Quiet Time on the Bay

It’s quiet in the campground with all the little eggs gone.  Some monster sized rigs have come in to take their place but it’s been so cold, everyone is holed up inside.

We went to bed early last night after spending all day inside.  Fixed an indoor meal of spaghetti and leftover chicken, splurged on a chocolate pudding cup and hot chocolate and jumped under the covers by 9PM.

Woke up hot this morning, threw off a layer of blankets and reached for my phone.  36 degrees outside according to the Weather Channel, how can I be hot?  Checked the temp inside and the gauge said 48 ⁰ .  I guess it’s the JC Penne’ comforter because the only place that’s warm is buried under the covers!

This is our last full day at Fort Pickens Campground and the weather station promised abundant sunshine!  Not sure if it will be warm enough to kayak before we leave….and the bikes remain packed in the back of the truck.  I’m thinking maybe a long hike to the fort and back?

Tomorrow we’re heading east along the panhandle to join friends from home who are camping (for the month) at Mexico Beach.  Not sure what to expect but they’re fishermen, well, she’s a fisherwoman!  Hope to learn a little about Florida surf fishing.

This has been a great place to camp, just wish it had been a little warmer.  Noticed that next weeks temps are all in the 60’s!

 

 Notice the big grins!  A frequent sight among our Casita group.

 

Unidentified orange flower… thought it might be Florida rosemary but the petals are not right.                                                                        

         

 

                                              

                                            Sunset over the gulf

 

                                                                                                  More unidentified flowers.    

Some locals showed me a path close to the nature trail that led out to the bay.  Although I was not too far from the campground, it felt like I was in my own private world. 

The rest of the pictures are from that walk.

                                                                   

                                                                      Jellyfish

   Dead Octopus

 

 Little black balls with a tar-like feeling.  Wondered if it was from the oil spill?

 More sea creatures???

Pensacola Bay front

 

                                                              Sand Pipers (?)

Don’t know if we will see much more of the beach after this week as most of our plans are for the interior of FL.  I have loved this ocean time.

Day 5 Pickens/Museum/Lighthouse

This is day 5 at Fort Pickens campground and the first time we have spent all day off the island.  Taking our Casita friends’ recommendations, we went to visit the Naval Museum and the Pensacola Lighthouse. 

Yesterday we toured the old structures of Fort Pickens which are just a mile or so west of the campground.

The other 4 days were spent getting to know more Casita people and solitary walking on the beaches and trails.  Now we are down to 4 trailers and I can finally call everyone by name.

Today was supposed to be a cloudy chilly day and that is how it turned out to be, but this morning it was nice with sun filtering through the clouds and enjoying breakfast outside.  Our agenda for the day, in order of importance was  lunch, the lighthouse, the museum, and groceries.  At the last minute I realized it was also important to me to get back through the gates before dark.  We almost did not get back in the one time we went out to dinner…couldn’t get the combination right!

We are on the western end of a barrier island next to the entrance of Pensacola Bay.  Looking south from the walls of the old fort you can see the Gulf on Mexico stretching out forever, looking north there is the huge Pensacola Bay with bitter winds creating waves not unlike the ocean next door.

Fort Pickens

 

entrance to Pensacola Bay

Pensacola Lighthouse

Naval Museum

Blue Angels

Lunar Landing

This last picture is of Bob Hope entertaining the troupes….

 

Although this post has some major flaws, it has been a long day and I am going to hit publish .  Trying to change to Live Writer and I have not figured it out.

Hope to publish more pictures soon.