Fort Pickens in Pensacola FL

[Don (W5IT)]

The thread on Federal Parks reminded me I should post about Fort Pickens opening up the camping area again.

Last time we were here a thing called Ivan was aiming for Pensacola. We pulled out two days before Hurricane Ivan hit. Ivan TORE up the place. (Entire park complex)

Well it finally is re-opened. Still a nice quiet place. Water and electricity only with a nice dump station in each camping area. The bath houses are rather plain like you would expect at such a park.

A bonus is that it is right on the flight path for aircraft leaving Pensacola Naval Air Station. (Home of the Blue Angels) Some may say this is not a positive thing. But to me it is great! You get to see jets going in and out often during the day. Sometimes you get to see the Blue Angels doing practice out over the Gulf.

A negative right now is the oil situation. Yesterday oil started hitting the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico side. The beaches are being cleaned quickly, but no swimming or the like allowed on the Gulf side. A short walk from the campground is the bay/inter-coastal waterway side beach. No oil there with pretty sand and water. Just no waves breaking over on to the beach. (Better in my opinion, no undertow)

For those with air cards that still keep connected while in their campers...... 3G connection on my air card and I-Phone. (AT&T)

[DriVer]

Thanks for the update Don. Nice to see you camping! √ and enjoying yourself.