FTJ, Entry 147: Condo Conundrum

So here we are ensconced in a vacation condo, on St. Simons Island. It's nice, but smells like people smoked in it, although it is a nonsmoking unit.

Outside it's gorgeous weather, and there is a very nice pool...but nobody's home. I guess the complex is full of renters (non-existent so far) and/or working people. So we could likely get the pool to ourselves most days -- although I saw a guy soaking in it today. He might be a homeless person. Yuck. Maybe that's how he keeps clean. Oh double yuck.

We are getting the rig ready for storage, so we have yet to relax here and settle down. Makes me feel a bit restless, rootless, and puzzled about life, as usual.

I guess this change is unsettling. And a bit isolating.

Enough of that. Here are photos of our experience so far:

Our  living area

 

These condos always feature crappy cabinets.

Master bedroom

Guest bedroom

Views of the Sydney Lanier bridge, spanning the Brunswick River and leading to St. Simons Island.

 

Vistas of the Golden Isles from the bridge

 

Typical look of St. Simons Island roads.

A lovely park right down the street

 

We had dinner here last night -- a funky Italian/pizza joint called CJ's in downtown St. Simons. Very good!

Tomorrow may be a better day for my mood. Happier blogs to come! Much love to all.

    

Tanks, Panky

FTJ, Entry 146: Marching to Georgia

Our last day at Panama City Beach (Sunday) was another gorgeous one. We met a nice couple, Kim and Mike, the day before we left -- of course. Oh well, we hope to stay in touch.

Here are some last photos from PCB:

A lovely cove at St. Andrews State Park, which was 1000 feet down the road from our RV park.

We had lunch in the pavilion at the park.

A few days ago we ate at yet another cute beachfront restaurant, Sharky's. All these places start to look the same, don't they? The big shark, the cute signs, the funky atmosphere. 

Love 'em!

 

 

On the Road Again--and Fueling with the Big Boys

We left PCB a couple of days early, since the trip to Brunswick, GA, was a long schlep (7 hours) and we wanted to take it easy--we like 4-5 hour trips, so we stayed one night in Lake City, FL, right off I-10.

On the way, I suddenly realized it was spring. Duh! The seasons tend to blend together in Florida, and being retired, we often forget what month we are in to boot. For that matter, we have to really concentrate to recall the day of the week. So sad.... 

The spring wildflowers along the highway were really lovely.

There was little else on this trip to break the monotony other than a stop to refuel.

Yeah, baby, we in da big leagues now! We filled up the tank at a truck stop -- whoo-wee! Big leagues, indeed,  both in terms of size and fuel price. (I am trying to jazz up this blog, to no avail.) 

Ouch! A painful purchase.

 

 

Yawn. I am boring myself.

To bring this to a merciful end, we arrived at the Coastal Georgia RV Resort in Brunswick around 1 pm. It is a very nice place, very manicured, and much like Carrabelle RV Resort, without the beach. And with quite a bit more civilization nearby.

So the next step is packing up for the transition to our condo rental on beautiful St. Simons Island. Beau is nervous. Two months in a stationery home? Wow, what a concept.  I think he might end up preferring the RV life, but this is a trial run. 

Keeping fingers crossed the rental is not a dump!

Hope this is not our patio....

We will let you know, of course, my dears.

OMG, just shoot me if I write another boring blog like this.

Tanks, Panky

FTJ, Entry 145: Spring Break Broke: Alone Again

So Spring Break is pretty much over here in PCBeach. We are one of just a handful of RVs left in the resort, and the traffic along the beach is back to normal. Other than the annoying music coming from the bar across the way until 2 am most nights, it is pretty quiet. 

Maybe too quiet? A big change from the hubbub of the RV resort activities we experienced at Fort Myers Beach and Carrabelle. In fact, this place has no activities at all, and the people (including us, I guess) are not at all outgoing. As a result, there's not a lot to report.

Let me think. Well, the weather has been perfect. Blue skies, a nice breeze, and 80 degrees or so every single day so far. No complaints on that score.

Other than that...eh, this is boring. As I am short on exciting news and low on words, I will finish this entry in pictures.

The long view of the beach.

A closer view. Beautiful from both angles.

"Hey Lady, get out of the way. You're spoiling my shot!"

Me again, in front of one of the local fishing piers. You have to pay a fee to go out on them, and pay a bit more to fish from them.

This guy was totally at ease around people. Just waiting for scraps from the fishermen.

There is a terrific shopping area called Pier Park that has everything...including Duckboat tours and train rides for the kids.

The last of the spring breakers?

Cute Pirate Shooting Gallery at Pier Park.

Buddy at lunch.

I think we will go visit this on a rainy/cloudy day. The model of the Titanic is quite arresting.

A local watering hole called J. Michael's. We dined here with Marge and Don our second night in PCB. They left the next day, unfortunately.

The two of us had dinner one night at Schooner's beachside restaurant just down the street, where there is a lively crowd, music, sand sculptures, and a lovely sunset view.

 

Yesterday we enjoyed a drink and some oysters at Tacky Jack's, which is on a pretty bay right near our RV resort. The bartender loved Buddy, who sat on top of the bar in his carrying bag and had chicken tenders for a snack.

WHOA!  Are we in Florida or California? Odd names for streets here, methinks.

Zzzzzzzz. Hey, wake up!

I know, I know. Not the most stimulating of blogs. But we are boring at the moment. In fact, Beau is becoming a bit restless. I think he needs more socializing (besides, it gives me good blog material). Maybe we should reach out to the few remaining RVers in the park? Hmm -- I am not so keen on that. They look kind of dull and boring. HA! (They probably say the same thing about us.) 

Finally, I have been meaning to include this photo of Beau's T-shirt (this shot was taken at Carrabelle, actually). It is a great message, and rather appropriate for him.

Hope all is well with everyone. 

You can go back to your naps now.

Tanks, Panky

FTJ, Entry 144: Webe Panamanians Now

Sweet mother of God, the Boo was finally fixed (one thousand, nine hundred and sixteen freakin' dollars later, people!) and we departed Carrabelle early Friday afternoon. After two months there, as lovely as it was, we were more than ready to move on.

After all our pals departed, Buddy and I were perhaps becoming a bit depressed at Carrabelle....I think those tissues were used snotrags from our crying jags.

We said goodbye to new friends Ross, Mary and their dog Bebe, and, as Beau would say, "in a cloud of donkey dust" took our leave. Adieu, adieu, Carrabelle.

A nice view during the trip.

In a little over 2 hours, we arrived at Panama City Beach. 

The Report from PC Beach

Panama City Beach is very lively, very nice. Fortunately, the spring break is winding down here, but the traffic along the beachfront is still quite horrendous. Really, though, what do we care? It isn't like we need to get anywhere urgently. And it is entertaining to see the kids walking in groups on the sidewalks, bikinied and barefooted (and more than likely blitzed). Well, a bit more entertaining for Beau, perhaps.

Just an aside: The Boo had seemed fine, but we now intermittently hear a new and strange noise coming from the back rear tire area. What next? Shudder, shudder.

Our new place, the Panama City Beach RV Resort, is very nice, and quite upscale, with large paved sites and a convenient location across the street from the beach. Somewhat like the Carrabelle Beach RVC Resort, actually, except with a lot more retail surrounding it. We are here until the end of the month.

By coincidence, a couple we met briefly in Carrabelle -- Don and Marge -- are also here. We are heading out to dinner with them tonight, since they leave tomorrow.

Our site at PC Beach.

 

There is a Dutch Star RV like ours right across from us, but it has come down with some horrendous engine disease. I hope it's not catching....

Keep yer distance, infected one!

Marge and Don, whom we met in Carrabelle.

We took a walk to see the famous beach, and it is certainly impressive. And blinding white in the sun. The weather is mid to high 70s and perfect.

As for the town of Panama City Beach, there are tons of things to do (translation: spend money on). And the best part? Real stores/nice stores.  I, who hate grocery shopping, almost collapsed with joy when we went to Publix for some supplies. I had some sort of weird papaya exposure attack, right in the produce aisle. Then, just seeing a bottle of my pomegranate/blueberry Trop50 juice nearly gave me a seizure. I should have taken my re-exposure to civilization in stages, I suppose. A real shock to the system, but wonderful nonetheless. (I was not alone: I think Beau cried a little when he saw the maple walnut coffee cake in the Publix bakery.)

We're ba-a-a-ck, baby! Let the spending orgy begin. Visit us in the poorhouse.

I love these beach houses. Very Key West.

Oh Yeah -- the Oddities...

Finally, I have been neglecting to include any new oddities during our travels, so here are just a few:

I'm sure that fried gizzards would solve my life problems. Might be worth a try.

Love the "inside dinin, food ta go" catch phrases.

PC Beach mini golf decor.

 

And below, my personal fave of these newest oddities. I saw him on the street, and exclaimed, "He's sexy and he knows it -- good for you!" He said nothing, but gave me a little Mona Lisa smile, which really charmed me, so then I asked if I could take his photo. Mr. Self Confidence, saying not a word, just turned around and posed.

How adorable is he? The shirt says "SEXY AND I KNOW IT." And oh mama, check out those socks!
Ya gotta love teenagers. I laugh every time I look at his legs. Too cute.

Till next time.  Big hug and a Happy Easter to all of our friends, old and new.

Tanks, Panky