#73 Mar 2015 Florida Panhandle

Everywhere we travel we have to decide what to see and do and there is always more points of interest than there is time to see them. In Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama we just touched the southernmost part of each state. We hope to return but who knows what the future will hold?

We have been to Florida previously but primarily to the tourist hot spots – Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and briefly Key West. There is so much more to the state and we started in the Panhandle. Until Florida we generally followed Interstate 10 but that skims the top of Florida. We turned to follow the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

As we planned our trip we didn’t realize that March is Spring Break all over Canada and the US and that hot weather cities would be hot destinations for students. Panama City is a prime Spring Break city and beach. We don’t feel like students any more so drove right past Panama City.

Our first stop was Mexico Beach, which is a small community south of Panama City. All of the parks are friendly and sometimes we are lucky enough to enjoy local talent. This park has a clubhouse with an indoor bar and an outside tiki bar beside a huge fire pit. The local entertainers were familiar with many of the snowbirds at the park and knew how to play the crowd. The sax player was particularly good with the crowd and dancers. He was out on the floor on bended knee playing to the ladies. The food was good and we had a great evening.

It’s difficult to explain our locations along the Panhandle as there are not many major cities. The pen is pointing to Keaton Beach, our next stop.

What an amazing opportunity to park 15 feet from the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. This is the view from our back bedroom window. I could spend hours watching the water and the birds.

We have seen hundreds of pelicans in the last few weeks and I never tire of watching them fly so awkwardly and land with such a splash. We have seen them just coming up from the water with a fish and have to laugh at all the angles and bends as they get airborne. One time I hope to photograph one instead of laughing.

There is great fishing for everyone.

And there is always the search for a better spot.

There are great egrets everywhere along the waterways.

We have seen a few eagles along the way.

There are so many birds that we can’t identify but we certainly enjoy watching them.

Our next destination was Zephyrhills just east of Tampa. This stop was to catch up with friends and take a break from being busy.

In Edmonton, in 1982, Neil and Nancy’s daughter Laurie started grade 1 with our daughter Kari. We have been close family friends ever since. Nancy started a tradition exchanging a Santa Sack, which has travelled from Alberta to Ontario and British Columbia. Some years have been missed but it's always exciting to receive it whatever time of year.