FTJ, Entry 136: The Forgotten Coast? Fuhgeddaboudit.

Well, based on the past 25 days, during which we got maybe four decent warm sunny ones, we won't be back to the Forgotten Coast. It has been cold, cloudy, rainy, or foggy most of this month, and we are sick of it. We can only hope that when our friends Jack and Allison visit next month, this dismal dreariness will have passed. Right now, it looks like cold and cloudy and rainy and crappy will prevail for at least the next week, maybe longer. Yuck.

Fortunately, we attended a party here at the park and got to meet some very nice people. As a result, Beau is keeping busy helping build a float for the upcoming Camp Gordon Johnston parade, which is the highlight of the celebratory Camp Gordon Johnston weekend. The weekend honors veterans, and in particular, the amphibian soldiers who trained here (some on the beach right across from us) for the Normandy invasion. Sponsored by the local WWII museum, festivities include a reunion of veterans, a parade, and a free lunch for anyone who wants to come. 

Beau may ride on the float with the other veterans. In that I have had a rotten upper respiratory infection (I get sick every time we visit here -- another reason not to come back), I have been out of the loop on the plans.

We have only been able to go to the beach once. Haven't even bothered to go to the beautiful beach at St. George Island -- too cold and crummy.

Some photos of the good and the bad  follow.

First, the good:

Our ONE nice beach day.

I have been in long pants and sweatshirts since this photo was taken.

At first, Beau thought there was a small shark in the water -- but he actually saw a fin from this stingray, floating along in a few inches of water, right off the shore.

Took this shot of a magnificent Great Blue Heron at a place called Indian Pass,
about 40 minutes or so from us.

This guy was maybe 20 feet from a fisherman, waiting for scraps.

On one cloudy day (what else is new?) we took a trip out to Cape San Blas, considered one of the best -- if not THE best -- beaches in the country, but we were not particularly impressed. A few homes along the sand, and not much else out there. Too remote for us.

In general, Cape San Blas has the same look as the Outer Banks.

It also has its own weirdness.

On another non-rainy, yet cool day, we went out to lunch in Apalachicola, at a nice little cafe called Tamara's.

Now the bad:

Our typical weather of late.

 

And this is a GOOD day (not raining).

Considering we have another month here, we are REALLY hoping to see the sun soon. And it's frigging cold. Harrumph.

Tanks, Panky

P.S. Another disappointment for Beau: His favorite BBQ place here, the one he raved about the entire year we traveled on our bucket list trip, has gone downhill. But it's about the only game in town, so we keep giving it another chance. Beau may just end up in the kitchen talking/consulting with/complaining to the chef, ya never know.