I'm going over to Pensacola next week and I was wondering if anybody else is going. I know you'll be there Bill and I'll get a hold of you later.

I'm not, but is there some sort of event that makes you think others might be going?

News to me, nothing is on the WFW website, or in the news email today. What's up? Last weekend there was a road race in Mobile, Al. only some of our regular club rides on our calendar, and I don't ride those since I am a hazard, with my PD and balance issues, to a pace line.

The current calendar shows Cheaha Classic, Piedmont, Al, is May 17, but that is a long way away. Is there some other type of event, or gathering, I am not familiar with, George?

Bill

Hi Bill, I never mention anything about any events. I should have said that I guess when I posted. I'm coming over their next week and I'm looking for some places to ride.

I was wondering if there is any MUP, or can I ride out to Fort Pickens. I'll probably stay at the Hampton Inn, right on the beach.

George,
No problems here at all, just couldn't put anything in my feeble brain as to what could be happening here. Duh, its a tourism area, big time, what do I think you would be doing here There are plenty of people that ride the road along the island, and into the National Seashore (both parts.) Weekends can be congested in the main area where your hotel is located, but getting away from that area there is good riding, just be ready for winds coming in from the Gulf, usually from the SE. The only thing like an MUP is the Blackwater River State Park's, R-T-R, trailway, in Milton/Santa Rosa County. Its North of where you will be, easily accessible from US 98, just head north on one of the highways to Milton, that is on Hwy 90.

There are regular rides along the beach road, see the attached West Florida Wheelmen's site, and the Calendar Page. https://wfw-pensacola.com/ I ride alone most of the time, but lots of friends use these rides. The group ride on the Blackwater Trail has no-drop, lower paced groups, if that is your cup of tea. And, lots of faster groups there, and in the other rides they offer. I am not sure what type of riding you like to do so take your choices. Great folks at all the rides.

Have a great time while you are here, if we can grab a cup of coffee that will be neat to do. Send me a PM if you need anything at all.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I lived over there for 3.5 years and the hurricanes chased me out. Ivan went right over my house beside the other 3 that month. When I lived over there I was sailing 3 or 4 times a week, so I didn't see many cyclist. I use to just drive over to Pensacola marina, sail, eat and then head back to Lillian. I liked it there, but I couldn't see myself running around with 4x8 sheets of plywood, when I got to be 80 years old. I've met a lot of people over here from Florida, that basically left for the same reason. I sure did like the blue water.

Anyhow thanks again. I think what threw you off was Blazing Pedals post on the events lol.

Its no problem, George, I had wondered what was bringing you here, when I first read your post. I even queried my wife about the weekend and what might be happening here. This time of year there is something going on most weekends.

We have lived here our entire lives, and 2004-2005 were unusual years for us here. I was working on a project at NAS Whiting Field during this time period, we assisted the Navy squadrons when they stacked aircraft in the hangers we were working on during each of the storms. I rode out two of them in a hospital, as a patient, and have stayed on a base, during one or three of them, in the past.

The plywood is precut and drilled, and stacked in the garage, btw.

Have a great time here, you should know the way to to areas I mentioned, let me know if you need anything while you are here.

Bill

LOL Meeting up with locals would be one thing, but I couldn't figure why an unspecified group would be spontaneously going to Pensacola.

I spent a few months at Pensacola, back in '76. NTTC Correy Station, back when the old runways were still there. Most of it was converted to subdivisions. Saw a few tornadoes, but no hurricanes.

My wife is from Pensacola and we visit there often. Usually we stay at Pensacola Beach, and I get up early and ride each day. Some days I'll ride to Navarre Beach and back, other days I'll ride to Fort Pickens and back. Either way, it's about 30 miles round trip. I try to leave about 6-7 am and the traffic is never bad that early in the day.

BP, I have done many contracts at CID Corry Station (it got changed to Center for Information Dominance a few years back, from the older NTTC) first place I served as a project engineer, 1988. PSC, used to be PJC when you were here, has taken over the area where the south runways were, you can still make them out. The RW, on the now base footprint, got paved over, torn out, or just built over, but you can still make the basic 6 pointed star pattern out.

Its growing fast, The Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army as well as some foreign nations, all have their various computer, cyber warefare training there, as well as the traditional Navy, etc, communications specialist that were here from the beginning, when the Navy stopped its air ops. Electronics Warfare is also based there, and they added a Army Reserve building/compound, too as well as a Navy Security Group Activity compound. security is very tight there, if the man says stop, don't move, you stop and freeze. The sound of a 9mm or an M-4/12 gauge will give you pause as they get pointed at you! The Navy Hospital takes up a lot of the South side of the perimeter and Navy Exchange/Commissary Pensacola Region is tight behind the hospital building.

You should come down if you ever get the chance, they have a Cryptology Museum that with the visits can be arranged for, usually past CT/EW and other spook ratings are the visitors. I wish I could tour it, lots of CT rated friends have told me some nonclassified stories over the years. Let me know if you ever get down this way again.

Bill