As we travel towards New Orleans, we decided to explore the Florida Panhandle for a few days. Little known fact, to us, is that Apalachicola River is the dividing line between Central and Eastern time zones in Florida except when you get to the Inter Coastal Waterway. This area remains in the Eastern time zone for shipping and transportation companies. When we arrived at the Indian Pass Campground, 3 of us were in Eastern time zone and Tom hopped over to Central. When we went to dinner in Port St Joe, we were all in Central. Back to camp and half of us were in Central, the other half in Eastern.
No one knew what time it was!! Of course it didn't matter to me as a newly retired person but it did pose a challenge to the working folks in our cohort!
Just a few thoughts on wandering in the Panhandle. There are less palm trees (although one is behind me here) than when we were further south and actually a few rolling hills as we approached Pensacola.
We stayed off the interstate highways and the scenic route 98 was beautiful with the tall pines lining both sides of the 2 lane road. Took us a little longer, but that is what this trip is about.
Hurricane Michael destroyed much of the area near Indian Pass where we camped a few days. Lots of homes being rebuilt but others were just abandoned. It was windy during our stay which allows you to imagine how strong one of these hurricanes might be! I'll take a snowstorm any day over something so destructive to the community.
Just across our bay was St Vincent Island, a wildlife and bird sanctuary. Our walks on the beach discovered pelicans, snowy plovers, sand pipers, American oystercatcher, and
bald eagles who must live near by. Quite a few people were fishing for Whiting fish and sea trout. It was too windy for us to fly fish, but we'll get to that one day.
We experienced a few firsts in the Panhandle of Florida:
Southern BBQ at Sparks in Port St Joe: Delicious hold in the wall whose specialty was stuffed bakers, a BBQ loaded potato similar to a Garbage Plate back home.
Cooked first meals at the camper: Porkchops in the sous vide and finished on the grill as well as full breakfast with bacon, eggs with Split Grain toast.
Stayed at a Harvest Host: Scenic Hills Country Cloud where we parked at the end of the 9th hole and watched golfers as the sun set.
As rookies on the road, we forgot to fill our fresh water tank which made for a few challenges but Wednesday Wine night at the clubhouse washed our cares away with a good meal and half priced wine!
Fun Florida Fact quiz: Tupelo honey is distinct to this part of Florida is made solely from the white flowers of the Tupelo Tree. What song writer made this honey famous?
Answer at end of Blog....
On the road again this morning, heading to New Orleans for the weekend. Although it was POURING rain when we woke, it didn't take long for us to pack up and hit the road.
I am grateful for the guys to have done all the outside tear down while the girls readied the inside of the trailer. Quick stop for coffee, a breakfast sammy and an inverter to
allow work to continue on the road and we were off. Eric has done all of the driving so far and is getting quite good at maneuvering our rig in parking lots for which I am also grateful!
See you on the road!
Fun Fact Answer: Van Morrison in 1971 when he released his album Tupelo Honey which reached number 27 on the Billboard charts.
Comments