Places Visited:

Florida: Henderson Beach SP Destin, Beaches of South Walton & Top Sail
Hill RV Resort/State Park located east of Destin

Monday, October 21, 2002
We drove 50-miles from Pensacola to Destin's Henderson Beach SP. Henderson Beach SP. Site
#33 50amp pull-thru $19.72 within walking distance to the worlds most
beautiful beaches.

After spending a week at home having some repairs done to the
motorhome we are on the road again. The frustrating dash air in the
motorhome seems to be fixed. My mechanic is just as happy as I am.
This last 7-hours of labor and $70 recharge of freon was on him, thank
goodness. Joyce spent last week mailing shower invitations. We will
be on the road for 13 or 14 days this time before returning to
Pensacola to vote and get the house ready for the shower.

Although this will make the 3rd time we have visited Henderson Beach
State Park recently we have not been able to do everything Joyce had
on our list. Each of the other times we were evacuated from the SP
because of Tropical Storms/Hurricanes heading our way. This time the
emerald water is peaceful.

We spent an hour or so watching the fishing fleet return. Destin has
a month long fishing tournament (October) and many fish were being
weighed in today. An 80-pound Amberjack was the largest fish today.
For those of you that do not know an 80-pound Amberjack is a BIG fish.
Junior anglers weighed in a number of 20-pound snapper. The top red
snapper stands at 34-pounds. We saw many large red snapper but none
of the adults thought their fish would seriously challenge the
34-pounder so did not choose to have theirs weighed. So far the
largest fish in the tournament is a 297-pound Warsaw grouper. If you
were thinking of a fishing trip you would be hard pressed to top a
trip out of Destin.

Did I mention that there is a big full moon out tonight? Is there
anything better than a moonlit walk on the beach with the love of your
life?

Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Henderson Beach SP. Site #33 50amp pull-thru $19.72 within walking
distance to the worlds most beautiful beaches.

Joyce had a full day planned for us. She has been cutting articles
out of Southern Living Magazine for years about quaint little places
to shop and visit along highway 30-A (the Beaches of South Walton). A
few short years ago this drive along the Gulf of Mexico was
uninhabited except for the small hamlets of Seagrove Beach and Grayton
Beach.. That has changed! This stretch of beach has been found.
Today one upscale planned community abuts the next haute enclave.
Upscale might not give the proper conation. BMW's and Mercedes are as
common as fleas. It was here that I viewed my first Lincoln pickup
truck.

At Seaside Joyce went "shopping" while I inquired about "minimum"
prices of some of the residences. I was told that 3-beach front lots
(40'x 80') remained and the cheap one was $1.9 M as in Million for the
lot with 40' facing the Gulf. Logic will tell you that if you are
going to spend that kind of jack on a lot you "must" construct a
commensurate "cottage". I was recently informed that homes in
Rosemary Beach cost $400 per-square foot for construction. I don't
know what part of the country you are from but "upscale" homes in this
area are regularly constructed for less than $70 per-square foot.
Curiosity got the best of me as I picked up a free Seaside real estate
magazine to see what was available. The cheapest was 1754 sq. ft. for
$875K on the other end was a bungalow of 1980 sq. ft for a paltry
$3.4M and "Pelican Perch" all of 3673 sq. ft. for only $3.5M. As I
quickly scanned the offerings it looked like most were on the block
for around $2.5M. Now mind you Seaside is not the ritziest community
on the strip. Rosemary Beach is offering homes from .5M. Lots in
Rosemary Beach start at $135K then you add your $400 per sq. ft.
residence. Rosemary Beach's advertisement says "Rich in tranquility
and flavored with West-Indies style architecture, Rosemary Beach's
homes are set among the windswept vegetation and sugar-white beaches
of Northwest Florida's magnificent coastline". To that I might add
you might want to "keep on truckin" if you are not an Enron executive
or one of their ilk. To say these new communities are pumping
unbelievable money into the economy of this area would be a gross
understatement.

Several signs caught our attention: On a million dollar cottage
"Salty Sisters", we liked that one. On a business marquee "Give some
people an inch and they think they are a ruler". On the back window
of a pick-up truck " Tattooed White Trash". On the marquee of a dance
hall closed for the season "Free beer tomorrow". Inside a locals
restaurant "A man never gets in trouble for doing the dishes" and
"Caution men Cooking".

The following classified advertisement caught our attention: Willing
to trade - Spectacular panoramic vistas at Troon Golf's 63
championship holes at Eagle Ridge Golf Course await a Seaside owner
willing to trade a week in Seaside for a week in the Galena Territory
at Eagle Ridge Inn and Resort in Illinois. 4BR, 3.5BA. Passes to
Owner's Club private pool and marina included. Pictures available.
Call __.

That "Galena Territory/Troon Golf's 63" place must be something
special!

We spent some time in the Gourd Garden located 2-miles east of Seaside
on highway 30-A. The Gourd Garden is "The Nursery" supplying upscale
residences around here with native vegetation plus a plethora of truly
unique curios that make fancy women's hearts race uncontrollably.
Gourds of every description hang from arbors throughout the grounds.
>From smooth to gnarly large to small elegant to utilitarian the
diversity is enormous. The Gourd Garden is first and foremost a
roadside attraction with nursery and gardens, and curio shop rolled
into one. If you are interested you can peruse many of the items from
the comfort of your own home at www.gourdgarden.com. This quaint
establishment does a booming business since most of these new upscale
communities have covenants requiring native vegetation. Native
vegetation does not require nearly as much water and does not need to
be sprayed for critters. In short it is generally self-sufficient.
Native vegetation also provides food for wild animals and birds.
Flowering plants that attracted butterflies were the big sellers while
we were there. It didn't hurt that monarch butterflies were migrating
by the thousands along the coast and were covering every flower in
sight.

Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Henderson Beach SP. Site #33 50amp pull-thru $19.72 within walking
distance to the worlds most beautiful beaches.

It rained all day giving us an opportunity to get into a few good
books we have recently purchased. We did go out for a Mexican supper
around five although Joyce offered to cook. As we made our way back
into the park tonight I asked as the ranger if they gave money back
when it rained. The look on the ranger's face was priceless. Park
Rangers are generally humor impaired, this one was no exception. In a
very stern distinctly male tone he informed us that there were NO
refunds for rain. I replied that I was just checking but thanks just
the same.

Joyce and were discussing interesting people we have met on this trip.
Bruce Cheves the emcee for Destin's month long Fishing Tournament
qualifies for his uniqueness. He is the typical, 50-year old fish
head. Clad in faded attire complete with beach thongs and omnipresent
cigarette. Rough around the edges, a quintessential GOB (Good Old
Boy). He was wired for sound and __kept up a constant chatter. He
spoke continuously about various fishing tips all the while a
cigarette hanging from his lips. He bantered with all the captains
and mates that came within sight. Fetching females were harassed
whether he knew them or not. The ones dressed like hootchie-mamas
were particularly denigrated. Since he had the microphone with
amplifier and big speakers there was no sense in giving his stuff back
to him (you always lose to the one with the microphone). During slow
times he would pick up a water hose and spray nearby pelicans or
mallards. This gave him much amusement whereupon he would burst forth
with a guttural chuckle much like Dracula upon spying another hapless
victim. Even those of us that did not think squirting birds with
water was particularly funny would burst out laughing at his sheer
delight in tormenting the avian spectators. One of his fingers was
wrapped in a paper towel. He explained that he had cut the tip end of
his finger off mishandling a large red snapper. At one point he ask
the crowd what they would do if stung by a stingray or jellyfish? The
crowd responded with the local remedy of applying meat tenderizer. He
agreed meat tenderizer was a good treatment but insisted urine was
even better because it contained ammonia. The crowd roared with
laughter. Of course the crowd wanted to know if he had "medicated" his
finger. A little rough around the edges yes, but he won Joyce's heart
as two junior anglers ages five and eight came in on a charter boat
each with prize winning fish. He gave his full attention to these
young boys as their fish were weighted. He ascertained their names,
ages place of residence etc., in essence everything an emcee could do.
These children were the center of attention as the crowd applauded.
Then he had them stand with their fish and Miss Destin as the official
Tournament photographer recorded their accomplishment. We have
attended a number of fishing tournaments over the years in Pensacola
where the junior anglers were all but ignored as they come to the
docks with their catch. My hat is off to Bruce for taking time to
make the young anglers feel special.

The month long tournament weigh-in is staged on the dock behind AJ's
Restaurant. An eclectic assortment of people parade by and perch on
blenchers to observe the weigh-in and listen to the dock maestro's
constant chatter. Young mothers with babies, children on skates and
skateboards, tourist and locals' parade by contributing fodder to the
"mouth of the dock". If in the Destin area in October you should
plan to stop by the weigh-in and participate in the weigh-in after all
it is a "spectator sport" and be entertained by Bruce with his wit,
wisdom, bravado and buffoonery.

Another interesting individual was the 2nd mate on a 40' commercial
tuna boat. He was a clean cut gregarious individual that was more
than glad to explain nuances of tuna long-lining to me. They had
taken on a load of ice and were leaving in the morning on an adventure
expected to last for seven to ten days. The big hydraulic spool on
the bow was full of 17-miles of 800-pound test monofilament line. A
single 671 GM diesel propelled the boat at 5-knots. Keeping expenses
low was a priority. On the fishing grounds they deploy the 17-miles
of "long-line" along the northern edge of the Gulf Stream. Mates
attach baited hooks on 50-foot "snoots" (leaders) to the "long-line".
They feel satisfied if they catch 5 to 8 tuna averaging 100-pounds
each when they retrieve the line. The mate spoke of all they did to
assure that each tuna was handled properly since individual tuna were
graded when they returned to the dock. A top quality tuna fetched $8
per-pound while others were worth $5 per-pound. He did not want to
discuss those that did not market for $5 dollars per-pound. It was
extremely important that each fish be handled with utmost care.
Gaffing was done to the head only so as not to injure any meat. On
deck the fish was not dropped or thrown on the deck. The tuna is not
allowed to flop around and bruise himself once on the boat. The $800
dollar fish is quickly eviscerated on a padded "V' shaped holding
table, the cavity filled with ice where upon it is immediately placed
below deck in a specially designed ice box and covered in ice.

Thursday, October 24, 2002
Henderson Beach SP. Site #33 50amp pull-thru $19.72 within walking
distance to the worlds most beautiful beaches.

Joyce had a list of activities she wanted us to do today but changed
her mind in favor of continuing the activities of yesterday. She also
decided we were dining at Giuseppi's Wharf & Marina in Niceville for
lunch. Giuseppi's is a somewhat upscale restaurant situated on a
large bayou near the eastern gate to Eglin Air Force Base. In
addition to inside dining Giuseppi's has outside dining on two decks
and adjoining patio's. Joyce chose to eat on the patio since the
weather was so nice and cool. Far away the thundering sound of
freedom can be heard as Air force F-16's take to the sky. Seagulls
chatter for dinner as they try to catch your cracker before it falls
in the water. In the water schools of pinfish immediately devour any
morsel that might reach the water. A gentle, salty breeze ruffles the
otherwise slick calm bayou. A large barge is delivering a load of
Chevron gasoline to the terminal next door. Fifty or more sailboats
line the dock directly behind Giuseppi's. It is sad that those
beautiful boats were made fast to the dock on such a beautiful day. In
addition to the above Giuseppi's is a good place to eat. We will
return.

Friday, October 25, 2002
We drove 5-miles from Henderson Beach SP to Topsail Hill SP & RV-Resort 15-miles to the
east. Topsail Hill Preserve state park & RV-Resort a few miles east of
Destin on highway 30A. Site #78 50amp back in, concrete pad with paved
interior roads $31.68 a ½ mile walk or trolley ride through the SP to
the world's most beautiful beaches.

We are not far from where we were staying in Destin. We just wanted
to experience Topsail Hill RV-Resort. Many of our out of state RV'ing
friends ask us about it so we decided to experience it first hand.

Topsail Hill is unique in more ways than one. Topsail Hill Preserve
is a State Park with over 3-miles of gulf frontage. In addition to
the Gulf front property the state has a large parcel of property (1650
acres) inland adjoining it. Somehow when the state acquired this
property it also became owner of an RV-Resort complete with paved
interior roads, concrete pads, 50-amps, cable and sewage at each site.
This is NOT your normal "state park". The price reflects the
amenities. Snowbirds are beginning to arrive. Snowbirds get much
better rates when they stay for 30/60/90 or 120 days. If interested
you can check them out at www.Topsailhill.com or 850-267-0299.

I heard a good schoolteacher joke today. One schoolteacher sends this
note to all parents on the first day of school: "If you promise not
to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise
not to believe everything he says happens at home."

We spent the afternoon walking on the beach. Then headed to Elmo's
for supper and music.

From here we are headed east to Apalachicola and St. George Island.
If you know of anything in that area that we should see or do please
let us know.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix