Sunday, February 18, 2018

PANAMA CITY SWALLOWED US UP BUT WE ESCAPED TO MEXICO BEACH AND BEYOND

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YEP SURE LOOKS LIKE WE ARE IN FLORIDA ALRIGHT

Despite being in an RV Park with so many people close by it was a very quiet night and I had the best sleep in a long time.  How nice to not have rumbling trucks going by.  And I must admit it sure is nice being hooked up to water and electric for a change.  On our walk this morning not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

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MISTY MORNING WATERS NOT FAR BEHIND OUR MOTORHOME THIS MORNING

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NO ALIMAGATORS IN THIS POND, JUST TURTLES

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Although the RV’s seem packed in pretty tight to us this is still a nice RV Park once one gets out for a walk around.  Behind our rig is a nice open grassy area for Pheebs and a short distance from that a nice pond.  No Gators!!  An easy wide walking trail  leads through stands of tall pine trees.  A soft mist hung in the morning’s still air and oh how I like to hear the sounds of birds in the trees.  Hard to see them but I could hear them.

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NICE WIDE WALKING TRAIL

Hadn’t had the Jeep off the rig’s tow bar since hooking it up at Janna and Mikes a week ago so this morning off it came.  With maps and phones in hand we three all piled into the Jeep and headed south down highway 231 to Panama City to see what we could see.  I think there are more ‘Dollar General stores and Churches of all kinds here than there are leaves on the trees.  I guess my question is, why so many Dollar General Stores and why so many Churches?? 

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WE WONDERED WHAT THESE VERY SOFT DELICATE SPONGY THINGS ON THE GROUND WERE

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WE GROW THIS VERY SAME TYPE OF MUSHROOM IN OUR YARD BACK HOME IN BAYFIELD ONTARIO

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WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE SINEWY LITTLE SPIDER LIKE PATCHES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE….THEY ARE IN THE TREES, ON THE GROUND, EVERYWHERE

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Panama City was waaaay bigger than what I had figured and it soon swallowed us up.  Never saw so many McDonalds.  Traffic swept us out to the west end of the city but it was the east end of the city we were aiming for so we had to U-turn ourselves and retrace our steps back along highway 98.  We could see ocean front close by to the south of us so we deeked off 98 and down some back streets until we found a spot to pull over and go stick our fingers in some real salt water.  Even Pheebs got the bottoms of her paws wet.  I’m glad she’s not a water dog that goes barreling into every body of water she sees.  Makes things easier all way round.

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SLIPPING AROUND A FEW PANAMA CITY BACKSTREETS WE FOUND OUR WAY TO THE WATERS OF THE GULF

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THIS WAS OUR FIRST BEACH ENCOUNTER

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KELLY CHECKS THE GULF’S WATER TEMPERATURE AND TELLS ME IT’S WARM

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THOUGHT THIS LITTLE SHELL WOULD MAKE A NICE SOUVENIR BUT WHEN WE PICKED IT UP THERE WAS SOMEBODY LIVING INSIDE SO WE CAREFULLY PUT IT BACK

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LITTLE GIRL PLAYING BY THE SEASHORE

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We did actually have a few destinations today with one of them being a place called Mexico Beach.  We also had some other campsites to scout out as well.  We have actually slowed ourselves down here in the Florida Panhandle for a reason.  We’re looking around and getting a feel for things in case at some point our beloved South-western States become a too distant destination for us.  I’ll have more to say about this in another post.  It’s cooler in the Panhandle than further South and with neither Kelly or I liking heat and humidity anymore a moderate winter climate is a must.  Staying home for the winter is still a priority No-No situation so we have to think seriously about our future winter options.  We plan to check out a few spots just over the Georgia border in a few weeks as well.

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Heading east from Panama City we travelled through the large Tyndall Air Force Base home to the F-22A Raptor.  I was really hoping to catch a glimpse of the low flying Raptors near their base but since it was Sunday they weren’t flying.

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We liked Mexico Beach a lot more than Panama City simply because it is much smaller and not manically crazy with hordes of traffic.  Spotted a public pier so pulled in and I went out to the end of it for some photos while Pheebs and Kelly stayed in the Jeep.  While waiting she met a couple from Orillia Ontario. 

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I’VE ALWAYS LIKED THE BIGGER BOLDER COLORS PEOPLE SOMETIMES USE ON THEIR HOUSES AND BUISNESS’S

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THESE ARE ALL RENTALS JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE WHITE SANDY BEACHES NEAR THE LONG PUBLIC PIER

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KELLY EXPRESSED AND INTEREST IN SEAFOOD SO BEFORE LEAVING PANAMA CITY WE STOPPED AT MCDONALDS AND I HAD A FISH SANDWICH…..IN MEXICO BEACH KELLY GOT A SHRIMP PO’BOY SANDWICH

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THESE ARE BEACH FRONT RENTALS

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Been many, many, years since I last seen the long wide white sandy beaches of Florida so I thoroughly enjoyed  looking along the beach fronts bordering the big blue Gulf Of Mexico with it’s huge towering cloud formations overhead.  The only time I ever enjoyed swimming in water that didn’t feel freezing cold to me was back in the mid 80’s south of Puerto Vallarta Mexico at a place called Mismaloya beach onetime.

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TOOK  MYSELF FOR A NICE WALK OUT THIS LONG PIER

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WIDE WHITE SANDY BEACH TO THE WEST

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THIS SURFER WAS THE ONLY PERSON I SAW IN THE WATER

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WIDE WHITE SANDY BEACH TO THE EAST

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THAT FELLA IN THE BLUE SHIRT JUST HAD A HAMMERHEAD SHARK BREAK HIS LINE BEFORE I GOT THERE

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From Mexico Beach we continued East along highway 98 to Port St Joe then cut up highway 71 to Wewahitchka looking for the Dead Lake Campground which we found but it didn’t appeal to us.  Driving further North to Blounstown we asked in a gas station about camping areas and they suggested a place called Auggies.  It was on our way back to the rig so we checked that one out too but again it was a no.  We were back to the rig shortly after 3 which meant it had been a 6 hour day trip.  It’s a flat forested landscape here and the scenery doesn’t change too much from one mile to the next.  Too bad Florida doesn’t have some good old mountains……………

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THIS LARGE TRUCK CAB HAULS THAT FIFTH WHEEL SO CAN YOU FIND WHERE THEIR TOW CAR IS??

It was 12:15 today when we had to finally switch the A/C on in the Jeep and upon arriving back at the rig we turned one our coaches roof airs on as well.  I don’t know who ever invented air conditioning but thank-you, thank-you, thank-you:))))))

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BIG SKIES HERE IN FLORIDA

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A police officer sees a man driving around with a pickup truck full of penguins. He pulls the guy over and says, "You can't drive around with penguins in this town! Take them to the zoo immediately."  The guy obliges and drives away.  The next day, the officer sees the same guy driving around with the truck full of penguins again. This time, though, all the penguins are wearing sunglasses.  The police officer pulls the guy over and says, "I thought I told you to take these penguins to the zoo yesterday?"  The guy replies, "I did, and today I'm taking them to the beach."

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A man is at work one day when he notices that his co-worker is wearing an earring.  This man knows his co-worker to be a normally conservative fellow, and is curious about his sudden change in "fashion sense."  The man walks up to him and says, "I didn't know you were into earrings."  "Don't make such a big deal out of this, it's only an earring," he replies sheepishly.  His friend falls silent for a few minutes, but then his curiosity prods him to say, "So, how long have you been wearing one?"
"Ever since my wife found it in my truck..."

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21 comments:

  1. Another nice Florida day. Enjoy.

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  2. Susan and I always think that if we have to settle in one spot it might be in the Panama City Beach area. Not necessarily in the city but maybe east where you were exploring. Have fun checking the area out.

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  3. So good to see some of your wonderful nature photos again with the beautiful weather and sunny blue skies.

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  4. What great pictures of a beautiful area. Really like the last on with the big fluffy clouds and blue sky.

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  5. Hubby's dream vehicle is a semi, with a Mini or Smart Car on the back, towing our fifth wheel. I have to say I am leaning that way since semi's seem to survive bad accidents very well :-)

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  6. Yep I found that tow car behind the semi cab. I’d love to have seen the raptor too. Your pictures are absouletly spectacular tonight.

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  7. My parents almost bought a small house on the beach in Destin Fl when I was a kid. Sure wish they had, we love that area. Nice pics.

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  8. FL is really an interesting state. Lots of different ecosystems to explore. This is an unusually hot winter/spring so it's not always that warm up there. Loved your photos tonight! Beautiful colors.

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  9. The Mexico Beach area is very nice, we like the Destin area as well. and of course Georgia has some very nice places as well. Nice to explore your options we keep thinking that as well when we get OLD and can't come this far west. Hmm how do we know when we are too old?

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  10. I love northern Florida in the winter and plan to head that way in 2019. Sadly, the only Florida parks we enjoy are the State Parks. Manatees Springs, st Joseph. Island, silver Springs, all have the old Florida feeling. Nothing in the world like the colors of sand and water in Destin

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  11. Beautiful shots, Al. Love the one of Kelly playing on the beach. It must be warm there now with so many skimpily clad beach-goers. Not that you noticed!

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  12. Oh, one more thing, my friend in Florida would point to those gorgeous cumulus clouds and huge trees and say, "There are our mountains". I was always looking up when I was there.

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  13. The beach always makes me feel so relaxed. Looks like perfect weather:) I believe the spongy "stuff" you found is Reindeer Moss.

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  14. I love the panhandle..and also the Gulf of Louisiana and Alabama! Eglin Air Force Base was where my uncle was stationed at SAC in the Air Force. Also, the Pensacola Naval Air Museum is a must see..and it's free..home of the Blue Angels!!

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  15. Fantastic beaches there. Love the white sand.

    Glad you're enjoying your time there!!

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  16. Your in our favorite part of Florida. Past Port St Joe on 30A is Cape San Blas. There are several beach front RV sites and a wonderful state park at the very tip of the Cape. Back on 98 along the coast is Appalachacola and Carrabella. Dont miss Indian Pass for oysters. Both towns have several campgrounds and this Gulf County area allows dogs on the beach.

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  17. So many memories...I grew up going to the Redneck Riviera aka Panama City Beach. Love all of you photos Al. Have you checked out Live Oak Landing RV Park in Freeport? We usually stay there when we are in the area. It’s a 15 minute drive to the beaches and some of the best and most beautiful state parks in Florida.

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  18. Al
    Those are some great pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post them for others to enjoy.

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  19. Florida doesn't ring my bells due to the lack of mountains, and desert, and..... But it is warmer than your winter home.

    You have an interesting take on "seafood" Al.

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  20. So sad that Mexico Beach has been all but obliterated in Hurricane Michael. Beautiful place.

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