21 Dec 2018
Heavy rain last night and strong winds today. We woke up to temps in the low 40F's and our high today was about 50F. It sounds like our rain is gone for a while and Sunday we may see 70F!
After posting the blog last night I did a little research on some upcoming camp sites and got some good news. When I made the majority of our reservations I tried to get reservations at military camp grounds as much as possible. They are typical lower cost plus they are usually inside a secured facility. You have access to resources such as a base/post exchange, commissary, laundry facilities, etc. Some military campgrounds are 'first-come, first-served' so they don't take reservations. So when we get close to those locations we will check with them on availability and take advantage of it if we can. Other military campgrounds that do take reservations did not have any availability for the dates we would be there. And then there were some that did have availability and we are locked into those.
New Orleans Joint Reserve Base was one that did take reservations but were full for our dates when I made the original reservations. Another was the campground on Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Since we are getting close to those I checked in with 877-NAVY-BED, a central booking system for all Navy lodging including their campgrounds, and both now have availability for our dates!
So after checking with the boss this morning, I spent the morning making phone calls, changing reservations, updating our documentation, etc. Bottom line I am very pleased with our changes and I will continue to look ahead as we travel and check on availability as applicable.
After I finished my projects we headed out to Fort Barrancas, located on NAS Pensacola. Fort Barrancas was one of three forts built to protect Pensacola Bay. It was constructed between 1839 and 1844 by slaves. It was built over the ruins of a 1798 Spanish fort. The remaining 1797 water battery was kept and used with the new fort. The fort was used through the Civil War and maintained all the way through 1947 when it was declared surplus.
As forts go, this was is unique and interesting. They have done a great job of preserving it. When you first approach this fort from the north where the parking lot is, you cannot see, by design, it as it is built into a bluff. As you continue to head south towards the fort you still cannot see it. This made it very difficult for troops trying to attack.
The also built an 'advanced redoubt' a half mile north than can also be toured. This is another type of supplementary fortification used to help protect the main fort from a rear attack.
We entered the visitor center and were greeted by a very nice and knowledgeable park service lady. After a short wait we watched a 10 minute movie then headed up a long walkway with no fort in sight except for the flag pole which back in the day likely would not have been there.
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| The 'glacias' gentle earthen slope protected the fort and exposed attackers |
As we reached the top of the overlook, the top the fort came into view as did the white water battery and Pensacola Bay.
Surrounding the fort is a dry moat or ditch. There is a draw bridge that is the pathway into the fort.
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| Dry moat or ditch with draw bridge part way down the moat |
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| A view looking into the fort at the 'sally port' or main fort entrance across the draw bridge |
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| The loopholes in the walls were for rifles to protect the fort. The large loopholes were cannons. If the enemy were to enter the ditch they would literally be slaughtered. |
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| A small 'loophole' where a soldier could shoot from |
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| The original draw bridge raising mechanism |
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| The heavy oak doors protected the sally port and could be closed to further protect the fort. |
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| A view from inside the fort at the 'loopholes' the soldier would shoot from |
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| The 'guard room' inside the fort where a few bunks were located. The main barracks was located elsewhere. |
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| Gun powder storage room |
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| The 'scarp gallery', the underground passageway the connected all sides of the fort. The 'counterscarp', a similar passageway was located on the opposite side of the moat |
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| One of the cannon locations inside the counterscarp. They could pivot them and the back of them would roll on the arched stone area |
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| This is a vent hole where the gunsmoke or cannon smoke could escape. |
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| A view on top of the fort, an area called the 'parade ground'. There were cannon positions positioned all around here. They would shoot over the walls and protect the bay. |
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| The well used for drinking water |
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| A cannon pointing towards the bay |
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| Doreen inside the sally port |
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| Some of the various cannons used. |
After finishing the fort tour, we headed down to the Barrancas National Cemetery. The gravestones were decorated with wreaths for Christmas. It is a massive cemetery and meticulously maintained.
Yesterday after we finished up at the museum we stopped as a funeral processional was turning into the cemetery. Two law enforcement officers stopped and when the hearse passed, rendered a hand salute.
We stopped at a local pub for a beverage and nacho on the way back to the campground since we missed lunch. Chili for supper tonight. Lows to be mid-30's. Arg!
That's it for today. Tomorrow we plan to drive out to the Gulf Island National Seashore, Navarre Beach and Fort Pickins.
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