Florida Already?

4/23/2018 I prepared for today’s drive to a new environment exploiting a beautiful morning. I departed the pleasantly peaceful Buccaneer State Park then drove the uneventful route spent mainly on Interstate 10 through Pensacola, Florida to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens Campground. As I drove the slender peninsula to my campsite I observed that I was scarcely above sea level. I checked my cellphone for my altitude which registered 6 meters (19.685 feet). That’s a reasonably sized wave height in some areas of the world. I inhabited the new site without incident which set the tone for the rest of the day. I then proceeded to research the surrounding area for tomorrow’s activities. Luckily, I was able to complete that pursuit as the cocktail hour commenced and I had to cease further productive behaviors. 

Photo courtesy US Navy

4/24/2018 The remnants of last night’s cocktail hour remained with me this morning producing a mental tangle. My sluggishness was further damaged by the repeated reverberation of jet aircraft. Just my luck, both good and bad, as the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, Blue Angels, are stationed at Forrest Sherman Field (KNPA),  Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. This NAS is directly across the Pensacola Bay from the Fort Pickens campground in which I am camped. I had a wonderfully, gratifying view of their precision flight demonstration practice. Afterwards, I drove the short distance to the Walmart in Gulf Breeze, Florida then returned directly to the campground for some rest. To quote Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind, “After all, tomorrow is another day!”

4/25/2018 What a beautiful day it is here in Pensacola. Every morning a bugler plays réveille at 0800 hours from, I believe, Fort Pickens just down the Santa Rosa Island road. I will have to go down there tomorrow morning for the experience. 

In preparation for tomorrow I will explore the fort today. Fort Pickens is quite a fort; it protected our shores from foreign invasion from 1834 until it was decommissioned in 1947. Ironically, the only combat experienced was against fellow Americans during the Civil War. It was held by the Union Forces throughout the Civil War, albeit Confederate forces unsuccessfully engaged it on several occasions. With the initial installation of 205 guns of various types, Fort Pickens is in a very unique position to guard the island and the entrance to Pensacola Harbor . 
Fort Pickens was continually upgraded, either structurally or with improved ordinance throughout its history. Eventually there were several battlements constructed with assorted armaments and accountabilities around Santa Rosa Island upon which Fort Pickens resides. A noteworthy aspect of the Fort’s past was the imprisonment of Apache war chief Geronimo from October 1886 to May 1887 until he was relocated to Alabama then later moved to Oklahoma. The National Parks Service provides a very interesting self-guided historical tour. 
Midway through my tour of the Fort, the Blue Angels began to perform their precision maneuvers overhead for roughly an hour. Whilst they performed I noticed a significant gathering of vehicles along the harbor side seawall as this is quite an experience. Afterwards, I went to town for some Rum and returned just in time for the evening Call to Quarters that was bugled around 1900 hours. I wonder from where that is coming? 

4/26/2018 What’s to say? I woke up, I played golf, I ate dinner, I then returned to the peripatetic domicile. Let me elaborate. I woke up to réveille, that’s pretty self-explanatory. The balance of the day needs clarification. After some research, and a telephone call, I resolved on playing golf at the City of Pensacola managed Osceola Municipal Golf Course that opened in 1926. It’s a nice approachable golf course that was actually pretty economical to walk at $26, which included range balls. I was never delayed forward nor was I ever pressed from the rear. Playing at the course was the best part; my restaurant inquiry at the course was not so worthy. I asked the friendly gentleman in the golf course Pro Shop for a seafood restaurant recommendation. My inquiry was earnestly responded to by directing me to a restaurant dubbed Flounders, the fish not the action, albeit it was closer to the action than the fish in quality. Neither should I have ordered the stuffed Flounder for I surmise that the fish species is exacting its revenge through that menu item. Luckily, my moveable household vessel is of good quality and was still in its place awaiting my homecoming.

4/27/2018 My last day at the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens Campground was spent on its beach relaxing on the pure white sand and swimming in the unbelievably clear warm water of the Gulf of Mexico. For folks who have never been to the Emerald Coast the water is Lake Tahoe clear and amazingly warm for this time of the year. Plus, the beach sand is brilliantly white and, for some reason, squeaks when walked upon. Careful not to burn, I returned to my travel trailer around cocktail hour which I commenced without hesitation. Crowded was the yard upon my return with a visiting Armadillo foraging nearby for grub in the warm sunshine. I didn’t bother him and he didn’t bother me. I fixed hors d'oeuvres of Ruffles and onion dip then began preparation of an excellent rib eye steak that I had procured at a Waco, Texas specialty meat market. First cocktails, Jack Daniels on the rocks, then; oops, I needed to help a new neighbor glide his lengthy travel trailer into the narrow spot allotted him next to me by the National Parks Service. Afterwards, I regained my focus then readied my grill – purchased at the Walmart in Aransas Pass, Texas – for tonight’s meal. Charcoal and a couple of hickory chunks were strategically placed into the BBQ grill contraption after which I prepared the best meal experienced on my Gulf Coast travels thus far. After dinner, from the picnic table provided in the Fort Pickens site A-8 in which I am placed, I sat and listened to an assortment of nature’s sounds and watched an Osprey couple alight onto their nearby nest, fish in their talons, providing nourishment to their brood. After the bugled Call to Quarters, on this quietly calm warm evening, I readied the travel trailer and myself for tomorrow’s departure.

4/28/2018 Good bye, good bye to one of the National Park Service’s great historical properties. I had a very enjoyable stay at which I felt sheltered, comfortable, and, peaceful. Now onto my next quartering at the Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area, Grassy Point Campgrounds. A little over an hour travel to a campground that is still on Pensacola Bay but with entirely different atmosphere and characteristics. 

Whereas, Fort Perkins was on fairly open terrain, with pristine beaches, Grassy Point is within thick vegetation with a narrow strip of a shoreline. The Grassy Point campground is roughly 8 miles off the main road, the final 4.7 miles are unpaved but of satisfactory condition. My assigned site is narrow with a tree centered in the camping area. Fortunately, the individual camped directly to the north was gracious enough to assist me with properly aligning my travel headquarters. After completing the roosting process I began the relaxation procedure and found I was quite successful at it.   

4/29/2018 Relaxation was the theme for this day and I believe it was achieved or at least a passably amount of it. Today’s only notable component was a gentleman from a town near mine, Santa Clarita, deployed into the adjacent campsite. He too is traveling the country although in a pickup truck with tent. Departing this campground on May 1, I reserved my future campsite at the Ochlockonee River State Park which was the only hint of exertion performed this day. By evening the campground emptied of all inhabitants except for the two perpetual travelers. A picturesque sunset concluded the day.  

4/30/2018 This day was dedicated to chores. I drove into Milton, Florida for propane as it was on the list. Other items that I obtained at the Bealls Outlet Store in Milton were collarless (tee) shirts to be worn while working; additionally I obtained a bathroom rug and two bath towels. Notable golfers that attended Milton High School are: Bubby Watson, Boo Weekly and Heath Slocum. Upon my return to the campsite I cooked dinner then prepared for the morning's departure.  

5/01/2018 May Day was spent traveling to a new campground northeast of Apalachicola, Florida onto the Ochlockonee River State Park. I intentionally drove on as many secondary roads as possible through some of this nation’s great Emerald Coast vacation destinations. I drove through Navarre, Destin, Fort Walton, and Panama City beach areas then along several back country roads to the State Park. Having arrived I deployed my belongings into a large enough campsite but with narrowly awkward accessibility. Abundant maneuvering created results with the settling into a very quiet campground. I then enthusiastically commenced my campsite organization by: deploying a chair, sweeping the trailer, and charging the cordless electric drill used to operate the stabilizer jacks. Of course it was then required by my mental disorder to wipe and clean the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the red dust propelled upon the camper by 4.7 miles of unpaved Grassy Point campground egress. After completing this mental disruption I began what I do best: relax.     

5/02/2018 Today I had to address a pressing problem; the pile of laundry that needed my attention. I found a laundromat located adjacent to a spray car wash so I could wash my clothes and also the 4.7 miles of unpaved Grassy Point campground road dust from my truck. So I lethargically traveled the 34 miles to the Pearl Wash Laundry in Eastpoint, Florida to resolve the nuisance inherent to living in a mobile house. With clothes and truck now clean, I drove the 6 miles across mostly bridge into Apalachicola, Florida for lunch where I consumed an excellent grilled grouper sandwich at the quaint Hole In The Wall ~ Raw Bar ~ Seafood Restaurant. Afterwards, I headed back to my trailer to restore my laundry to their ready locations. At dusk, I attempted to go for a walk around the park however the Ceratopogonidae and mosquitoes, along with their many irritating bites upon my legs and arms, have been driving me crazy so I abruptly returned to the trailer where I remained for the evening.

5/03/2018 I will be departing in the morning for my Cousin Marty’s house in the Orlando area thus making this is my last full day of living in my trailer for awhile. Because of this planned temporary inactivity, and to prepare it for visitors, I performed a travel trailer Spring cleaning for this hiatus. Moreover, I didn’t want to add to the massive amount of mosquito bites already obtained by venturing outside for an extended period so the inside work was just what was needed.

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