Panama City Beach to Panacea today. Beauty drive.

Today we are in Panacea Florida, at Panacea RV Park. Travelled here from Pineglen RV park, Panama City Beach yesterday.

We had a good time in Panama City Beach. Beach is beautiful, Weather warm, Shopping close, and the RV park had a nice pool about 40 steps away, which we spent the afternoons in meeting others from all across the country. A man from Czechoslovakia, never did get his name. He immigrated to USA over 30 years ago, and made good money as cabinet maker in USA. He retired at 56 and since has been staying in Czechoslovakia, and just coming here for 2 months in winter and 2 months in fall. Life is good for him, rich there and can afford to live here at this RV Park for the colder times. He seems happy, and bragged about how good the beer is in his Czech country. Said he though Canadian beer was too strong... LOL I say I like it like that, but didn’t brag about it. He was interesting to talk with.

Met another person, Barbra from Maryland who have taken up travel in there trailer as we have. She said that always something taking her back home as reason for not getting to the other side of the country. Her husband we never did see at the pool, he was always busy with something. Barbra had much to introduce us to as she had done many things here and there, and we liked to listen to her stories. She did say to go to Savanna, GA as was a beauty place, many people have told us this so will go. She told us of the keys when she was there and said make sure not too far from Key West, or may not make it in as often as would like to. Key West info was good for us to know, narrow roads, and have a trolley, so maybe park, and take it. We enjoyed trading experiences with her.

Polly not much at going in the salt water, but loves the beach...

Boat stuck on the beach!

The last day we were there we went to the beach, and was a very good day to go as all the droves of people were either gone or making plans to leave that day, so we had lots of room on the beach. Sun was warm, and water was perfect, waves still kept me at bay, as was a heavy waves coming in. I did go in a couple times to cool down, Polly not a salt water baby like me. After we had tanned and got our share back to our RV park for late lunch and another talk in the pool.

Me wrestling another Alligator

Polly just had to try the
 Ice Cream

Polly wants some Lobster

Today we met a couple that had lived here when 

Beach basket/Laundry Buggy

young, and now come back to this RV Park often as they like it. We talked to them for quite awhile, until I got cold enough in the pool I had to get out and warm up. They were real interested in our trip, and plans, and until they went to get up didn’t know he had a back problem. He couldn’t get his flip flops on, his wife had to help. Funny how I forget just how crippling my back can be when injured. He walked very gingerly, and was humped over, he said he had a back surgery scheduled for 2 weeks from now. Good Luck we tell him, I never want to be like that again.

Our new purchase

Bosco Before

Bosco after haircut

Bosco got a hair cut that afternoon, and the woman that was cutting him said will call about 6-7 pm, wow 4 hrs to cut him? OK so we shopped, and then home to pool, and waited for a call. At 7pm I say lets go get him, he has to be ready by now. He was they had wrong number, another learning, make sure they have correct number before we leave him. He look's different than what we are used to, but like all hair cuts, a couple weeks and he will look just fine. We bought a couple lobster that day as I saw them on 2 for $15, and thought can’t get em for that anywhere, so get em. We ate later, but they were sooo good, nice to have such a treat. No picture, just a good dinner.

Trash Burger was good

Easter Sunday Morning we drove into Panama City, which is a separate city from Panama City Beach, and take a look around. This is an older part of the area, and we had a nice drive around and got a bit of the feel of the place. Stopped into Bayou Joe’s for a look. Was on the Massalina Bayou down town, and was over the water, and shallow, like 2-3 feet deep at the most. Fish were there in the shallow water, even with a slight breeze you could see them. We had a different lunch, started off with an appy of green fried tomatoes, and until we tried them didn’t know they were pickled, sure were good. Then on to the Burger, was a Trash Burger, Whats on it? Whatever the cook decides... LOL was good with Spaghetti sauce and cheese on top of the patty and some other stuff as decoration, cookies, and a lolly pop! Polly had the Grouper basket, all fried, and was really good she said. Bosco stayed home today so no worry about him in a hot car. Was a nice relaxed way to check out the town, then too the pool...

Pickled, Green fried Tomatoes, mmm

Panama City streets

We called home that night to talk with the crowd we knew would be at Memeres, and had a talk with DJ, Lynn, Memere, Daniel, and Penny. Was nice to connect with everyone, they were busy having there dinner, but was nice to get a short yak in anyway. Later Polly and I did say to each other, missed the celebration, and all family.

Tuesday after the Easter Weekend and off toward Panacea, a place east of here on our way south. A foggy start today, was burned off by 9am. Was a nice drive, and will remember Mexico Beach next time we are here, was a beautiful beach, and was calm waters here. Would be a nice place to stop and stay next time.

The drive was nice on this highway, 98. Just 2 lanes, and not busy, was what Polly and I like, a good view out the window, and quiet highway.

Foggy start to the day

Casting the net for Mullet

Mullet fish near the dock

Crabs in boxes ready for sale

When we pulled into Panacea the RV Park was first thing we saw, and I missed the entrance, so had to backup a short distance, happens once in awhile. After we got setup, and after a short nap, we took a drive around the town. Like all small towns that had a heyday, this one has now got many closed fish processing plants, and oyster places down too. We stop into the visitor centre, and have a treat talking with Ray, and old guy that volunteers here. He has much experience here, and also the Keys, said he lived in Marathon, and said he liked it, but was priced out as the taxes went up, and he had to sell and move. Glad he did get some of the best times in there when he was younger. Centre had many pictures of people recent, and past from the area fishing, and processing fish, was the work that was done here for generations. Sure is a nice place to visit.

You can see at the one busy store that had everything, that sport fishing is alive and well here though. We go to the dock/boat launch, and meet a couple young guys that are off to catch some Mullet. My first time seeing Mullet, and we had a show of them where they were on the surface as we had been watching the fish for awhile before they showed up to launch. They came over with a net and tried a few casts with it, but only got one small one. They said too deep here, fish can swim away faster than net can go down. Was interesting to watch though, and off they went in there small John boat to get themselves some Mullet.

While we were here saw a white squirrel, Bosco didn’t see this one, was up the tree before he could get a look, first white squirrel we have seen.

Nice place to visit, will stop by again in the future.