Crab Island in Destin Bay

Crab Island is really a very large sandbar with a lot of 2-3' deep clear emerald green clear water where all of the "cool" people hang out in boats (from large yachts down to kayaks). There are also commercial boats with music and food to sell (to include roving ice cream/boiled peanut boats).

Our first stop of the day was Dewey Destins Seafood Restaurant on the Bay (reached by way of the kayak). This is the best fried food seafood restaurant in the Destin area. Still haven't tried it's newer version, which is Dewey Destins on the Harbour.

The following are a bunch of pictures I took out at Crab Island standing in about 2' of water. Some of Connie and the Kayak and some are just to show the number and diversity of boats in this area.

There were a lot of bigger boats (yaghts) at the outside of the group of boats, but we were towards the center when I started taking pictures.

Boy am I ever behind

OK, here we are arriving at Emerald Beach RV Park as posted by Captain Jack, aka the Belly.

Sign at the entrance...

We have a small beach here at the RV park on the Bay, but can drive about a mile across the bridge to the main Navarre Beach Park on the Gulf side of Santa Rosa Island.

My best shot of me (my legs while in a beach chair) at Navarre Beach.

Also, this is the 30" redfish I did not catch from the Navarre Pier (although Connie and I did see it being caught). Too bad he could not keep it due to it being over 28".

We have done much more to include a 4 hour road trip east to St. George Island, but no time to show pics on this tonight.

 It rained for about 5 days (Thursday thru last Monday), but it good again now. What Connie and I did while it was raining shown below.

We plan to spend a lot of time kayaking Destin Harbor this next week. I'll try to do better and catch up on this blog.

Love my family and happy Fathers Day to all Fathers tomorrow!

Smore @ Navarre Beach Florida

Had a great kayak run this morning up the bay, about a 3 mile total run. No sail this morning as wind was low.

Made a cruiser run to Fort Walton to check out the Okaloosa Pier and Fort Walton Beach. Both look good although best beach water was out about 100' from beach.

Had left kayak tied up at the RV beach and planned another good run late this afternoon, but wind has picked up close to 30 MPH. Probably not going to go back out later, unless wind dies down below 20 MPH. May have to move the kayak further up the beach to stay out of harms way.

Day "something or other" in the Florida Panhandle

Arose late. First thought was to explore east beyond Panama City (St. George's Island State Park), but it was too late to start (about 3.5 hour drive to furthermost point) when we got ready.
Also too late (and hot) for a morning kayak in Santa Rosa Bay (where we are).
Explored west to Pensacola/Fort Pickens. Checked out Fort Pickens RV campground for a possible future stay, then on to the real "Fort Pickens" for a tour. Really neat! I think Fort Pickens was originated in the 1830s, saw action during the Civil War, and also was used during WWII. Really old stuff. Millions of bricks (walls 4+ feet thick). Also checked out Pensacola Beach and Pier for the near future on the trip back.

OMG...we actually got the kayak into the Bay this evening. Only had about an hour before dark, but the wind was 15-20MPH and it was great sailing! My only problem is dealing with the sail when beaching (flap-flap-flap)...gotta work on my  beaching technique! Left the kayak locked up down at our RV park beach for tonight to enable any early trip out into the Bay in the morning!

Wish us luck for an early arising for kayaking as we don't have an alarm clock (and ain't gonna get one!).

Day 5 in glorious downtown Navarre Beach

Still not much to write about as we are still on the mend from allergies...but nearly well.

Even so, we are spending glorious days at the local Navarre beach with white sugar sand, emerald water, and lots of other fun loving people! Plan to do the same tomorrow, but will get with the Kayak program come Monday!

More to come...even the promised pictures!

Day 2 @ Navarre Beach Florida

Did not post yesterday, day 1, as we just cruised the coast from Pensacola  to Destin checking stuff out. Connie is still pretty out of it with allergy and nasal infection.

Day 2 was spent at Navarre Beach, about a mile across the bridge from our RV site, which is on the mainland, but which has Santa Rosa Bay access. We have a beach canopy which let us stay on the beach from 8 am until 5 pm. It was great with the sights and sounds all day long. We'll get into kayaking as soon as Connie is well enough. Plan to kayak the Santa Rosa Bay (where we are) and the coast off Navarre Beach as it is much calmer ocean here than at South Padre Island. Also plan to spend a lot of time in Destin Harbor (25 miles away) and many points to the east of Destin and even Panama City.

It is too good to be true here with all this crystal white sand and emerald water. We have a base camp and plan to explore for future trips from here. We are loving it!

Oh yeah...we ate some great seafood stuff...but I'm not supposed to focus on that!

Day 1 @ Lake Palestine

Arrived to spend the week with Connie's sister, Kathy and her husband John Schexnayder late this afternoon. Unpacked and then went out for a short run in the kayak with Bradley (their son). I think he enjoyed it too. Got
some good compliments at the  marina on our "slow ride" kayak.
Back to the condo for food and relax time. No post tomorrow as it's MOMMA'S DAY. Going to see Mom at the nursing home, so no kayaking.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MOTHERS...WE LOVE YOU!