Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A visit from Family, Dolphins, Sea Turtle and a Pelcan !

Little Sheila and the kids drove all the way from Houston, Texas to visit Andy and I here in Destin, Florida. What a long way to drive, 9 to 10 hours each way, just to spend two days or so.  Dang, I feel special. lol

The weather wasn't all that great.  It rained quite a bit so we were kind of stuck indoors most of the time. We did get one nice day to hang out on the beach though.  We went to Okaloosa Beach which is right across the bridge form Destin, Florida and a 10 minute drive from Destin Army Recreation Area.  The beach area as restaurants, shops and a great place to people watch while laying on the white beach.  The water was nice and clear.

We had a wonderful day together. Lil Sheila and the kids were a blast. Wish we could have a had a few more days together.

There are restaurants, shops and a pier where you can fish from.  Thanks Sheila for the "sissy beverage"  lol.
The view of the beach and pier from our spot.
Slade, Erica, and Sheila
Isn't she cute !  love ya niece !
Great kids and so much fun !!
Garen, so dang cute. Don't let that face fool you...he is 18 months old... and he is hell on wheels !  lol
Bury me uncle Preston....duh..OK  !
Brothers hanging out on the beach..well one "under the beach"
Now this is cute
These guys walked right in front of me so I just had to take this picture.  Really guys !  Are you serious? The guy in the red shorts could hardly walk.  Is this suppose to be cool or am I just getting too dang old ?

Is this suppose to be cool or something ?


Sheila took us all out for dinner here.  They have alligators and all kinds of creatures. The food was good too. Thanks Niece !



Jaws ate Slade!


What a good sport.  I had to beg her to get this picture

If you are in the area I highly recommend to check this out.  No commercial properties of any kind. Undeveloped pristine beach.  If you like crowds this isn't the place for you.



No development of any kind here..beautiful unspoiled beach.

Andy packed us a picnic lunch, we grabbed our beach and fishing stuff, and we were off to the Beach for the day.  We decided to go to Navarre Beach which is about 30 minutes west of Destin.  What a beach it is !!  I think it is the best beach we have ever been too. Andy loved it so much the next day she was looking for condos, lol.

Andy can sit on a beach all day reading her kindle and just chilling. I can't ! It is really hard for me just to sit on a beach all day with nothing to do.  So a fishing I would go !  I even learned how to catch Sand Fleas.

Surf fishing on Navarre Beach !
I just had to cast a little bit farther out..lol
Catching Sand Fleas for bait.  Caught about 2 Dozen or so.
Yeppers...Preston strikes again. Pompano for dinner !  Well, Andy's dinner that is !  That woman can eat some fish !
I "WAS" catching fish until "Lil Miss Andy" decided to go for a swim...RIGHT WHERE I WAS FISHING ! lol


I also fished by the West Jetty in Destin one morning.  It is about a mile walk each way so I left the RV about 0700.  The wind was blowing a little bit but it was warm.  Andy decided not to go, she just hates the wind or maybe the "alone" time was the real excuse?

I must have been fishing for 30 minutes or so when a bunch of Dolphins came swimming by.  They were within 30 feet from shore. I grabbed my camera and started taking pictures until they were gone. Afterwards, I went back to fishing. But wait...what the hell !!!  Where is my fishing pole ?   I did bring two poles, where is the other one !   They were both set in the water with bait !!

It reminded me when I was fishing with Mark, in Key West, and a fish took my pole out of the boat because I wasn't minding my equipment.  It also reminded me when I lost two other poles in one fishing trip.  Isn't that right Keith..lol.

So back to my story !  Where is my pole ?  It must had been taken out to sea by the Dolphins. Maybe my line got caught on their fin or something ?  So in the water I went... walking parallel with the beach. At first about 5 feet from shore...then 10 feet...etc. I walked up and down the beach 50 yards in both directions.

I finally found it in about 3 feet of water about 30 feet from shore.  The tackle had been broken off but I was happy to get my fishing pole back !

They tried to steal my fishing pole and they even can't use it !  Bastards !   lol
My oh my...only one pole !
About an hour after the Dolphins tried to snatch my pole I had a "hit" !  I reeled my line in thinking I had caught something big and heavy.  It wasn't fighting very much but it sure was heavy.  When I could see what I had a caught... it was sad and funny.

I had caught a Sea Turtle. Yes that is right, a turtle.  It had actually snagged my old line that the dolphins had taken. The turtle had wrapped it self in my line and had a hook in it's mouth.

When I reeled it onto shore, I took a picture, not a good one as you can see. I took the hook out of it's mouth and untangled the line then set it free.  I think I was more scared of it than it was of me.

If you look closely you can see the sinker, egg lure and where it was hooked.
Oh, here is the kicker !  I did catch a fish !  However, I never even touched it !  As I was reeling it in a Pelican came out of no where and stole my fish !  No, it really happened.  He stole my fish and got all tangled in my fishing line.  So, here I am, reeling in a pelican.  It had gotten caught with my line around its wing. So here I am, AGAIN, getting another creature unhooked from my line.  He was meaner than a junk yard dog too.

I had enough...I WENT HOME !!


We had a storm come through the area the other day.  This is what happens went a nice big storm rolled in.  OUCH !  I wonder if the owners even know YET !

Casey's worst nightmare
Preston's worst nightmare

We meet a very nice couple here, Moe and Colette.  They live just down the road from here.  They were taking their new rig out for a test run.  We plan on seeing them again at the Elks Lodge for dinner this week.


There is a Harley in there too !




Thursday, April 17, 2014

Destin Florida and Destin Army Recretion Area


We are at Destin Army Recreation Area in Destin, Florida. Destin is located in the panhandle of Florida.

We have been here a week. We are scheduled to be here for at least one more but we might stay an extra week. We, I mean Andy, hasn't decided yet.  All I know is she loves it here and so do I.   She even looked at condos for sale !  lol

Epinephrine seems to like it here even though the sites are a little close.

This is the view around the RV park.   Yes, a little cloudy today but it remains nice and warm.

The front area where you can lay out and enjoy the view and the sunsets on the bay
Pool area 
Picnic area and pier

The next day after arriving we headed down, rode our bikes, to the boardwalk. We parked and chained the bikes by the restaurant we planned on eating at later.

The boardwalk is about a mile from the RV park.   There are many places to shop and eat. It was a nice day with temp's in the mid 70's with little wind.



Some wonderful views while strolling down the boardwalk.



What a beautiful place
Just goofing off and enjoying the nice day.  Do you notice anything different in Andy's right hand...nope..of course not.  She always has her gnome !

I am getting away from this ole crab !  lol
Silly kids....Preston Preston..take our picture !
Captain Bly and his Wench.

We headed to the beach the first chance we had.  Boy, am I glad we did !    The beaches are just plain wonderful.  The sand is white and soft. Many dolphins were swimming all around.

The people were very friendly, mostly young adults.  I believe most of the young adults were military guys.   However, there but quite a few families and old folks like us.

Feet up and enjoying the sun, water and views.
The "Best Beach" I have ever been to

During the heat of the day.
Texting..really !
These guys dug holes opposite sides..wa la..beer pong platform !

Note :  Pudds, I have been collecting sand, for you, from all the beaches we have visited and including Key West.  Give it to you when I head to Michigan in late May.

Andy decided to go play in the water

Ah ! refreshing...OK lets rock and roll !

Body surfing a nice wave...."surfing like she just don't care".    A little blurry..she was moving fast !

Nice wave...yahoo !!! oh no !  a rough wave !!

Getting ready for another one.

We decided to rent a pontoon boat from the Destin Army Recreation Area  for a few hours, the price was right.   After cruising the area for a bit we anchored on a big sand bar, with many others, in the middle of the bay. The water was about two feet deep.

Hanging out and having our picnic lunch

I am the only one with a Boating Safety Card so I was elected.  Keith was co-captain... NOT !  SEE BELOW

The 'Real Captains".   Peacocks keeping and eye on us.    Making sure we do things right !

Wish I had a fishing pole...dang !
Mr Cool !  Ever hear of top gun.  Well here is bottom gun !  Submariner.

It is a sad time again. We had to say goodbye to Bert and Keith, once again !  They decided to leave us and head north towards Chicago. I think they were missing the cold and work.

We have had a great time hanging out.  Hopefully we will see each other again in a few weeks. "Keep the light on for us" !