In Search of White Sand Beaches

Here we are at Lulu's!
Beautiful day!

Leaving our anchorage at Ingram's Bayou

 

Here are those white sandy beaches!
Looks like snow!



Mike, Jeff and Jim
What a threesome!!



Ready, Set, Let's fly!!



Watching the Blue Angels taxi down the runway

Sunset at Navarre Beach

A fishing boat passing us by

Dragging her nets

After a nine day stay in Fairhope, AL we were definitely ready to begin our journey in search for those white sandy beaches and warmer temperatures. Wednesday, we headed east along with Jeremiah and Sweet Pea by way of the Inter-Coastal Waterway. It wasn't long before the water became clearer and the beaches whiter. Even the dolphins decided to pay us a visit!

We stopped along the way at Lulu's for a sandwich. Lulu's Restaurant is a huge place right on the ICW. It's owned by Lucy Buffet, Jimmy's sister. Great food and great drinks. I had one of their famous "bushwhackers". Lots of rum! Wow, they are soooo good!

We spent a little too much time at Lulu's so we had to hurry along. We had planned to spend the night on the hook. We didn't want to try to find a good anchorage in the dark. We made it just in time to Ingram's Bayou. We had been told that this place was a very good anchorage with lots of sandy beaches. We were also told to be careful if we had pets that needed to go ashore. Alligators had been seen on shore! Glad we could just stay on the boat! We dropped the hook and watched the sunset. Jeremiah and Sweet Pea had opted to stay at a marina – The Wharf – a few miles back.

Thursday morning brought us cold temperatures! There was ICE on the deck – again! – And it was 28 degrees! We really need to get further south quick! It didn't take too long before it began to warm up a little but I just kept thinking about what it must be like in Key West…… well, at least we weren't in Michigan!

Just about the time we were pulling out from Ingram's Bayou along comes Sweet Pea and Jeremiah. We all traveled together on to Pensacola. It was a fairly short day. We decided to stay at a marina overnight since the forecast was still saying - COLD! We headed for Palifox Pier which is right downtown in Pensacola. Palifox Pier is a really nice marina. For dinner we walked over to the Atlas Oyster Bar. A dozen of huge oysters for only $10.00! This place has a really neat feel to it too. We all had a great time! I had something called St. Augustine rolls – made with alligator. Not bad!!

On Friday we decided that we'd stay another day so we could check out the Naval Aviation Museum. The Museum is on the Navy Base here in Pensacola. We have been to Pensacola several times but we had never been to the Museum. We called a cab and we all squeezed in for the ride. Luckily it wasn't too far!

We all enjoyed the Museum and the IMAX Theater there. The movie was - "The Magic of Flight". That was my first IMAX movie. We then took a trolley ride around the flight line where all the old planes are staged. While we were in the trolley – we were able to see the Blue Angels land. They taxied right down the runway in front of us!! How cool is that!

We spent most of the day at the Museum. When we did get back to the boats; it was Happy Hour time on NautiNell. We then decided to walk downtown and find a good place to eat dinner. The marina is located in the Old Seville Quarter area and there are several bars and restaurants all around. Just as we left the marina, we were entertained by a group of young men caroling! This is just so cool!!! We found a place at the Old Seville Quarter building – the Palace Oyster Bar - . This building is really a neat one – it has been restored and really has the ambiance. There was a private party going on in the larger room – and guess who was there! Santa! So not only did we have carolers this evening – we got to see Santa! It just couldn't get any better! LOL! We ate a really good meal and topped it off with fresh "beignets"! Dale and Jim had never had them before – so I knew they needed to try them. They were just as wonderful as I remembered. We didn't even have to go to New Orleans!

Saturday it was so much warmer! Now that's more like it! The guys rode their bikes to Joe Patti's Seafood. This is the best place to get fresh seafood! It comes right off the boats and into Joe Patti's. Mike bought fresh shrimp, oysters and fish. Can't wait to try it all!

Mike and I left Pensacola about noon. We wanted to go to an anchorage somewhere. The others decided they would wait until morning to leave. We had a great travel day to Navarre Beach. We anchored out just a short way from the beach and the beach bar "Juana's Pagoda Bar". We had planned to dinghy over to the bar, but we ended up just relaxing on the sundeck and watching the sunset – again. Never get too tired of that! Mike grilled out steaks and we had a wonderful evening. We will hook up with the others again in the morning sometime. We will be headed to Destin. We plan to anchor there for a day or two.

 

Does it get any prettier than this??

Till next time!

Admiral "C"