Day 39 - (11/02) Gautier, MS

Sunday - this was a relaxing day of touring Pascagoula, MS. First we went on an airboat tour of the swamps and saw an alligator ranch. Then we went to the shipyard and saw the USS Makin Island (LHD-8), an aircraft carrier under construction. We finished the day with dinner at Huck's Cove.

The Alligator ranch is where alligators are raised for population growth. Natural survival rate is about 1%. Ranches increase survival to about 98%. An alligator farm is where alligators are raised for business (leather goods and meat). Did you know alligators grow 1 foot per year for the first 6 years, then 1 inch per year? They don't eat if the temperature is below 73 degrees and live for well over 100 years.

Bert was our tour guide. He's a retired tugboat captain who was raised in the swamps since age 5. He works as a volunteer and is devoted to his "gators".

This airboat really flies! Carol loved it when Bert went FAST.

This is the USS Makin Island under construction in the Pascagoula shipyard. The keel was layed 05/22/03. It's scheduled to be deployed at San Diego in late 2009.

Oil rigs under construction.

Huck's Cove - front door. Pretty impressive huh?

Huck's Cove - back door. We ate on the back patio.