Sunday, March 19 - from Panama City to Venice
The original plan had been to drive from Panama City to the Apalachicola area for the night. We
rejoined US 98 in Alabama and drove uneventfully until we reached the Florida border. At that point,
we dropped down to the shore road and passed through the busy, busy towns of Destin, Port St.
Joe, etc. Several miles were cutting through an Air Force Base. It was a bit disconcerting to read
the roadside signs saying, “Warning – Explosive Disposal Area.” At least that beat the signs on
Chesapeake Bay advising you that you are about to enter a target area…and you hope they keep
their ordinance on target.
One bright spot on that stretch was Seaside, a most colorful community. It’s a patch of relatively
new homes all painted in bright pastels…lots of white fences, posts, and shutters. People were
congregating on the sidewalks, by the small picture-perfect post office, leaning on their bicycles…all
tanned and smiling; right out of a tourist brochure.
Many more enclaves were under construction: no sign of a let-up here. We understand that
hurricane insurance will be nearly impossible to get, but I guess you just figure “enjoy it while we
can.” There is a noticeable lack of high-rise apartments and condos, but they too, will come. Much
of The Emerald Coast looks like the Suncoast was 50 years ago. After Cor returned from Korea, he
and his wife, Barbara ran a fish camp on the south end of Siesta Key. His stories of dirt roads and
scrub brush sound much like the unimproved sections that we saw. As we reached the big bend,
the fishing towns like Apalachicola and Carabelle reminded us of many towns along the ICW;
sleepy on the streets, but active along the docks where the large trawlers gathered.
We had considered stopping in Cedar Key for the night. I love that town! But, we had wearied of
packing and unpacking so decided to make a run for it and continue right on down to Venice.
Eleven hours later, we arrived.
It was happy hour, and we needed happy. Also, it was Sunday so we figured that was probably the
best time to stop in and visit Cor’s daughter Carolyn and husband Tom in Osprey. Fortunately, we
found them home, along with granddaughter Megan and grandson, Craig as well as large dog
Gage, small Mexican dog Tido, and cats Fiona and Corky (a Maine coon named after you-know-
who.)
Refreshed and caught up on family news, we pushed on to Venice and descended on our good
friends Dick and Leslie Vlontis – where we are at present.
rejoined US 98 in Alabama and drove uneventfully until we reached the Florida border. At that point,
we dropped down to the shore road and passed through the busy, busy towns of Destin, Port St.
Joe, etc. Several miles were cutting through an Air Force Base. It was a bit disconcerting to read
the roadside signs saying, “Warning – Explosive Disposal Area.” At least that beat the signs on
Chesapeake Bay advising you that you are about to enter a target area…and you hope they keep
their ordinance on target.
One bright spot on that stretch was Seaside, a most colorful community. It’s a patch of relatively
new homes all painted in bright pastels…lots of white fences, posts, and shutters. People were
congregating on the sidewalks, by the small picture-perfect post office, leaning on their bicycles…all
tanned and smiling; right out of a tourist brochure.
Many more enclaves were under construction: no sign of a let-up here. We understand that
hurricane insurance will be nearly impossible to get, but I guess you just figure “enjoy it while we
can.” There is a noticeable lack of high-rise apartments and condos, but they too, will come. Much
of The Emerald Coast looks like the Suncoast was 50 years ago. After Cor returned from Korea, he
and his wife, Barbara ran a fish camp on the south end of Siesta Key. His stories of dirt roads and
scrub brush sound much like the unimproved sections that we saw. As we reached the big bend,
the fishing towns like Apalachicola and Carabelle reminded us of many towns along the ICW;
sleepy on the streets, but active along the docks where the large trawlers gathered.
We had considered stopping in Cedar Key for the night. I love that town! But, we had wearied of
packing and unpacking so decided to make a run for it and continue right on down to Venice.
Eleven hours later, we arrived.
It was happy hour, and we needed happy. Also, it was Sunday so we figured that was probably the
best time to stop in and visit Cor’s daughter Carolyn and husband Tom in Osprey. Fortunately, we
found them home, along with granddaughter Megan and grandson, Craig as well as large dog
Gage, small Mexican dog Tido, and cats Fiona and Corky (a Maine coon named after you-know-
who.)
Refreshed and caught up on family news, we pushed on to Venice and descended on our good
friends Dick and Leslie Vlontis – where we are at present.
Monday, March 20 - Venice
What a joy! No get in the car and go. No pack & unpack. Just loll around, drink fresh orange juice,
eat good English muffins, and wake up with strong coffee.
We sat around and chewed the fat with Dick and Leslie last night and were surprised and pleased
that they decided to go with us to Alaska in September. Accordingly, we went to see my old boss,
Barbara Dunham at GM World Travel and finalized their reservations: fly to Vancouver via Air Canada,
enjoy 7 days on the Zuiderdam cruising the Inside Passage to Skagway, then back to Vancouver.
That job done, we took a nap, loafed all afternoon until cocktail hour - THEN - Leslie produced the
most marvelous dinner - individual lobster pies covered with puff pastry and topped with a small
puffy lobster (cookie cutter style.) She gets them from Pemiquid Point, The Hancock Gourmet
Lobster Company - overnight delivery in cute little white ceramic ramekins tucked into blocks of ice.
We watched Titanic on their new Panasonic HD Plasma TV...really impressive - then to bed.
eat good English muffins, and wake up with strong coffee.
We sat around and chewed the fat with Dick and Leslie last night and were surprised and pleased
that they decided to go with us to Alaska in September. Accordingly, we went to see my old boss,
Barbara Dunham at GM World Travel and finalized their reservations: fly to Vancouver via Air Canada,
enjoy 7 days on the Zuiderdam cruising the Inside Passage to Skagway, then back to Vancouver.
That job done, we took a nap, loafed all afternoon until cocktail hour - THEN - Leslie produced the
most marvelous dinner - individual lobster pies covered with puff pastry and topped with a small
puffy lobster (cookie cutter style.) She gets them from Pemiquid Point, The Hancock Gourmet
Lobster Company - overnight delivery in cute little white ceramic ramekins tucked into blocks of ice.
We watched Titanic on their new Panasonic HD Plasma TV...really impressive - then to bed.
Monday & Tuesday, March 19 & 20
Left: Town
Square
Right:
Anything for
a peek at
the Gulf
Square
Right:
Anything for
a peek at
the Gulf
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