Midpoint in Freeport

The weather seems to be making a turn the last couple of days and we’re so enjoying it.  Up until now, most days it has been in the low 60s (15 C) and the evenings ranged from upper 30s (0 C) to low 50s (10 C).  We haven’t had a beach day yet but it should be coming soon with temps reaching the 70s (21 C)!  We’re at the midpoint of our stay here in Freeport.  

PCB (Panama City Beach)

We visited Panama City Beach to have a walk around.  It was a little windy and chilly but we did manage a short walk along the beach.  We felt the water wasn’t as nice as the beaches near us in Freeport and not sure why.  Maybe storm activity caused the ocean water to be brownish but, nearer Freeport and west, the water is more aquamarine.  It all looked familiar to us and we remembered, back a few years, we stayed here and enjoyed it.  The area features a long fishing pier, for a fee, which we didn’t opt for but its popular with fisherman.  We strolled through the commercial neighborhood which featured many boutiques and restaurants and after some browsing, we headed back to Freeport. 

On our way back we were getting hungry and spotted a restaurant called Village Market. It was Valentines Day so we figured, we owe it to each other and we stopped for dinner.  We ordered Mediterranean Humas Board, Fresh Fruit & Burrata Salad and San Miguel Bowl; it was nice.  We splurged on dessert and ordered the Banana Caramel Cheesecake.  We both left stuffed and remorseful!

Out for Dinner & Music

One night we didn’t have anything queued up for dinner and decided to grab a bite down in Santa Rosa Beach at a place called Red Fish Taco.  Its a spot where you order at the counter and they bring the food to your table.  We ordered up some food and asked where we could sit.  The woman suggested the patio, which was open-air but covered and had gas heaters; the ones that stand about 8′ (2.4 M) tall.  We hadn’t realized that Red Fish Taco features music just about ever night on the patio so we really lucked out.  After we ate, we hung around for an hour or so and enjoyed the tunes.  The band was named Coconut Radio with a tag line, Caribbean Jam Band; a husband & wife team: he on the acoustic guitar and she on a violin/fiddle.  Joining them were two dudes, one on a bass guitar and the second on a mandolin.  It appeared this was their first time performing together, ever, and they just winged it.  It was a fun time and maybe we’ll get over there again soon?  

Got in a Hike!   

We hiked in Point Washington State Park.  We hiked here last year but took different route this time around.  It was mostly a sandy path with some areas where the sand was quite soft.  Its primarily a bike trail but I can’t imagine riding a bike in the soft sand, it would be very difficult for me.  In any event, it was a nice relaxing hike down to some backwater, about 5 miles (8 km).  We didn’t spot any wildlife but did see many deer prints in the sand.  Route 98 runs along to coast and comes so close at times, you can see the ocean but, mostly it’s shops, plazas, restaurants, and so on.  Surprisingly, we see deer along the side of route 98 grazing.  It can be a very busy road during the morning and evening “rush” hours, otherwise, it’s only just busy.  If we head south out of the Freeport, route 98 is about 8 miles (13 K) away.  We have to drive over Choctawhatchee Bay then onto 98.  US Route 98 runs from Meadville, MS to Palm Beach, FL.  Going east, one would head toward Panama City then on to Apalachicola, hugging the coast until it gets around the bend.  Just north of Spring Hill, FL, it starts working its way across the state curling around the east side of Lake Okeechobee then a hard turn east to Palm Beach.    Going west, you hit Destin, Ft. Walton Beach, Pensacola, Alabama then onto MS.  We like the area we are staying; it’s not overcrowded, yet, and still close to beaches, shopping, parks/hikes, restaurants and entertainment.  We can see more development going on, much more than last year.  We see very large tracks of land marked “Sold” or “Under Contract.”  Many apartment buildings, housing developments going up, along with lots of commercial properties breaking ground.  As far as the quantity of apartments going up within a 15 mile radius, I say thousands, more than several thousand! We spotted a new RV park very nearby under construction.  We took a drive over to check it out but it’s too early to make any judgement; according to their marketing folks, you can move in today!  Suffices to say, it won’t be very long before this area rivals other coastal cities/towns along Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts.  Of course, I haven’t seen all of Florida’s coast but I have to imagine most all has been developed, at least all that can be.

Canadian Golf and Birthday Party 

Our Canadian friends have invited me to join them for golf over the past several weeks.  The first several outings I either rented or borrowed clubs but eventually broke down and asked our wonderful neighbors, Frank & Colleen, to ship my clubs down.  There are four in their group, I make 5.  Additionally, two Canadians from Ontario; one staying in the park and a second closer to the beach, joined and we managed to put together quite a group.  I have played twice with my clubs since they arrived and, although it’s much more comfortable and my game seems better, it hasn’t really impacted the score much.  Soon I think that will change.  We’ve played at Eagle Springs Golf Course and Blackstone Golf Course, both in Defuniak Springs, about 30 minutes north.  There are some courses down this way but greens fees are in excess of $100 ($130 CD) and we like to play at less expensive courses. Most outings have been 9 hole rounds except one.  The greens fees with a cart is roughly $20 ($27 CD) (senior rate); pretty cheap.  Eagle Springs Golf Course is an okay golf course.  One thing I don’t like about it is, all the greens are raised, small and none are remotely flat.  The fairways are wide and forgiving, unlike Blackstone Golf Course which features narrow fairways but larger, much nicer greens; in my opinion.  We played an 18 hole round at Blackstone and I enjoyed it.  A majority of the Canadian team, I was the token American, has headed back home or further south to catch a cruise along the gulf toward Belize.  At this point, its just Rick and I remaining.  Rick and Darlene are the friends from last year during our time here.  He and I are scheduled for a couple of rounds at Blackstone next Wednesday and Friday; I’m looking forward to it!

We were invited to a birthday party by Uncle Ricky; Darlene’s uncle.  His wife Michele was having a birthday, it was one of those milestones.  It was great fun and Ricky did a great job putting it together.  Darlene is quite talented with crafts and such, she did a wonderful job decorating the pavilion for the gala.  One afternoon we made an impromptu stop at a new, little plaza in Freeport.  We stopped in at Indigenous Chocolate to inquire about Cacao; we ran out.  We asked the proprietor if he had any Ceremonial Cacao.  He didn’t but he does receive cacao beans from all over world and makes his own chocolate bars and candies.  The bars he creates are all named after the country of origin of the cacao beans, each having it’s own individual flavor.  I sampled a few nibs, which were delicious but, we were  usable to resupply our cacao inventory.  We did however purchase some chocolates for Michele as a birthday gift.  The proprietor, actually a husband/wife team, created this venture as a retirement project.  He was very pleasant and passionate about chocolate!  The party was quite a hoot and a dozen or more attended from the park, including Darlene’s family.   

L-R: Wes, Julie, Tom, Keith, Chantel, Michele (Birthday Girl), Rick, Darlene, Mag, Tim, Nancy	L-R: Julie, Wes, Tom, Keith, Nancy, Ricky, Chantel’s arms	le chocolat’

Art Class

Marguerite found a watercolor class in Miramar Beach, about 20 minutes west with Sharon Long, an artist and instructor.  Mag has attended two classes and both times returned with artwork.  Two that she created and one she purchased from Sharon.  Mag purchased a few frames which now have the artwork mounted and be hung in the RV once we figure out where.  As a child, Mag often drew sketches and it’s easy to see she has a talent for it.  She is very much enjoying the classes and is planning to attend more.   She managed to make a quick stop at South Fort Walton Beach to take in the majestic ocean view before heading back to Freeport after her second lesson.  You’ll see in the pics below; the ocean water was pretty rough that day which washed ashore lots of Jellyfish and a Portuguese a Man O’ War!

First Class	Second	Watercolor by Sharon
South Walton Beach	Portuguese man o’ war	Stormy Sky

Canoe Ride

The “resort” offers a pontoon boat, several kayaks and two canoes for guests to use.  After a walk around the park one day, we decided to look into renting a canoe and heading out on the water.  We’re located on the banks of Black Creek which runs out to the bay.  We stopped by the office who outfitted us with two paddles and two life jackets.  We signed a release form, were handed some paperwork and headed down to the boat launch.  A quick stop by the RV to pack up and grab appropriate clothing where  I’m scanning the paperwork and see a fee of $50 ($68CD)/hour/2 hour minimum which I relay to Mag.  We’re both incredulous, preparing to march back to the office and tell them, “forget it, we can afford it!”  But, as I read further, I see that was pricing for the pontoon boat; the canoe and kayaks are $10 ($13.50 CD)/hour.  We chuckled about how it would’ve gone at the office, “No ma’am, it’s only $10/hour.”  Imagining our humbled response, “Oh, never mind!” 

It was breezy but partly sunny in the mid-sixties.  We were both a little anxious about heading out in a canoe, envisioning us tipping over becoming lunch for some hungry alligator.  The canoe is flat-bottomed so slim chance it would tip over under normal conditions but we not going to test that theory.  We decide to head down Black Creek which merges with Mitchell River then out to Choctawhatchee Bay.  The bay is roughly 28 miles (45 km) wide from east to west and roughly 5 miles (8 km) north to south at it’s widest point.  As we paddle down the river, we’re keen to keep a watch for gators!  We didn’t spot any out sunning but we’re pretty sure we saw a few with just eyeballs sticking out of the water checking to see if we’re might be their next meal; it was creepy!  There was plenty of birds flitting about but most impressive was a nesting pair of osprey atop one tall, nearly bare, tree.  When we initially came on them, they flew off as we quietly paddled in for a closer look; we had forgotten the binoculars.  They flew and soared down stream and settled on the tree that appeared to be their nest.  Such large and majestic creatures, it was a treat.  To be honest, initially we weren’t sure what they were but reached out to our family birder and she confirmed, “Osprey!” 

The banks of the river were grass and tree lined with only very small areas where we could beach the canoe but only room for that.  It would have been nice to have found a beaching area large enough for us to spread out and take a break.  I know there were alligators eyeballing us from shore so, maybe something on the order of half a football field would suffice.  We enjoyed our peaceful trip down to Choctawhatchee Bay and back.  Black Creek meanders westward past the campground maybe another 5 miles (8 km).  Mitchell River runs the same direction a little less in length and, the Choctawhatchee River meanders, snake like, some 140 miles (225 km) up into Alabama!  We look forward to our next canoe trip and hopefully, be less anxious of the gators!  We spent about two hours on the water paddling 3.5 miles (5.62 km).  

First Beach Day

The next day we decided to do some shopping at the outlet shops with an afternoon at the beach Mag had discovered the previous day after her class.  The shopping experience was longer than we expected and the haul was very minimal but, we did manage to spend and hour or two on the beach.  It was overcast, which I prefer. The beaches are very nice, the sand is beautiful and the ocean sounds allow us to relax a bit, chat and have some laughs.  The ocean was quite rough, surfing waves I would guess, maybe 4-5 feet high.  The red flag was up warning of serious undertow and “knee deep is too deep” on a sigh at the beach entrance.  There were only a couple of folks stepping into the water, no one swimming with a water temperature of ~60 (15.5 C), and an air temp of ~70 (21 C).  It was somewhat cool without the sun.  The breeze was cool coming off the gulf but, we were dressed for the weather.  When we first arrived, we sorted out our gear: beach chairs, umbrella, blanket, and the bag with snacks and such.  Parking is provided for free along the beach and, as we headed down, me carrying the beach chairs, the umbrella, and not sure what else, it must have looked cumbersome, with Mag carrying the bag and her 40 oz (1 L) water bottle.  It’s probably a 50′ (15 M) decent down a ramp with a few switchbacks to the sand and, as I’m rounding the first turn, I hear a voice above me say, “You made her carry that water jug?”  I look up, fumbling with chairs and umbrella and respond, “I’m so horrible!”  The gentleman and I had a laugh but Mag, she was too far ahead and out of earshot.  We hope to have more beach days as the weather warms up.