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.

Blue Angeles perform today, plus a surprise.

Today we saw the Blue Angels and the French Version of this the Patrouille Acrobatique de France fly there performances from Fort Pickens, as the airport runway is just across the water, and we had a fantastic view.

We had never been to Fort Pickens so decided to go today before the Blue Angeles practice, which we knew was at 11:30am. We brought Bosco thinking he may be able to walk around this area some, but first thing we see is “No Dog’s” at the entrance. We went into the visitors entrance, and asked for a tour map, and were told the French Version of the Blue Angeles were to perform with the Blue Angeles today at 10:00am, it was 9:30, so I took Bosco back and got some chairs. Polly found a high spot by the huge cannon at the fort to watch the French pilots perform, and we had a good view with many others, the French with coloured smoke from their Jets. Blue, White and Red was streaked all around the sky, sure looked beautiful, and they were fast. Performance lasted about 45 mins, then as we were farther from the performance that we wanted, went to the wall on the edge of the ocean between the island and mainland to watch the Blue Angeles.

Both were fantastic performances, just the Blue Angeles were louder, and seemed faster as we were closer to there performance. The French had colour, which did make it more beautiful.

I got some beauty pics, was hard to keep them in focus when close as moving at extreme speed. Was fun sitting in our chairs on a wall about 5 feet high and 5 feet wide, above the ground, with the ocean and the beach in front of us, and the mainland across the water. Nice way to start or day here in Florida.

Smoke on the runway as they take off

After the performance we went home, 5 mins away, lunch and a snooze was on my docket. Then later in the afternoon we went to the neighbours across the rd. for a visit. Funny how what starts out as a short visit turns into a little longer, 7pm we get back in and say, wow dinner now, that went by fast. We now know another couple, Al grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Robbie from Catskill mountains, New York. Much to talk about, where we were going to, and where they had been, and how they decided to full time it, and when. Was an interesting evening, and we got along well. They have a dog Fred, and he liked Bosco, just a little too much, so Bosco and him were separated, but happy.

That night when we went for a walk after dinner, we saw the full moon, and I got a few good pick, while Polly held Bosco, was a beauty night. We hear birds here all the time, and to learn who is who, I get info from others we meet on our walks. Another couple we meet tell us the bird we hear is a Whippoorwill. Sounds good, till I realize they whooo wahoo all night, even when I wanna sleep, and can’t... WaaHoooo.... Not so beautiful at 3am, over and over again, LOL

Wednesday we go back to Fort Pickens and do the walking tour on our own, going from the front entrance all the way around and reading about the history of when it was built, and who built it. Slaves built it in five years 1829-1834 with supervision of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Link here for more info, sure was an interesting look around, especially to see that Geronimo was imprisoned here for 2 years with 15 of his men and family's.

In the distance you can see the Gulf Shores we left last week

As we make our way to the big cannon I ask another couple to take our picture, and after we start talking about cameras as she wants to get a good one, and after I give her my best info, we all talk for gee so long, and keep talking about future plans as he is about 3 years away form his retirement. I find out again Medical is the restriction, as huge expense here if you are under 65, a change that came to being a few years ago. They were from Oklahoma, Never met anyone from Oklahoma before I say, and we talk some more. Sure is fun meeting new people, and travelling with there information to where they say we should see.

We make our way back home, quick lunch, and off to the beach for a little swim, and some sun for our white body's. The neighbours are on there way too, and we join up and yak some more, and they had a new to us umbrella they let us use, with a screw in bottom stake that holds in the sand good. Gotta get one. As we talk the Blue Angeles go by, and one french Jet as well, practice together over the ocean? They head out to see, and we don’t see them for another 2 hrs.

I go for a swim in the rough waters, nice

Water is rough again, but went in anyway, and did a couple cool down, and got our share of sun, good for a few days now.

The sky’s start to darken and Al says time to go as the thunder rolls in the east, and we have to go. Bosco was happy to see us as per usual, but not too jumpy this time, may be getting used to being left behind.

The other neighbours across the road come home from fishing, and Polly asks “Catch any?” Yes they say, so I go over for a look, and yep 2 beauty Pompano were revealed. The woman Petra asks if we want one for supper, shocked I sputter for about a second, and Yes I say, and wow we get fresh fish for dinner. Hmmm, never been more surprised for awhile. Gee every where we go people so friendly, and generous. I went and watched as Diemar cleaned the fish, and asked if he would like a picture, so I go get the camera and take a picture of him cleaning and of him with one of his bigger fish. I find out there is a size limit, can’t keep them if too big, or too small. We exchange cards and I say will send to the pics to them e-mail, and Polly starts to prepare after awhile, and we get ready for dinner. As the dinner is cooking on the BBQ the rains start and Polly has to use an umbrella to finish the cooking under the front of the trailer, wow rains come fast here, and quit fast too.

Dinner was very good, fish was a little like sole we are used to, very tender, and tasty. I make a point of thanking them later after the rain quits and I take Bosco for a walk.

Nice way to end another day in Paradise,

Sure lovin it here in Florida...