible roads. Smooth like butta and wide like the ocean. Loved it. It’s amazing how much traveling the roads of the US reflects our attitudes about the city and state. RVers are a fairly easy-going crowd and even a little “gypsy-esque” when it comes to firm destinations. If another RVer tells them to avoid a place, a route, a park or a city, they tend to heed the warning, make the adjustment to their route. I know we have.

Our stay at Shady Acres Campground was like going back in time. We were greeted by the owner, Charlie Seibert, who has been operating the park since 1952. We paid him in cash and received a carbon copy paper receipt. We also signed in with our name, address, phone number and days of our stay in his composition notebook. Charlie and his wife, Diane, live on the other side of the grove of trees by the water. Massive Oak trees were all about the park. He told us to take care if walking around by the water and dock at night, “them gaters be out”. That was enough for Izzy to hole up in the camper the entire evening. LOL. The boys were not deterred from tossing the football for a while before calling it a night.

Once checked in and set up, we drove about 10 minutes to the USS Alabama and USS Drum. Interesting fact about the USS Alabama courtesy of Papa Bear- when Katrina hit, she found herself at sea again as the hurricane’s storm surge set her afloat. When we arrived at the base, there was a huge lacrosse tourney underway. We were joking around that we likely could have snuck Izzy and Ben in by walking around and asking what teams needed subs. Can you imagine how cool it would be to play with this backdrop? Izzy rang in our arrival to pay our respects to those who served aboard the USS Alabama.

Looking back, it’s been remarkable how much our travels have coincided with the kids’ history lessons. Ben was wrapping up study of the Spanish-American War and the next day we visited the Alamo and the four Missions in San Antonio. Izzy was wrapping up the Industrial Revolution, WWI, the Great Depression and WWII right as we visited the WWII Museum in New Orleans and the USS Alabama and USS Drum in Mobile.

At the USS Alabama, we walked almost the entirety of the ship from bottom to top. We learned about all nine Battlestars obtained by the USS Alabama and watched a video that was a biography of the ship’s successful operations, told by a few of those veterans who served aboard. A few take-aways the kids shared with me include: how the sailors would sway with the boat to ensure their food trays wouldn’t topple, how early technology was applied to leveling the guns with the swell of the ocean, the sway of the ship and the absorption of the recoil from each shot, and that bullets they used were about 5-feet tall. Ben commented that he was impressed by how large the gun powder was for the three turrets. “The ship carries a total of 129 guns; its profile is dominated by three large main turrets with armor 18 inches thick, each carrying three 16-inch 45-caliber guns that could propel a 2,700-pound projectile more than 20 miles with great accuracy“.

Sailors are also the best fed of the military- the effects of the WWII food rationing and victory gardens was front and center on our tour as we looked upon the pantries. The task of feeding 2000+ crewmen three meals a day round the clock was immense- over 50 gallons of coffee was brewed daily and one can only imagine how creative the cooks became when they were at sea longer than their fresh produce would have lasted. We saw massive cans of vegetables and fruit. From the ceilings in the kitchen galley we saw hooks – men would sleep in hammocks while others ate their meals. No space was underutilized.

While we were walking to the USS Drum, we passed through another building that was hosting an army reserve awards ceremony. Lots of kids and activity. It really hits home when you are seeing the past, present and future of our military over and over again. We are just so grateful to each and everyone one of them.

Next stop, Port St. Joe’s, Florida in the lovely Sunshine State. Staying at Presnell’s Bayside Marina & RV Resort for some more beach time!