Jacksonville Sea and Sky Spectacular

October 20, 2012 Stage Coach RV Park, St. Augustine

We are starting to see some real progress on our house. More to come on the house in a later blog. We've been in this campground 5 months excluding the month we spent on the West coast.  I gotta admit that 5 months in the same location sure makes the rig feel small!  This is the longest we've spent sitting in one spot. Our longest volunteer gig was 4 months. We can't wait for the house to be finished. The snow birds are starting to trickle into the campground and the temps have really cooled. We've had the air conditioner off for several days now and it's been much more enjoyable outside.

Saturday, October 20th, we attended The Jacksonville Sea and Sky Spectacular with our daughter, Ashley. The FREE event featured a dynamic over-the-ocean sky show highlighted by the world-famous United States Navy Blue Angels along with other military and civilian flight teams, live entertainment, a street festival featuring static displays of aircraft and military vehicles, simulators, recruitment booths, a kids area and a Meet The Performers Autograph session. 

We have been to air shows in the past but couldn't pass this one up as they are always a good time. This one was unusual for us as it was held on Jacksonville Beach and the spectators were encouraged to watch the show from the beach. Other shows we had seen were either held off a runway or on a military base.

"Fat Albert" passing over the Jacksonville Beach Pier

It seems we got there late so we missed the earlier shows leading up to the headliner, The Blue Angels.

The show started with "Fat Albert" a C-130 transport for the Blue Angels warming up the crowd with some slow and low manuevers.

As soon as "Fat Albert" lumbered off the Blue Angels F-18s made a dramatic entrance from Mayport Naval Station across the bay!

The sky erupted with the sounds of aircraft and jet engines. Each time the jets disappeared the crowd began searching the sky for the elusive number 5 and 6 jets which often performed their own stunts.

This is how our daughter, Ashley enjoyed the show.  Flat on her back on the beach watching the planes pass overhead!

The show was amazing and we really enjoyed watching it. It made us proud of our soldiers and military aviators and the freedoms we enjoy because of their sacrifice.

Afterwards we wondered about the concessions and the tourist district of Jacksonville Beach.

We had taken a shuttle bus from St. Johns and had paid $20 for parking so we didn't have to fight the traffic and crowds getting to and from. It was a fun time and we will likely be back for this annual event.