Bright, sunny, warm but a cool breeze, not a beach day.

Where are we today ?

Henderson Beach State Park Destin Florida

        Hey it's still pretty nice here, great sleep again last night , windows open. And temps in the mid 60's f. But a bit of a cool north wind. So after a few walkabouts, both campgrounds and checking things out. We decided a good morning to do some shopping for us.

they have some HUGE pull thru campsites here

another huge pull thrtu

       It is very rare that we actually do any shopping together. But Suzie was looking for a few new clothes items. She is a very fast shopper (hates shopping) and knows what she wants, no problem there. So left at about 9:30 stopped by Payless shoes, In and out in three minutes. Next stop Walmart, down the road to Target, then Beall's Outlet, then Beall's. She got what she wanted and I got what I wanted. We home by noon.
       On the way back check out the beach. So nice and inviting but not too warm and still a cool breeze. One problem about being on the water, most of the time there is a cool breeze.

Hung out here for a bit,
then home for lunch

         After lunch puttered around for a bit, checked tires and stuff. Then found a nice sunny spot that we could read outside with no wind, The vegetation here sure does block the wind.

        We did get some quality reading time in. Perfect for a nice sunny day out of the wind. But were interrupted quite a few time with the antics of all the squirrels in the bushes around here. They can be very entertaining. I took a lot of pics but most did not turn out they are too fast, But you will get the idea.

three young squirrels in the trees

         So now can get to doing my stuff, fire up our Weber Q and grill a couple boneless chicken breasts I had marinated. Some sweet pepper and warm a couple thin buns.

     Add that to a nice tasty salad and we had a very satisfying supper.

           That was a fun day here in Destin Florida, good shopping and good deals we found, but this a very busy area, and the season has not even started yet! Our three nights will be up tonight so moving on down the road in the morning a hundred or so miles near Robertsdale Alabama for a few more days.
           Thanks for stopping by again, hope you had pretty good weather too.

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle.

 Check out the interactive map below to see where we have been this Winter.

Enjoy the weather, enjoy the beach, enjoy a wonderful dinner, Awesome!

Where are we today ?

Henderson Beach state Park Destin Florida

      What a wonderful sleep we had last night. Low overnight temp was 70 f outside. Windows open, fantastic fan on low, and the surf from the gulf lulling us to sleep, so relaxing. Up early and refreshed raring to go.

       Walkabouts for a bit then off in search of some 5 amp fuses for our levelling jacks and a new on/off switch. The switch is getting finicky and we blow the fuse on occasion. Not sure why, I have been checking this out for years and sometimes it is fine for 6-8 months and sometimes will blow two fuses in a week. But they are doing their job. as long as I have them on hand no problem. 

awesome park here

        After a light lunch we took a nice walk to the beach. Along a wheel chair accessible trail about 1/2 mile.

even the boardwalk over the dunes was nice

a few groups of people relaxing and surf fishing

         They call this the Emerald Coast, just one look at the water and you understand why.

we walked quite a ways along the waters edge,
 Suzie even dipped her toes in, too cold she says.
I would have but need shoes on to keep my back pan in check.

the fine sand here is like icing sugar

         We went back home grabbed our beach stuff and down to the day use beach, washrooms close by there and very quiet.

our beach umbrella set up for a bit of shade

there was people down the beach in swimming,
must be much younger

this is the life, relax on beach , in the shade,
 listen to the surf and seagulls,
 enjoying each others company and a good book.

         We were good here for about 90 minutes, then cloud cover came in and temps cooled down a bit.

         Returned from the beach early as it was cooling down rather quickly  and we had a major downpour about 3:30pm. Checking out the area and chatting for a while, Suzie had craving to go to the Bonefish Grill.  Her very favorite place to go for seafood. Our first one was in Myrtle Beach, (thank to our friends John and Angelo) quite a few years ago, next one La Fayette LA, then Abita Springs LA. Now when this one is just around the corner we could not resist. We went there and had a very good meal, not disappointed at all.

hot fresh bread for dipping

          Suzie's favorite appetizer Mussel's Josephine so very tasty and done just right, (we shared).

        Then for her entre a caesar salad, wood grilled shrimp, sea scallops and spaghetti squash. Oh so good.

        My choice was a Spicy Tuna bowl (below) and it was absolutely amazing, lots of wonderful aromas and flavours all complementing each other.

this sure did the trick and was a wonderful treat for us,

celebrating just because we felt like it

        Sure enjoyed this wonderful day here on the Emerald coast, great company, great weather  and tasty food. Yep we are enjoying this lifestyle.
        Glad ya'll dropped by for a visit and hope your day was wonderful too.

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle. 

 Check out the interactive map below to see where we have been this Winter.

Rainy, cool last day Destin Florida

Where are we today ?

Destin Florida

        Got up this morning and putter about, finding it quite cool outside overcast and rainy. Coffee's and computing for a while, chat with out hosts and Marc made us a wonderful breakfast, bacon, sausage, eggs, home fried potatoes. A real treat we have not had for quite a while.
        Then the plan was to check out a few stores and do a bit of shopping so that we all did. A few things here and there and some groceries, then to take a quick drive thru another shopping area Destin Commons, an upscale expensive shopping area reminding me of an old town square setting, with fountains and lights etc... apparently very beautiful at night.

Erin and Suzie 

        Now most of the day had just passed us by so back to their house, still cold and rainy. Marc had a plan for supper tonight so he made up a nice pot of Potato Leek soup and began assembling a very tasty recipe his son, Jason, came across, Turkey and Sweet Leek pie. We had a mess of left over turkey so worked out great. For the recipe click here

        As you can gather Marc loves to cook and I get to have a rest and watch or even help him a bit. But the best thing to do, as I can attest to is just stay out of the way, watch and chat, sharing a beverage as we enjoy this creative passion we both have.

Turkey and Leeks sautéing

chopping the leeks

roll out the puff pastry

filling the pie

vents in the top

        Now with all this food they invited Barry and Marlene over as well, I created another caesar salad and we had another fun evening with great food, good conversation and good friends. We find out that Barry and Marlene live in Ontario about 15 minutes from our one home park "Rock Glen Resort" in Arkona Ontario. So we may just have to look them up  sometime this summer.

wonderful potato leek soup

Turkey and Leek pie, w/caesar salad

        Another fun day catching up with friends, but don't want to wear out our welcome. A phone call tells us ou new fridge is installed and we can pick up our coach in the morning. So we head off to bed and pack up our foodstuffs and  make our way back home in the morning. Fire up the engine on our house and carry on moving slowly west. Exploring a few new places.

        Thanks for dropping in for a visit, y'all come back now, hear?

Check out the map below to see where we have been this winter

View Winter 2012-1013 in a larger map

Now we can relax for a bit.

Where are we today ?

Destin Florida

        There we made it thru the day quite comfortably. Confirmed our new fridge installation, and back here to Marc and Erin's. He was playing tennis while the girls went for a walk. I updated our blog earlier today, then they took us for a tour of the area and to Read it again books in Niceville a great book store there. Took in thirty five books to exchange and got a deal on another 10 to add to our library.

Marc and his buddies playing tennis

warm day but overcast 

        Marc had a plan for supper tonight, he made a huge pot of this amazing seafood chowder and I pit together a nice bowl of caesar salad to add to that with a baguette, perfect for a tasty light supper.

Marc making the chowder

so tasty

        There, things are coming together, and the weather not too bad either.
        Thanks to our wonderful hosts!

         Glad you could drop by for a peak, our coach should be ready in the morning.

Check out the map below to see where we have been this winter

View Winter 2012-1013 in a larger map

Update on New Years Day and broken fridge.

Where are we today ?

Destin Florida

Looks like won't make it to Topsail State Park this time

        To back track a bit. On New Years Eve Day I was chatting with a friend from Plattsville Ontario,(our home town) on facebook. They had just arrived in Destin Florida to a three bedroom rental house and invited us to come and stay with them. Funny we don't see them much in Ontario but run into them down south. Last year we met them for lunch at Big Nose Kate's in Tombstone Arizona.
       Well we had made plans to leave this resort and head west towards Biloxi Mississippi for a couple weeks. But decided hey they are only 90 miles away in the other direction, lets go there for a few days. Never been there and all it takes is change a reservation no problem.
      New Years morning we awaken a bit later than usual no hurry to leave. But about 10 am we are securing the coach to depart and our fridge does not appear to be working too good. Now a quick check and the fridge says (suprise Happy New Year!) I do want to work anymore in 2013. Hmph... Appears all of the yellow ammonia has leaked out of the cooling unit. Know what that means?? Our fridge is done, kaput, broken, pooched, not fixable. But hey it is 14 years old. 
        So what to do? New Years Day on the road, did a quick check and find a Camping World that is open almost at Destin, in Gulf Breeze Florida. So stop there chat with service and not much they can do until the morning, the woman in charge of this stuff will be in the morning and check things out for us.
        Now what to do with a fridge and freezer full of food (its still frozen). Called our friends Marc and Erin and their offer to stay was still open, and their fridge and freezer is empty, they have not stocked it up yet. Talk about a stroke of luck eh? So packed up all of our foodstuffs and some clothes and headed to their place about 1:30pm. Stored all our perishables in the fridge, and relaxed with a cold beer, ahh needed that!

surfing country

the white sand look like snow

        As the changed plans unfold, we chat catchup, Marc is making a stuffed pork roast, and brussel spouts, and we are going to Barry and Marlenes rental next door to a New Years Day feast with 2 other couples eight of us altogether.

Erin and Marc

their rental house

our bedroom

nice kitchen

Marc loves to cook too

At Barry and Marlene's

Marc carving

lotsa great food

awesome

christmas pudding, rum sauce and frozen yogurt

       So there, a screwed day up ended up not so bad after all. We saved our food, have a place to sleep visit good friends we have known for over 20 years. Other daughters figured skated together for many years, way back when. And my last six years working (after closing my restaurant) was in Marc's Tool and Die shop.

       This morning first thing, I went back to the CampingWorld and talked to Caren. She had already located a new replacement fridge (In stock) and by 8:30 this morning they were getting ready to begin work on our coach. How's that for service? It will be installed by the end of the day.

       So I think our plan may just be to stay here with friends for two more nights leave the coach there (free storage) and pick it up friday morning and head back towards Biloxi with a new fridge. Well at least we saved the cost of three nights camping here $120.00 it will help take then edge off a little bit on the cost of our new Dometic fridge, that is replacing our very sick Norcold. These things aren't cheap as any Rv'er will tell you.

        Now thats an update as of noon today, Jan. 2nd, looks like we will enjoy some more time here hanging out and maybe even get to see a bit of Destin in the meantime.
        Thanks so much for dropping in and hope your new year started a little better than ours.

Check out the map below to see where we have been this winter

View Winter 2012-1013 in a larger map