Blues Weekend

The weekend following the 4th of July is always reserved here in Pensacola for the Blue Angels. They call it Red White and Blues weekend and we have made it a family tradition to brave the hundreds of thousands on the beach or in the water each year. Even though the kids are scared of the loud noise and the sheer volume of red necks and tramp stamps is staggering, we still wake up super early and head out to get a prime spot.

There is a little nostalgia every time we see Fat Albert pass over, making me think of North Carolina and Rick's time spent flying those low hum emitting planes.

We brought the sunfish and the kids spend the hours waiting for the Blue Angels filling the hull with water and then bailing it out

Rick's friend Kelly and his little boy Billy. He also flies for Southwest and on a random note, actually grew up in Great Falls near McLean and went to my high school, Langley.

There were so many boats tied up, that it was tricky navigating the maze of ropes.

As far as you could see, there were boats

During the high speed fly by Blue Angel #5

Adeline was plugging her ears and hiding under this towel the entire 30 minute air show.

This weekend has to be the biggest weekend all year for Pensacola. They said the parking lot at the beach was filled by 7am and the bridge to get across to the beach was bumper to bumper by 9am. We got out to our spot around 9 and tied up to Kelly's boat. We grilled hot dogs, drank Bushwhackers, swam, tubed, and watch Rick and Kelly have a diving contest off the front of the boat, practically killing themselves contorting their bodies to twist in revolutions before hitting the water. We had a great time and hope the kids aren't too scarred by the experience of the sneak attacks by those solo planes.