Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Blakeley SP 3

 We split our activity today.  I have wanted to tour the USS Alabama for several years.  We have toured two aircraft carriers so a battleship just seemed appropriate.  We see her every time we drive through Mobile on I-10.  It was a great tour, it took be about 3 hours but I saw just about everything there was to see.  Then there was the submarine USS Drum also on site.  Then there were several airplanes on site.  Including a Blackbird!  First one I’ve seen in person.  That’s the super high and super fast spy plane, California to New York in an hour & a half.

While I was doing all that Carlene went for a bike ride here at the park.  But she had a tire problem.

So I bought Carlene some cycle tire tubes and blueberries on the way home.  No, they are not related.

When I got back there were things to do.  Changed the worn tire on the camper, put on the new one I bought a few days ago after the flat.  Hopefully this will prevent the next tire problem.  

Then we went down to the battlefield for a tour of the sites.  We had just gotten started yesterday.  Further down the road was the biggest part of the field.  Fort Blakeley was really just a lot of earthworks outside of the town of Blakeley.  On the Blakeley River.  This was the last defense of Mobile AL.  3500 Confederates tried to hold off 16,000 Union troops.  When the frontal charge took place it only took a half hour.  


USS Alabama



Looking back from the bow

16” guns

Looking toward the bow from the battle bridge

Six 90 pound bags of black powder used for each shot

Four gun set of anti aircraft defense

The Brig, you didn’t get much comfort there


USS Drum


Torpedo ready to go in the tube

Rear torpedo tubes

USS Hunley, the Civil War submarine (repro)

SR 71 Blackbird

USCG display

Retired Marine 1 
Transport for Nixon through GHW Bush

B 25

Blakeley battlefield

Center of the Confederate defense



Blakeley River

Cypres tree



Us on tour

Camp


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