Winter Trip 2023 - Fort Pickens Day 6

Today is sunny but high only in the 50s and a stiff breeze.  We were going to bike back to the Fort to catch parts we didn't see the first time.  Unfortunately Gary's front tire is soft and can't get it pumped up, so we drive over.

Part of the historic district.

We check out the visitor center/museum

1 out of 5 Plastic bottles are recycled, plastic bottles and disposable diapers take 450 years to break down!

We walk over to the Fishing Pier

There were Pelicans on the beach.  I was lamenting that I didn't have my good camera and only my phone.

Then we walked out on the Pier

And there were Pelicans milling about.

Then the ones from the beach flew over.

They were not camera shy

This one was especially pretty

As is the water

More historic area

Mine Storage building

On our way back we take a detour to two more batterys.  I had bike here earlier but wanted Gary to see them 

First is Battery 234

The backside. 

Hidden behind these doors soldiers used data to plot a triangle on the table and calculate the distance to the target and relayed it to the gun crews. beneath this vegetated mound offor precision fi

Next is the Battery Cooper

Canon was mounted on a carriage that could be lowered below the battery walls for loading, then raised up over the wall when fired. The recoil from the blast sent the carriages back down to the loading position, thus it disappeared from view to those on enemy ships

Another great day