Gulf Islands National Seashore
Fort Pickens Campground
(Part Two)
HELPFUL TIP:
When you are on the Santa Rosa Island, and it is 30 minutes until sundown, go inside.
There are tiny mosquitoes that bite like crazy. They come out at dusk, and go away once it is completely dark. Deep Woods Off, bug bands, and the other bug repellents just don't work.
FRIDAY:
The boys woke up and immediately went for bike rides. The CEO made coffee and I made breakfast: my world famous egg-in-a-basket a la Mickey. From there we took a lazy start to the day. I drove to the cam p store by way of the beach and then back to the store. The scenery was just too gorgeous to not take in. We went back across the bridges to the mainland, and drove over to the National Naval Aviation Museum, the home of the Blue Angels.
It was an amazing place. Anything that was Navy and could fly was in there. Planes, blimps, kites, and streamers. Literally, everything that every flew that ever came in contact with the Navy, including some NASA stuff. There was a nice display for the Coast Guard in the corner. Fittingly, the St Louis products, the F-9s and F-18s took center stage. The Navy museum had a gift shop, so I bought an ARMY kite to fly at the beach.
By 1:00 pm, we'd made it back to Santa Rosa and over to Peg Leg Pete's. It was a local establishment that specialized in beer, shrimp, and fries. The burgers were $15. The shrimp basket was $6. Easy choice. The lunch baskets came out super full. The waitress was very nice. I had the local Peg Leg Pete's lager which was on tap. I ate all of my shrimp and fries, and most of my youngest's. I was so full on shrimp. What a great feeling! If you haven't been there, go. www.peglegpetes.com
At 3:30 pm, we were back at the beach. We had the place mostly to ourselves. The wind stayed breezy at about 10 mph. Flying a kite was not hard. I just held it in the air, and let go. We needed more kites: note for next time - more kites. The CEO and the boys splashed in the water. My oldest lost his water shoe, just the left one. It filled with sand and sank. The water was too brisk to go after it, so good bye shoe. Flip flops are great at the beach. Water shoes, not so much.
As the sun went down, we went back to camp. This time, we dodged the biting flies. We had another quick-starting campfire. Then it was bedtime. No city noises. No generators. Just the quiet ocean waves and breezes. No back pain. It was the best rest I've had in a long time.
SATURDAY:
This was a sad day for my boys, being as we had to leave. The CEO made a special allowance for a pre-dawn alarm, and we watched the sun come up over the horizon. It was a site to see. Us landlubbers don't usually see the actual sunrise.
Having put the trailer up and down six times this year, this time was cake. Everyone knew their job, and the gear was packed away quickly. We were on the road by 11:00 am, and we made it back to Mobile to have lunch with some of my cousins. Their church had a car show, and my Uncle put his VW van in the show. My boys really enjoyed all the different cars.
We made it up to Meridian, MS, that afternoon and checked into a Holiday Inn. Compared to the
Fort Pickens campground, it was OK, but sadly not as nice. We parked the Envoy and camper in the back corner and went to bed.
SUNDAY:
Well, what can be said for this day? We made it the rest of the way. We were sad to put Florida behind us yet once again. We'd left Missouri experiencing seasonable and warm weather. We returned to fall weather; cool and crisp. It took my at least a week to scrub the smile off my face...
HELPFUL TIP:
When you are on the Santa Rosa Island, and it is 30 minutes until sundown, go inside.
There are tiny mosquitoes that bite like crazy. They come out at dusk, and go away once it is completely dark. Deep Woods Off, bug bands, and the other bug repellents just don't work.
FRIDAY:
The boys woke up and immediately went for bike rides. The CEO made coffee and I made breakfast: my world famous egg-in-a-basket a la Mickey. From there we took a lazy start to the day. I drove to the cam p store by way of the beach and then back to the store. The scenery was just too gorgeous to not take in. We went back across the bridges to the mainland, and drove over to the National Naval Aviation Museum, the home of the Blue Angels.
By 1:00 pm, we'd made it back to Santa Rosa and over to Peg Leg Pete's. It was a local establishment that specialized in beer, shrimp, and fries. The burgers were $15. The shrimp basket was $6. Easy choice. The lunch baskets came out super full. The waitress was very nice. I had the local Peg Leg Pete's lager which was on tap. I ate all of my shrimp and fries, and most of my youngest's. I was so full on shrimp. What a great feeling! If you haven't been there, go. www.peglegpetes.com
At 3:30 pm, we were back at the beach. We had the place mostly to ourselves. The wind stayed breezy at about 10 mph. Flying a kite was not hard. I just held it in the air, and let go. We needed more kites: note for next time - more kites. The CEO and the boys splashed in the water. My oldest lost his water shoe, just the left one. It filled with sand and sank. The water was too brisk to go after it, so good bye shoe. Flip flops are great at the beach. Water shoes, not so much.
As the sun went down, we went back to camp. This time, we dodged the biting flies. We had another quick-starting campfire. Then it was bedtime. No city noises. No generators. Just the quiet ocean waves and breezes. No back pain. It was the best rest I've had in a long time.
SATURDAY:
This was a sad day for my boys, being as we had to leave. The CEO made a special allowance for a pre-dawn alarm, and we watched the sun come up over the horizon. It was a site to see. Us landlubbers don't usually see the actual sunrise.
Having put the trailer up and down six times this year, this time was cake. Everyone knew their job, and the gear was packed away quickly. We were on the road by 11:00 am, and we made it back to Mobile to have lunch with some of my cousins. Their church had a car show, and my Uncle put his VW van in the show. My boys really enjoyed all the different cars.
We made it up to Meridian, MS, that afternoon and checked into a Holiday Inn. Compared to the
Fort Pickens campground, it was OK, but sadly not as nice. We parked the Envoy and camper in the back corner and went to bed.
SUNDAY:
Well, what can be said for this day? We made it the rest of the way. We were sad to put Florida behind us yet once again. We'd left Missouri experiencing seasonable and warm weather. We returned to fall weather; cool and crisp. It took my at least a week to scrub the smile off my face...
