Our tour began outside the museum with an up close look at the B-52 Strato-fortress. This one had a position for a tail gunner and the bomb bay doors were open so that the boys could walk under the plane and view the bombs. The boys were so excited. They really are good museum tourists, they generally like you to read all the information that one might ordinarily be comfortable skipping past. B-52s are still around, but this one was configured circa Vietnam.
The day was hot and humid, as a good summer day in the south ought to be. Parts of the interior of the U.S.S. Alabama were air conditioned, but most of the boat was an oven. As a result of the very steep ladders on the ship, the temperatures, and my current condition I only lasted with the boys for about an hour. Their exuberance didn't wane with mine, so I left them with Johan and headed for the creature comforts of the gift shop.
Here are some shots of the boys manning the gun on board the U.S.S. Alabama.
I like this next little photo sequence of the boys because it is fairly typical of what we get when trying to pose them for a photo op. They start standing about 6 inches apart smugly looking in the general direction of the camera. We ask for a nice smile and suggest, "Put your arm around your brother." This results in a cheesy grin and a huge arm grab. The close proximity necessitated by the arm grab lasts for several seconds before quickly dissolving into a silly round of wrestling. The wrestling is usually good natured in a supremely boyish way. Note, these pictures are not staged. Johan had the camera set to very rapidly take one picture after another successively.
Step 1: Indulge your parents with a photo op.
Step 2: Cheesy smile
Step 3: Big grab
Step 4: Bigger grab
Step 4: Bigger grab
Step 5: Launch offensive punch
Step 6: Incoming punch
Step 7: Land the punch... with an overly dramatic response from K who is notably still smiling.
Step 8: More drama--Mission Accomplished!
When the boys were confident that they had seen every inch of the ship with Johan, I rejoined them for the aircraft displays, most of which were (thank goodness) to be found inside an air conditioned hangar. I marvelled at the WWII technology. The U.S.S. Alabama actually launched two airplanes off of its stern. The planes had floats and would land in the water near the boat to be reloaded by an on-board crane. One of these planes was on display in the hangar, however it apparently sustained more damage during Hurricane Katrina than during WWII.
While the boys were thrilled with the opportunity to sit in the gunners' seats on the battleship the star of the show was the static display of the SR-71 Blackbird. We did not know that the Blackbird would be there, but off and on all week the boys had been discussing this plane. It came up when one of them wanted to know what the fastest airplane is, and just last night we were talking about how the plane generates so much friction in the air as a result of its speed that the metal actually expands enough as it flies that gaps are left in the structure of the aircraft such that when the plane is on the ground it leaks gas. When we stepped into the hangar and spotted the SR-71 both boys gasped.
Following Battleship Park it was time for a late lunch. We headed downtown and discovered "A Spot of Tea." A local breakfast/diner that later morphs into a nightclub. They specialize in sweet tea, which is of course a southern treat, but theirs is strawberry sweet tea. Delicious! Because they also serve breakfast all day, K ordered a decadent lunch, Bananas Foster French Toast. With Johan's encouragement, C experienced his first Monte Cristo (a deep fried ham and cheese sandwich on what is essentially two slices of French toast). Johan was disappointed because the Monte Cristoes of his past are served with raspberry jam, C's came with honey mustard. Happily though it was also served with a large side of hash browns covered in (pure joy) cheese and bacon. Johan and I ordered more responsibly, hoping that we might be able to "help" the boys. Unfortunately, our boys can eat...they are way past kids meals now, and most of the time eat more than we do. Today was no exception.
While the boys were thrilled with the opportunity to sit in the gunners' seats on the battleship the star of the show was the static display of the SR-71 Blackbird. We did not know that the Blackbird would be there, but off and on all week the boys had been discussing this plane. It came up when one of them wanted to know what the fastest airplane is, and just last night we were talking about how the plane generates so much friction in the air as a result of its speed that the metal actually expands enough as it flies that gaps are left in the structure of the aircraft such that when the plane is on the ground it leaks gas. When we stepped into the hangar and spotted the SR-71 both boys gasped.
Following Battleship Park it was time for a late lunch. We headed downtown and discovered "A Spot of Tea." A local breakfast/diner that later morphs into a nightclub. They specialize in sweet tea, which is of course a southern treat, but theirs is strawberry sweet tea. Delicious! Because they also serve breakfast all day, K ordered a decadent lunch, Bananas Foster French Toast. With Johan's encouragement, C experienced his first Monte Cristo (a deep fried ham and cheese sandwich on what is essentially two slices of French toast). Johan was disappointed because the Monte Cristoes of his past are served with raspberry jam, C's came with honey mustard. Happily though it was also served with a large side of hash browns covered in (pure joy) cheese and bacon. Johan and I ordered more responsibly, hoping that we might be able to "help" the boys. Unfortunately, our boys can eat...they are way past kids meals now, and most of the time eat more than we do. Today was no exception.
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