...and we had a swell time!

Pensacola is a Navy town.  The evidence is everywhere.  Also evident in this coastal community is that Pensacola is far from being recovered from devastation of Hurricane Ivan which slammed ashore in the fall of 2004.  Even after seven months, the presence of the now infamous blue tarp on roofs is common here and serves of an indicator of what remains in recovery. We noted numbers of unoccupied residential and commercial structures presumably due to habitability issues.  Despite it all, locals seem to be pleasant, upbeat and generally happy.

Our host hotel was the Ramada Bayview which sits high on a western bluff that borders Escambia Bay.  Not high enough apparently since Ivan deposited up to a foot of water in some areas of the ground floor. Not from rising water... from blowing water and water overflowing from a center courtyard.  Even with severe damage to most of the main hotel, they've remained open and operating.  With qualified contractors and materials being at a premium throughout Florida, repairs to the facility continue.

Fortunately, RICH crews historically are not only "Can Do" sailors but "Make Do" as well.  They are also known for bringing their own good time wherever they happen to be. This year is was no exception.  Bravo Zulu to Host Chet Sanders and Hutch Hutchins.

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