Snow covered Beaches?, Adventure Shopping.

February 7, 2010.  Another cloudy chilly morning with temps in the upper 40’s at dawn.  We decided to take another ride via Destin on Highway 98 out to Fort Walton Beach and the Sam’s Club.

First stop was the Target in Destin.  In our former lifestyle, we were regular shoppers at Target.  It had been months since we had stepped into a Target Store.  The Target in Destin was certainly a large one, we escaped with some minor purchases.

We followed our GPS directions to the Sam’s Club in Fort Walton Beach.  As we approached the area, the GPS told us to make a right turn into the parking lot, even though we could see that it was actually on the left side of the road.  Another reminder that although helpful, the GPS is not always accurate.  Again in our former lifestyle that involved that four-letter word...WORK.  We were regular Sam’s Club shoppers.

Although it was interesting to walk through the store, it was also a bit refreshing to know that we no longer need the bulk products sold in these types of stores.  Our lifestyle had changed.  We used to shop and buy in bulk to save money and sustain us for a few weeks at a time so that shopping would not interfere with our busy work schedules.  Now, shopping, particularly in new places is more of an adventure and not such a chore anymore.  Today we were looking for a particularly elusive birthday gift.

On the return trip home we parked and walked up on the Okaloosa Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound to take a few pictures.  The sun had broken through the clouds, but it was still hazy.

We also stopped off U.S. Hwy 98 on Okaloosa Island and took some pictures of the shimmering white snow.

Did I say snow, oh...I meant sand!  When I was stationed at Eglin, Joyce and I would frequent this beach and climb on the dunes.  Even after we moved to central Florida, we returned one year and brought with us our then very young daughter Ashley to climb and play on the dunes.  Obviously this was before they fenced them off to protect them.

We made it back home just in time to catch the start of the Superbowl and Carrie Underwood singing the Star Spangled Banner.  We settled in to watch the game.  It was certainly a good/ close game.  Although I’m not a big NFL fan, we were both elated to see the New Orleans Saints win their first Superbowl!