The Seaside Community off Scenic Highway 30A

February 9, 2010.  It was another windy stormy night.  The weather guessers promised the rain would clear by afternoon.  Wrong!   It continued to be cloudy and drizzle off and on.  

Joyce wanted to finish the laundry she started yesterday.  However, the machine in the park was broke.  So we took off in the car.  I wanted to show her the Watercolor community that I bicycled through on Scenic Hwy. 30A yesterday.


After giving her the nickel tour we continued east into Seaside, another beach community centered around beautiful boutiques and eclectic shops.  I think this post office was moved from another location, because it was certainly out of place nestled between the Airstream trailers below and the beautiful modern buildings.

We walked around a bit paying particular notice to the converted old Airstream trailers that are now food joints.

We came across this painting of an Airstream vendor outside one of the many art shops. You can see the post office to the right of the trailer in the painting.  I guess you can tell, I liked it.

We were drawn down to the beach by the roar of the waves and got there via one of the shop centers to observe the angry surf.

The above pictures were taken literally steps from the Seaside community.  It sure makes me concerned about the devastation that a hurricane would cause if it even came close.


Then I took Joyce to a classy laundromat on Hwy. 98.  What a dump!  However, there weren’t any options.  Afterwards, we did a little more window shopping in Destin to kill off a gloomy wet day.  

Back at home, the wind was really beginning to pick-up.  I packed up the bikes and a few odds-n-ends to prepare to move tomorrow. Temps are expected to be in the 30's by morning with windy conditions.


We will be heading to a small RV park near our daughter and son-in-law in Milton, Fl.  It should be a short trip of only 92 miles.  Length of stay to be determined.

A day of Biking

February 8th, 2010.  A beautiful sunny morning gave way to an overcast afternoon with a high of 62 degrees.

We had extended our stay a few days after getting here and were scheduled to leave tomorrow, Tuesday.  However, rain was forecasted for Tuesday.  So off we went to the ranger station to try and extend for another day.  Joyce came out victorious, we are staying till Wednesday!  Actually, our spot is reserved beginning Thursday.  Apparently there’s some sort of Winnebago rally in the park.  Maggie and Rico waited patiently and were rewarded with treats from the rangers.

We were staying home today and Joyce felt like napping after doing a load of laundry.  So I went for a bike ride on some off-road trails in Grayton Beach State Park that are linked to Point Washington State Forest.  The trail head is actually on the opposite (north) side of Hwy. 30A.

The trail was cut through pine forests and saw palmetto.  It was a generally a wide single track with portions on very sandy fire roads.  Except for the sugar sand and a few mud puddles, it was not a challenging ride. 

This sign post out in the forest was at the intersection of three different trails.  This was one of the best marked trails that I have ridden.  However, I still managed to miss a turn on the way back!

I crossed C.R. 395 and found myself at the start of another trail head, this one outside of Grayton Beach Park but inside Point Washington State Forest.  It was called Longleaf Pine Greenway Trail.  

I did just a few miles on this trail as it was very similar, but very wet.

I got home for a late lunch.  I then went out for another ride east on Hwy 30 A on the paved bike trail.  I traveled to a planned neighborhood called Watercolor.  It’s a beautiful community with it’s own shops, marina, and recreation areas.  It was designed to be very pedestrian and cyclist friendly.  There were beautiful southern style homes lining the cobblestone streets.  However, the community looked somewhat deserted.  Apparently these communities have become more popular as vacation venues.

Later Joyce and I rode to the beach to catch the sunset.

Again I was disappointed as the approaching front out of the west, hid the sun behind the clouds.

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!

Shopping/ Browsing at Destin Commons

February 6th, 2010.  We stepped out to take Maggie and Rico for a morning walk and it was chilly!  Temps in the upper 40’s. It was still overcast and not much promise for a sunny day.

We decided to go visit a Bass Pro Shops we had seen in Destin.  We had only previously visited one Bass Pro Shop and that one was in Spanish Fort, Alabama.  The one in Spanish Fort was like an enclosed coastal woodland exhibit.  Aside from the merchandise, it had two large aquariums and several stuffed animal exhibits.

We arrived at the Bass Pro Shop around 1:00 and we were pleasantly surprised to discover it was part of a host of shops known as Destin Commons.  The shops are aligned in a manner that makes it look like a small town including a narrow two way cobblestone street and roundabout down the center.

This particular Bass Pro Shop paled in comparison to the store in Daphne.  It was really a bit of a disappointment.  However, there was plenty to look at in the shopping complex.

We walked to the Hard Rock Cafe in the Destin Commons complex and had a late lunch.  We shared the nacho appetizer which was plenty for both of us.

We spent the rest of the afternoon browsing through the stores, including one of my favorites, Brookstone.  When we decided it was time to go, it was already approaching 5:00.  We managed to get away with only a small birthday gift for our daughter.  Again, one of the benefits to our full time RV lifestyle is that we don’t need or have room for a lot of superfluous things!  

On the way home we marveled at all the shops in the greater Destin area and determined there are very few if any brand name stores that are not located in at least one of the many large shopping complexes. 

The wind really picked up in the late evening, making it very unpleasant to walk Maggie and Rico.  We soon settled inside for a cold winter night.

A Stormy Night, Angry Surf, Routine Chores around the Campsite

February 5, 2010.  The storm overnight was incredible.  The winds were gusting to 45 mph and the rig was shaking a bit.  These winds were ahead of the rain.  I was concerned about some of the dead pine trees around our site potentially falling in the wind.  By 1:00 a.m. the rain had started and it continued till about 10:00 a.m.  After that the skies cleared and things began to dry off rather quickly.

We got outside late in the morning after the rain had stopped and took Maggie and Rico for walks.  I then collected the satellite dish and stand from where I had laid it down under the rig.  I noticed that the wind had rolled it over.  I set the stand and satellite up and went to get my “satellite finder” gage and turn the receiver on to calibrate a signal.  Surprisingly, I had found the satellite by sheer luck when I stood it up!   So all it took was some fine tuning and anchoring and I was all set!

I rode my bike out to the beach where I could hear the roar of the incoming waves.  I walked out on the boardwalk and saw the crashing waves on the beach.  I didn’t have a camera with me and Joyce was back at the rig.  So I left to go back and get both.

Together we rode our bikes back out to the beach to watch and record the awesome beauty of an angry surf after the passing of a storm.

The red flag not only indicates how strong the wind was blowing but denotes a high hazard warning for beach goers.

Later in the afternoon, we decided to clean the insides or our vehicles.  It had been months since we had vacuumed either one of them.  We use a small 1.5 gallon shop-vac that we purchased from Walmart.  It does a good job.

Maggie and Rico always want to ride in the car or truck.  They rarely if ever get to ride in the car.  But are constantly alert to any activity around the car and especially the truck.  They both wanted to be as close as possible as I was cleaning the truck, just in case they were invited for a ride!

Several new campers moved into the park today.  One across from us landed with a tire going flat.  He put on his spare which was nearly flat, so I hooked up my compressor for him to air it up.  The remainder of the day we spent relaxing at home and taking short walks or bike rides.

U.S.A.F. Armament Museum

February 4, 2010.  The sun was shining brightly through our back window as we got up.  We took Maggie and Rico out for a long walk.  It seemed much warmer this morning.  After our long walk, Joyce and I decided to visit the U. S. Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin A.F.B.  We had passed through the panhandle in October, but had not been able to visit the museum.  So, I was looking forward to visiting today.  

We made a point to take a couple diversions and ride through the campgrounds at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Henderson State Park. First we came across Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.  The park ranger at the gate gave us a pass and a very nice glossy brochure of the park.  We drove through admiring the paved campsites, the pool and all the amenities of an R.V. resort.  However, we couldn’t see paying $42 a night in comparison to the $33 we are paying at Grayton Beach State Park.  There were plenty of campsites available.

Our next stop was Henderson Beach State Park.  The ranger at the gate gave us a scrap paper pass and a black and white sheet of paper with a map of the park.  She told us that in order to get a site at their park, we would need to make a reservation 11 mos. in advance as they are constantly booked.  Their price is the same as Grayton Beach, $33 a night.  Even so, we took a ride through their campground.  It appeared to be very nice but again comparable to the other state parks in the area.  The only apparent difference is the park’s proximity to the busy streets and shops of Destin.

Joyce is a Thai food junkie and when she discovered last night that there was a Thai restaurant in Destin, she insisted that we go there for lunch.  I really don’t care for Thai but, I enjoyed the meal.  

In the early 80‘s, I had been stationed at Eglin A.F.B. and Joyce and I lived in Ft. Walton Beach. Traveling on US 98 through Sandestin, Destin, Fort Walton Beach and the other adjoining small towns we couldn’t help but think about how much the area had grown along with the associated traffic. We could hardly recognize the area along the beaches.  We did however recognize the area where we had an apartment in Ft. Walton Beach.  The apartment building itself had been renovated.

Before long we arrived at the U.S. Air Force Armament Museum.  Admission was free with only a donation box

.  

Some military personnel were gathering inside the museum for a retirement ceremony.  However the museum was still open to the public.  We felt awkward trying to look around with such a momentous personal celebration about to occur around us, so we took a quick look inside before the ceremony got started. 

Joyce struck up a friendly conversation with the clerk in the gift shop.  The clerk, a retired military spouse from England, was very amicable and talkative.  She told us that the museum hosts retirement celebrations frequently. Outside we walked through the many U.S.A.F. planes, helicopters and aviation equipment. 

When I was stationed at Eglin A.F.B., I was assigned to the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing and The Fighting Crows 60th Aircraft Generation Squadron in support of the Fighter Squadron.

This plane would have been the Wing Commander's plane. The tail has the colors of each squadron; black, yellow and red.  It was also assigned to Eglin A.F.B. and the 33rd Tactical Fighter wing.

Looking at the F-15 and hearing the roar of jet engines from the skies around the base sure brought back memories. 

The museum is worth a visit if you are in the area.  However, it pales in comparison to the National Naval Aviation Museum at  Pensacola Naval Station.  We stopped there in October, 2009.  The U.S. Air Force also has a national museum, The National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson A.F.B. in Ohio.  I hope to see that sometime down the road!

On the way home, we stopped at a Super Walmart in Destin for groceries. A storm was expected over night and the winds had really picked up.  Traffic was certainly building as we approached the rush hour.  

After getting home, the winds continued to build.  Our bikes blew over and the satellite dish was jarred loose causing it to loose the satellite.  I went ahead and laid it down on the ground.  So it looks like I’ll get to play with getting it aligned again after the storm!

Bike Ride along 30A and more of the beautiful Beach

February 3, 2010.  We woke to a beautiful sunrise through the back window and temperatures in the high 40’s.  It quickly warmed under the bright sunshine to the lower 60’s.  We got out early to walk Maggie and Rico.

Our new friends stopped by in the morning to say good-bye and ask for suggestions on another state park west of here. We shared our maps and what little information we had on state parks in the panhandle.

Joyce and I decided to take a bike ride outside of the park.  There’s a nice bike trail that parallels highway 30A east and west along the coast.  We headed out of the park and took the trail west.  We came across this  covered steel bridge on the trail.

Joyce took advantage of the Starbucks along the route inside a small upscale shopping plaza.

As we rode further west, we took a detour down a public access to the beach.  Gotta love the beach!  The sound of the waves crashing on the beach was so relaxing, we took a short "power nap". How about that beach house?  There were only two or three people on the beach as far as we could see.

We passed by several restaurants on our ride that may require further investigation!  After about 15 miles, we were back to where we started, at our rig.  We did some cleaning up and gave Maggie and Rico some attention and another walk. 

Later I went to the beach inside Grayton Beach State Park  and took some shots of the waning sunset before the clouds engulfed it. 

A Day at the Beach and a Rookie Battles with the Satellite Dish

February 2, 2010.  We had a small shower early in the morning around 2:00.  Joyce wasn’t sleeping well, so I wasn’t sleeping well!  After falling back to sleep I got up to watch the sunrise out the back window of our rig.  It was cloudy, but still, we hadn’t seen the sunrise for 3 mos.  It was such a wonderful sight to have the sun come streaming in through the back window. Below is a picture taken through our back window.

I got outside early,  temps were in the 50’s and it warmed to 62.  However, in the bright sunshine it felt much warmer.  And let me tell you, I was in the bright sunshine for several hours this morning making my first attempt at setting up our Dish satellite.  I wasn’t having any luck, but I got lots of encouragement from folks passing by.  I had no idea what I was doing and it showed!  Eventually I gave up as I was waisting time and it was too beautiful of a day to waste. 

We took Maggie and Rico for a walk.  Then we got on our bikes and road into the park out to the beach.  Although it was windy and cool, it felt warm on the beach in the sun.

I actually prefer a day like today on the beach rather than during the summers when it’s hot and humid.  We decided we were going to be back to watch the sunset.  You just can’t beat the beautiful beaches in the panhandle of Florida with their hour glass white sand and large sand dunes. 

While on the beach, we ran into a couple we had spoken with last night.  We decided to all go to lunch in Destin.  We got into our car and drove about 12 miles to Destin and ended up at a restaurant, Cheeseburger In Paradise.  The restaurant had a tropical beach theme and was playing...you guessed it, Jimmy Buffet music.  We had a good lunch and enjoyed the company of our new found friends.

When we got back, I took Rico for a walk around our campsite loop.  A couple of men at different campsites asked if I had been successful in setting up the satellite.  When I told them of the difficulty I was having, they each offered to come over and help.  So, before you know it, I was back playing with the satellite dish or watching Ron and Gordy give it a try.  They ultimately were unsuccessful and by the time they gave up, Joyce and I had missed our chance to get out to the beach for the sunset.   Even so, I sure appreciated their help and efforts.  I continued to play with it on my own, and finally got it after making different adjustments.

All in all, it was a full day.   I felt like we were on vacation today.  The bright sunshine was so invigorating!

Travel Day to Grayton Beach State Park

Feb. 1, 2010.  We got up to cloudy skies and temps in the upper 40’s.  This was a travel day, destination Grayton Beach State Park near Destin, Fl.

Ranger Dylan Shoemaker stopped by first thing in the morning at about 7:45.  We said our good-byes and pledged to stay in touch.  I’ve said it before, but Dylan was great to work with/ for.

We got packed and on the road by 10:40 E.S.T.  I had hoped to be on the road by 10:00.  I had difficulty maneuvering my truck into place to hitch up to our Carriage Cameo 35SB3 fifth wheel.  I had to drive off the pad and go back and forth in a small space to get aligned.  However, because of the loose dirt and sand, I lost traction trying to back up onto the pad.  Thankfully, I just put it into 4wd and that quickly solved the traction issue.  So Dylan, sorry about the disheveled soil!

Once we were hitched-up and got underway, it was a slow creep up Godwin Bridge Road as it was full of drainage bumps from the last few rains.  Joyce led the way in her car to make sure we didn't come across anyone on the curvy narrow dirt road.  


A short drive to I-10 and it was smooth sailing.  We made our only rest stop about 150 miles out, west of Tallahasse on I-10.  We stopped for about 1/2 an hour and gave Maggie and Rico a break. Joyce made us lunch and we ate together in my truck. 


While at the rest-stop, I emptied the two five gallon diesel fuel containers that I carry in the bed of the truck into the truck's 36 gallon tank.  I carry the extra fuel as a precaution.  I like to avoid pulling into fuel stations with the whole rig.  I knew I had plenty of fuel to make it, but piece of mind is priceless.  Maggie and Rico ride with me in the truck on a flat elevated platform that fits over the folded back seats of the truck. The platform is high enough that they can look out the windows without effort. They rode patiently and slept most of the way. 

After about 5 hours on the road and 248 miles,  we arrived at Grayton Beach State Park just before 3:00 C.S.T.  We didn’t have a reservation, but that was not a problem.  I had checked Reserve America, the reservation site last night to make sure they had open sites.  We were assigned lot 44 @ $33 a night including tax for 50 amp. and full hook-ups.  We decided to stay at least through Saturday.  The site has an amazing back window view of a marsh.

Our site is covered in small loose grey gravel. It’s in a new loop that was built last summer.  The only negative is that the site has a dramatic slope toward the rear.  It’s so off level that my Big Foot auto leveling system refused at first to try and find level.  On the second try, it tried to find level, but required some manual adjustments.  The front of the rig is very low and the rear is set very high!  In the picture below, The truck is only about a foot in front of the trailer, you can see the front of the trailer is lower than the bed of the truck. 

We checked out the bath house facilities and discovered them to be new and very clean.  We then took Maggie and Rico for a short walk as it began to drizzle.  We called off anymore exploring for the night but will explore tomorrow, weather permitting.