August 21.....

Last Sunday, the hosts couples got together and rented one of the pontoon boats available in the park (exceptional deal for all of us!) ;-)

We rode over to the other side of Grand Lagoon to one of the waterfront restaurants, Bayou Joe's. It was excellent and we will definitely return.

There was a threat of rain, with a small storm in the distance, but we only got a few drops as we went under the closed draw bridge....and we just did fit under that low bridge.

After dinner, it wasn't quite dark so we rode over to another area and stopped at a bar and grill for after dinner drinks and a little local music.

Bayou Joe's.....waterfront dining

Our pontoon parked at the restaurant

Good Food

Good Friends

Nice Views

Low Bridge!

2nd stop, Gracie Mae's Bar & Grill

August 8.......

I returned to Florida, to the camper at St. Andrews S.P. Hated to leave all the family but happy to be back to the camper & Sam & Buddy. Here's some thoughts about Georgia, copied from my Facebook page:

I was raised in Georgia, where you can use the ‘hootch or the Big Chicken for directions. We visit the Atlantic Ocean, Jekyll Island, and Paula Deen in Savannah. We cherish azaleas and dogwoods in the spring and magnolias all summer. We take pilgrimages to the mountains in the fall to see the leaves and keep our babies home from school if it snows. We love the Dawgs, Jackets, Braves & Falcons, Krispy Kreme, Vidalia onions, peaches, boiled peanuts, and a large Frosted Orange. We celebrate the ’96 Olympics in Atlanta and the country’s first gold rush in Dahlonega. We play football, fish in mountain streams, kayak in the Okefenokee, camp, hunt and surf. All soft drinks are called COKE!

Two stadiums: Atlanta Fulton County Stadium and Turner Field
(1997, before the old one was imploded!)
The Georgia Dome in upper left background where the Falcons play.

Georgia Visit

I came up to Georgia on Saturday, 8/23, to bring a truck load of bikes, etc., to Samantha's house and to bring Kyle home because he had stayed with us for a week after Samantha and Logan and Tyler returned home. Nathan came back with us also for the weekend and returned to Panama City with a co-worker on Sunday night or Monday morning. Then I found out my mother wasn't feeling well and my brother and sister-in-law were here from Asheville. I went to Mother's on Wednesday to stay for a while and my brother went home on Sunday. This is Tuesday 8/2, and I'm still at mother's for a few more days. She is much better now so I will probably leave this week to return to Sam & Buddy at the camper at St. Andrews S.P.

We'll be at St. Andrews until 9/1, then we are heading to Georgia to Sprewell Bluff State Park for one month, then on 10/1, go to F. D. Roosevelt State Park until 12/31. On Jan.1, we'll leave Georgia and go back to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Ala. Then back to St. Andrews on 3/1 for four months. Whew............that's the plans for now...........but, of course, they could change at any time! ;-)

Special plans for January or February......but more on that later. Here's a hint:

Last fun days at the beach before returning to Georgia & school!

Pontoon Sunday 7/10/11

Nana floats!

One giant leap for Daddy! (and Logan).

Go Karts one last time!

Go Karts for all!


J.Micheal's Seafood Restaurant

Kayaking...

Some kayaking fun...........Kyle and Papa! These were taken from the camper's dining room window.

Conch Fritters......before & after

BEFORE.....

(from the Gulf...but we returned him)

AFTER.....

(from Margaritaville...but we ate them)

This weather is just out of control. Sunday it was pretty nice and seemed to be in the upper 80's, though I never checked. Yesterday was totally different.........at noon the weather channel said 92 and 'feels like' 104! That's a 12 degree difference. Of course, that is inland and not on the coast where we are but outside the air was just plain hot to breathe. We rode bikes a little in the morning and that was it.......we stayed inside most of the day. Samantha came over with the kids to use the computer and they just hung out inside, too. Tyler, the 4-year old, has been spending the night since Sunday. They all have to take turns....it works out better that way! :-)

Tuesday is $1 Movie day with $1 popcorn and $1 cokes so we'll all be inside the cool theater for a couple of hours anyway!

Several months ago, I bought a new bike: A Schwinn three-wheeler. I don't have any pics yet but will get some soon. It took me a few rides to get accustomed to the feel of it as it is somewhat different from riding a two wheeler but now I love it. Buddy (or even a grandkid) can ride in the basket. Here's the generic pic from the web site:

If Walmart kept one out on display, they could probably sell a lot more of them. We usually see another one in the park about once every week or so.

We get a lot of reaction and comments when riding it around the campground, especially if we have Buddy in the basket.

The 'lazy days of summer" are definitely here. The park is full almost every night and practically overflowing on the weekends. Yesterday we worked the By Pass at the front gate from 9am til 2pm. That is the second entrance they have open during the busy summer months. Cars are lined up to get in at 8am when the main gate opens and the flow is pretty steady til around 2pm or 3pm.

The grand kids stay with us off and on, usually one or two at the time. They ride bikes, fish, play at the playground, go kayaking, go to the beach, pool at the apt. etc., etc. There is always something going on and not much time for us to "rest"..... :-)

Wild Hogs!


Fishing with Papaw

Kayaking all at one time!

Wipe Out!

Pool fun at their apt.

On Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays there are $1 movies at several movie theaters around town and we go whenever there is something playing they haven't seen. Wednesday night kids under 12 eat free at Po Folks and they all enjoy going there.....they love the fried okra!

We found Tacky Jack's and they are supposed to open on June 15th. (Doesn't look like that's possible?) They are just down Thomas Drive, on St. Andrews Bay, in the restaurant formerly known as Dock Hoppers. We never went there so maybe that is why they closed! We will definitely do our best to keep Tacky Jack's open! Lol!

Mexican Garbage at TJ's

Backing up a few weeks, we had a great Memorial Day.

That morning, we went to the apartment to swim and grill out with Samantha, Nathan, Kyle, Logan & Tyler. The weather was beautiful and the food was excellent! We stayed until about 3:00 then headed back to the campground.

At 5:30 we met up with the other 13 hosts in the park and took two pontoon boats out for a sunset picnic. We cruised around St. Andrews Bay then went over toward the Hathaway Bridge to see the baby pelicans on the man-made island near the Port of Panama. Some pelicans and other shore birds have made it their home. In the pictures, the babies and juveniles are hiding behind the big concrete chunks. Their feathers are all white.

John & Teri and Floyd & Fran

Ed, Charles & Nancy

Mother Nature cooperated and the sunset was gorgeous. We definitely have to do that again!

We're still at St. Andrews State Park in Florida, just enjoying the beach and beautiful park.

Sam and I have both said that PCB would be perfect if there was just a Tacky Jack's restaurant. Now we've seen two billboards here saying "Tacky Jack's, coming soon to Panama City". This is our favorite place to eat in Orange Beach (and one in Gulf Shores is supposed to be completed in February 2012.) The signs don't say where but we are guessing and hoping they will build on the site of the old Treasure Ship on the water, across from Captain Anderson's. That would only be about one mile outside the park. Yea!

Here's my version of their Mexican Garbage:

Margarita with cherry flavoring and jerk chicken kabobs ready to grill!

Beach Bunny!