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!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
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!
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!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Day 16 the road back from South Padre
We left South Padre Island's Isa Blanca Park at about 8am when the office opened. The trip is about 560 miles and we made it in 12 1/2 hours mainly due to 8 stops and an extra hour on the Houston Beltway at 5pm. Driving wasn't bad at all, except for crawling 1 1/2 hours on the Houston Beltway. We had a lot of stops. The first two were for shrimp at Port Brownsville and at a fruit stand nearby for a big bag of onions, which is what is being grown in the Rio Grande valley this time of year. We have to stop every 100-125 miles for gas which accounts for all of the other stops except one for food.
Pulled in about 9 pm last night and everything is looking great. Great job Kelvin. Flowers have grown and yard is in good shape.
We'll be spending today (Friday, May 4) getting the RV & kayak unloaded and start clean up of them. Also getting ready for Windy's wedding tomorrow!
Maybe more kayaking in local lakes next week...
I missed the smell/sound/sight of the Ocean this morning when I walked outside, but it is good to be home for a while.
Pulled in about 9 pm last night and everything is looking great. Great job Kelvin. Flowers have grown and yard is in good shape.
We'll be spending today (Friday, May 4) getting the RV & kayak unloaded and start clean up of them. Also getting ready for Windy's wedding tomorrow!
Maybe more kayaking in local lakes next week...
I missed the smell/sound/sight of the Ocean this morning when I walked outside, but it is good to be home for a while.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Day 13, 14, & 15 @ South Padre Island, Texas
Having too much fun to find time to blog the last couple of days...but here's my attempt at catchup.
Monday April 30: Had a huge kayaking day! Sailed all the way out the channel from the bay to the Ocean! Connie survived and it was pretty calm today! I did forget to mention on our first day kayaking last week in the channel that the swells got higher than Connie's head. That was our key to come back into the bay. Much calmer Monday. We saw many, many dolphins in many places (some as close as 20' away) all along the channel as well as where the channel empties into the Ocean. It was a truly beautiful experience.
Tuesday May 1: The kayak is in the shop (mine) today for repairs. A little 5 minute epoxy ( 24 hour cure time) on a seat strap holder that stripped out. We spent a lot more time on the beach today. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Walked several miles along the beach. Swam and floated a bit. Sat and watched the world go by...we are getting good at this beach bum thing.
Back to today, May 2: Had another terrific kayak day. Went across and down the shipping channel towards Port Brownsville. I wanted to see if we could kayak to South Bay (good fishing) and still have enough steam to get back. We did with plenty of leg power to spare. We saw several dolphins on this route too. I also saw a small sea turtle. We kayaked back from South Bay and then further down the bay to a restaurant for lunch, then back up the bay to the county park boat launch afterwards. We kayaked at least 5+ miles, probably closer to 8 miles as we were tacking back and forth to keep wind in the sail. You didn't think we did this all with leg power..did you? Hah! Although it is necessary to slowly pedal when using the sail to help with tacking turns. Then took our last trip to the beach. Another beautiful afternoon with lots of sun, sand, and surf. I found my first real sand dollar shell. So pretty! We must pack up & leave in the morning...Boohoo! We shall return, but it may be next spring.
Monday April 30: Had a huge kayaking day! Sailed all the way out the channel from the bay to the Ocean! Connie survived and it was pretty calm today! I did forget to mention on our first day kayaking last week in the channel that the swells got higher than Connie's head. That was our key to come back into the bay. Much calmer Monday. We saw many, many dolphins in many places (some as close as 20' away) all along the channel as well as where the channel empties into the Ocean. It was a truly beautiful experience.
Tuesday May 1: The kayak is in the shop (mine) today for repairs. A little 5 minute epoxy ( 24 hour cure time) on a seat strap holder that stripped out. We spent a lot more time on the beach today. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Walked several miles along the beach. Swam and floated a bit. Sat and watched the world go by...we are getting good at this beach bum thing.
Back to today, May 2: Had another terrific kayak day. Went across and down the shipping channel towards Port Brownsville. I wanted to see if we could kayak to South Bay (good fishing) and still have enough steam to get back. We did with plenty of leg power to spare. We saw several dolphins on this route too. I also saw a small sea turtle. We kayaked back from South Bay and then further down the bay to a restaurant for lunch, then back up the bay to the county park boat launch afterwards. We kayaked at least 5+ miles, probably closer to 8 miles as we were tacking back and forth to keep wind in the sail. You didn't think we did this all with leg power..did you? Hah! Although it is necessary to slowly pedal when using the sail to help with tacking turns. Then took our last trip to the beach. Another beautiful afternoon with lots of sun, sand, and surf. I found my first real sand dollar shell. So pretty! We must pack up & leave in the morning...Boohoo! We shall return, but it may be next spring.
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