It’s early Sunday morning, and we’re sitting on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Biloxi, Mississippi. What a beautiful day, and a great way to wake up.

Tallahassee

We finished our stay in Florida with two fun stops. First was in the capital city, Tallahassee where Jeff had a meeting with a client.

We found the Tallahassee Auto Museum on the outskirts of the city, and were able to camp for the night on their beautiful grounds.

Inside, we explored the incredible collection of cars, motorcycles, old pianos and even old Vegas slot machines. It was really a fun and interesting museum. Here are some of the exhibits.

Probably the item that fascinated us the most was the Hearse that carried the body of President Abraham Lincoln. How did it wind up in Tallahassee, Florida? According to the museum curator it was a combination of good timing and the right price.

One of Jeff’s clients is the Mason & Hamlin piano company. Founded in 1854, Mason & Hamlin is one of America’s oldest and most respected piano manufacturers. It’s always fun to find a classic Mason & Hamlin on our adventures. We found one in Tallahassee.

Many More Images in the Photo Gallery

Pensacola

Our next stop was Pensacola, and it was wonderful. We stayed in an RV resort on the water in Pensacola Beach. The white sand was beautiful, and we were blessed with perfect weather.

Jeff had lived in Pensacola when he was in first grade – his dad was stationed at the Navy base here. It was fun to drive by the old home and neighborhood.

Then it was off to the Naval Air Station to visit the Naval Aviation Museum.

Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One.  At the museum, they had the Marine One helicopter used by President Nixon.

There were also displays from the space program, including a Lunar Lander and other exhibits.

Not only aircraft was represented at the museum.  We found this beauty tucked away in a World War II display – a 1940’s era Harley.

We got a real treat when we were able to watch a “Winging Ceremony” in progress.

The naval aviator insignia is awarded to aviators of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who have qualified as naval aviators. To qualify for the naval aviator insignia, a service member must complete flight training and be designated a qualified pilot of a military aircraft. The official naval aviator insignia are awarded at a “winging” ceremony. These wings are the metal pins worn on the khaki and dress uniforms.

And with that, we said goodbye to Florida as we head west through Alabama, Mississippi and into Louisiana.