2018 March Rialta Rally, Gulf Shores, AL

  Rialta 2018 Rally, Gulf Shores, AL

After Tanya returned to Maryland, I continue the route to join the Rialta Rally in Gulf Shores, AL. A few stops on the way and the Rally begins!

 

Air Force Armament Museum

100 Museum Dr, Eglin Air Force Base, 850-651-1808

Open 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mon-Sat, Closed Federal Holidays

The only facility in the U.S. dedicated to the display of air force armament is located near Eglin Air Force Base's main gate in Ft. Walton Beach. Outside,
you'll discover an impressive collection of 25 reconnaissance, fighter and bomber planes, including the fastest plane ever built – the SR-71 Blackbird Spy
Plane. Inside, you'll find more than 1,500 artifacts from World War I to today, including interactive displays such as a fighter cockpit simulator. Free
admission.

Visit Website

 

National Naval Aviation Museum - Pensacola, Florida

The National Museum of Naval Aviation is located at 1750 Radford Blvd., on board Naval Air Station, Pensacola. Hours are 9 -5 daily and there is no charge to visit. The prices to see the IMAX films begin at $8.50 and simulator prices range from $5 to $20.

 

To reach the museum from Interstate 10 at Pensacola, take Exit 7 (Pine Forest Road, 297). Head south about 1.5 miles to Blue Angel Parkway. Turn right and drive about 12 miles to the west gate of NAS Pensacola. Museum is three miles ahead on left. Adult visitors must present a valid photo ID at the gates of the naval air station.

 

On the way to the Rialta rally I was fortunate enough to be able to stop at the Naval National aircraft museum in Pensacola, FL. There tour guide told us interesting facts about the individuals who piloted some of these planes. A must see if your in the area. Try to schedule when the Blue Angels
are practicing. There day I was there the weather stopped the air show. Maybe next time I'm nearby.

Looking at the remote for the camera makes you think im confused???

Checked in to campground and loved seeing several other Rialtas! Later many more arrived and it is fun to talk and tour the other RV and see what upgrades the have done. Have many ideas of what to do for my own RV.

First night happy hour was at 5pm for most people arrive late and set up, brief introductions and rough itinerary of time e meet as a group. 7:30am Continental breakfast and coffee, 5 pm happy hour. Made plans for pizza night and a restaurant night as agrou p.

Meeting each morning and night you really begin to develop friendships. I met several people who either already kayak or are interested in it and wanted to check out the kayaks.

 

The guru of Rialta Duane freely offers advice on all topics so we all learn how to maintain our RV. Duane is a very smart individual and a pleasure to talk to.

 

Friday Rachel and I ran all over town trying to find a part I needed, by the time we returned I had nothing at all and Rachel had 7 bags of items she picked up ??

 

Saturday we went for lunch at Florabama, what a cool place. Old building with multiple add on buildings. 4 different levels reached different ways. Larry, Pat, Rachel and I had a good time just walking through the place. Lunch was good, a very light coating on the shrimp you get good flavor of the shrimp with a light herb.

 

Left to right - Tom, Rachel, Pat, Larry

Rachel and Pat

Bar room had many bra's and other items strung on a line. Makes you wonder what kind of parties they had? Pat Rose loved this

I liked these steps with all kinds of sayings on them.

 

Wrapped Rialta, owner designed and had their own picture holding an owl.

 

Daily excursion's often for parts and then time around the RV park is a lot of fun and sharing
with others or learning from others the peculiarities of Rialta's is so much fun.

 

I have learned allot and have had success on several small projects for the Rialta.

Dash ventilation, I was showed a shortcut for the major dampers and replacing the
felt that has deteriorated. I now receive much better airflow and will not be
bothered by cold air coming in (winter) which will increase the warmth
considerably. This applies for summer heat as well.

 

Installed a 12v fan for the refrigerator condenser to help it operate more efficiently
during hot weather. Of course, right now it has been unseasonably cool so this
test will have to wait for later in the year.

Helped others with 12 issues - glad I brought my meter along.

 

Sunday night was pizza night, Monday is Lambert's café in Foley, AL. Should be a lot of fun with this group.

We carpooled in Rialta's and cars to Lamberts.

 

Left to right is Tom, Pat, Jim Moore, Madeline

Rachel, Katherine, Earl, Joan

 

Duane, Judy, Sarah, Joy, Muriel, Dave

Faye, Gene, Margaret, Jim

Gail, Bob, Amye, Joe, Myra, John, Jan

J.R., Jane, Allen, Michelle

Lamberts Cafe is known for it "Thrown Rolls" what I expected is not what happens - I expected the restaurant that I heard about who insult the customers and throws food at them. Not at all, the one waiter who carried fresh hot bread rolls would lightly toss you a roll while standing right next to your table, nothing insulting about it.

As you can see with 42 Rialta RV's in attendance at the rally, the majority did go to the restaurant and had a good time.

Back at the campground, the campground was not able to set us up all together here is the largest grouping of Rialta's. On the far right behind the 5th wheel, you can see the nose of my Rialta.

There were 42 rigs attending the rally, from Midwest through east coast.

2018 March Emerald Coast FL

  Emerald Coast, FL March 2018

Starting our trip from Charleston SC, there is always things to see in Charleston!

 

Day 1 Friday – Friday - Charleston, SC

Tanya and I tour downtown Charleston, SC doing it as a driving your for it is raining and cool. Could not find parking at the visitor center for the surface lot is full and the RV cannot for in the parking garage.

Not too many pictures this stop but did try out the selfie stick.

 

 

A good drive seeing the many historic homes South of Broad Street where the higher cost homes are. Rainbow Row, cobblestone streets, backyard gardens actually could see a little better with the added height of the RV.

 

On the harbor break wall while looking at the plaque shopping Fort Sumpter, Fort Johnson, Fort Moultrie Tanya sees a large grey ship which is the USS Yorktown and exclaimed "I want to go there" so we drive around to Mount Pleasant and Patriots Point.

We walk into the pier and see how big the aircraft carrier is. Discussing how we only have a little time before we go meet my son Doug and his family, we decide that touring the Yorktown will have to wait for another time.

While in the parking lot we thought that it was time for lunch. My mind was thinking of what restaurant were nearby and Tanya suggested to eat in the RV. How exciting, I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to relax in our own home and have lunch! Thanks, Tanya, for reminding me of the joys of RVing!

The drive to Summerville and much more traffic than expected forgot that it was Good Friday, and everyone would get off work early. Go by the property I have for sale and Tanya gets to see what she has only heard about before. I noticed the construction going on nearby has increased considerably since I had seen it last.

Meeting my son and his family for dinner, catching up sometimes means measuring how tall my grandsons have grown! They have both exceeded my son's height! Discussions ranged over many topics and even a good bit about differences of opinion in how Trump is doing. Even so it is good to have some time together, if we didn’t have a long way to go, I would have stayed longer.

 

Itinerary while Tanya is available to join me.

https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=c18203aa-a3b8-4444-b5df-b100e1097cb9&cp=31.463544~-85.351963&lvl=7&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027

 

 

Day 2 Saturday

This first leg of the trip there was a lot of miles to cover to get into the area we wanted to explore. Starting out a little later than we had thought we decided to skip Jekyll Island for it is close to my son's home and can be seen on later trips.

 

DAY 3 Sunday

Boondocking in a parking lot in Tallahassee was quiet and not crowded, the sunrise was excellent and an early start the next morning. Stopping at an oil change place we tried a different oil to see if there would be a difference in oil pressure when at idle. It seemed to work until the engine got up to full temperature and then once again dropped below expectations. Running out of ideas for this hopefully someone at the RV Rally will have some ideas.

Very good display, this is Easter Sunday and we had not even realized it, the Aquarium was open! Very few people were here, and it was rather nice not to fight crowds. Designed more as a children's aquarium that allows you to touch and handle many of the displays is cool shallow low tanks held all kinds of shallow water sea animals. Talk about up close and personal!

 Visit to Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory in Panacea, FL

http://www.gulfspecimen.org/education/

 

Don't try to pet the turtle, you could lose a finger!

What a great place for adults!

 

Seems everything is closed, we drive the beach towns, walk the beaches, find a military campground on Tyndall AFB and call it a night.

 

We had planned to kayak today before Tanya has to return to the cold, cold north. The fog was pretty heavy, and we opted out of kayaking. Breakfast was rather interesting. On the menu was Hash with garden vegetables, thinking it was corned beef hash we ask the waitress and learn it is potato hash browns covered with garden vegetables and cheese. Very good, going to try this at home sometime.

 

Driving a few more beach towns and then the St Andrews State Park to walk on the beach. Spent the whole day here and enjoyed it immensely. Watched dolphins herding baitfish and then having a feast, swam in the sea, walked miles on the beach and also the nature trail. Met another couple in a class B RV and shared thought on each other's rig.

 Picture missing?

 

Tough to say goodbye after sharing a road trip together, later Tanya will have more time off and will be joining me again. 

686 miles 15 hours' Drive time.