AHG visit to the USS Alabama

And another trip down to the USS Alabama, this one the second overnighter with the AHG girls.   Our trip down on this Saturday began rather early with a planned trip to the 5 Rivers Delta for a picnic lunch prior to visiting the battleship.   But then when we arrived close in Bay Minette, we received a text that 5 Rivers was closed, which took us on a slight adventure to find a better meal instead of the planned picnic lunch.   Hardees was the original selection, but then I found a BBQ place with decent reviews, and some good pictures of meat.   When we arrived at this location, it was a double-wide trailer that appeared to be in somewhat of a redneck neighborhood.   We were in the parking lot, slightly considering going in, when I read the sign out front that you can see in the picture below..."Local Hookers eat BBQ here".   We decided to try elsewhere for lunch, and ended up meeting up with the Dabbs at Pier House, which also looked like it was about a month from closing up, but did not have any signs regarding the hooker clientele.  I think all were impressed with the food here tho, even tho I was distracted with the Bama/Missouri game going on near the bar.   

After our meal, we made our way just down the road to the Battleship, where we always remember Sam's eyes leaking when we peer over at that monstrous ship.   And thus began our wait till 4PM when they would allow the groups onto the ship.   I had brought the wagon, mainly just for Magan's cot, sleeping pad, 2 pillows and large suitcase with bathroom essentials.   I looked around and verified that many women can fit their overnight stuff into a backpack or duffel, but not my wife.   

They allow the Dads to stay on the ship until 8PM, so I was able to eat some pizza with the girls, kid around with some of the other girls in troop, make our way to the top of the ship for the lookout, and watch the girls have a "swap", where many of them created some fun trinkets, all with safety pins on them to share with others.   Ruby made like 100 of them, and Belle made a little less...but both of them traded with many girls getting a Bobo tea one, a french fry one, and alot of others that I can't remember.   This is apparently a tradition at the AHG summer camp, so since many AHG troops were on this same overnight adventure, they had a "swap" meet.   

Before leaving for the night, I forced the girls to go down into the engine room for a standard picture, then we went off to find the doctors office, which was LOCKED this time, so I could not get in.   And of course, we had to find our way to the cot of Bob Feller.   The girls already know all these spots also, and end up being the guides for the other girls less familiar with the Alabama.   I left the girls for my hotel in Mobile.

The next morning on my return, I heard about Magan's sad story that her sound machine (yep, it was packed also) did not work because of bad cell signal in the ship.   But from the other momma's telling me about Magan snoring, I am pretty sure, she slept ok.   Ruby said that she woke up at 4:30AM thinking it was morning.   And I was sad to hear that they told the girls to be back in bed by 10, with lights out by 11.   I told Belle, these are the times you break the rules and don't listen to adults.   I mean, Com'n...overnight on the battleship requires hide and seek, and requires late night hangouts playing cards at the big table areas in the middle of the ship or on the red tour area.   

Oh well, I know they still had a great time.   My hotel time just including watching football, which I think was the night of the infamous Kirby Smart timeout clap.   If you are reading this way out in the future, come ask Granpappy Padre Junk, and he will tell you about this craziness.   I did pick up some coffee at Waffle House for many of the ladies on the ship.   And after coffee time, we went down and toured the submarine.   I did get a report that the girls had not found all of the previous "Women of Unintegrity" (scantily clad ladies on posters in the sailor exhibits that our PiPas made a game of to find during the last visit to the USS Alabama)...but I think Ms. Rashann found a new one for the collection hidden on a tattoo within one of the displays.   Good Eye!  I also embarrassingly learned that this is a funny game within our troop, but as a male...it is NOT as funny sharing it with a different troop leader, so I will keep that game within the Troop 1720 confines next time.