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| Finally back in our home state known for its warmth and Sunshine
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Years ago we were adrift in the channel outside NAS on a Wednesday morning and had, what we considered, our own private Blue Angels performance. That is a sight forever indelibly etched in our memories. The sun was glinting off their bellies and that was absolutely exhilarating!! Saw some of their practice this morning but it wasn’t nearly as dramatic viewing from ashore as from afloat.
As if our beach walk along the Gulf and Bay weren’t enough, we took off on a 20-ish mile bike ride from the fort and east past Casino Beach. Our plans for tomorrow include a lot of calorie ingesting and walking Pensacola’s historic areas.
Today was to be a day of rest and forgetting our low carb eating plan. We succeeded in accomplishing number 2 with humongous bagels at Bagelheads with Tony and burritos with Emily at Cactus Flower. Somehow, we also walked 6 1/2 miles trying to get rid of the bagel AND burrito.
Back in my era, if your mind will allow you to think back that far, we locals teethed on Ft. Pickens, climbing all over the prison cells, turrets, batteries, loved going into Geronimo’s cell. He was the Apache Indian Chief. Now all that’s crumbling and cordoned off. “Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end.”
And look at these azure waters right here in my home town. Why ever did we think we had to go to the Bahamas to enjoy blinding white sand and beautiful waters? To me this is just as beautiful as what we saw in the Caribbean. But that was just one more thing checked off our bucket list.
From my morning beach walk — I’ll never get enough of this sand in my shoes and Gulf waters coursing through my veins.
Night 1 of two of our 60th Pensacola High School at Pensacola Yacht Club. A great time was had by all.
Night 2 and the Grand Finale.
Sunday, “the morning after”, we had a wonderful brunch with Tony and Andy which coincided with a group from our reunion who were also Sacred Heart School of Nursing grads.
No trip to Pensacola is complete without at least one trip to Joe Patti’s. One night they steamed 2 pounds of large shrimp and we made quick work of every single one of them.
On our last day we met our friend, Tony, down town and he led us on an Old Pensacola Historic bike tour…and we even followed him over the Bayou Chico Bridge for lunch at Cook’s Kitchen, the #3 ranked restaurant in Southern Living.
Our last night there we just vegged, enjoying our final night in the beautiful National Park bounded by Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and reminiscing over the friends we’ve been with, the wonderful meals we’ve enjoyed, and our cycling efforts.
A bit of trivia—did you know Pensacola’s beautiful white sand is of quartz and came to us from TN during the Ice Age?
17 years I spent growing up on the Pensacola beaches but then I went away to college and every time I’d come home, the beach was in my cross hairs. After college I taught school in Ft. Walton Beach for 3 years and the activity was repeated—just in a different location. I think I took the splendor for granted because now I have a totally different appreciation for it. This morning, after 8 days of being out on Santa Rosa Island, we had to pry ourselves away as we head to Ocala to meet with our builder. BUT, before our leave-taking, I had to commune with the rising sun as I strolled the bay shore; took a detour up and over the Langdon Battery to see what I could see from atop; then walked the Gulf shore chatting with fishermen who were reeling in the Pompanos. Alas, it was time to heard east.
View of the Gulf from on top of the Langdon Battery
View of NAS from the top of the Battery
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| Farewell, Pensacola
Our initial meeting with our builder was scheduled at the end of the month so we’re back in Ocala by way of our state’s capital, Tallahassee. What an incredible day!! We met for an hour and a half with our builder and also our building superintendent. They’re a great team–fun, personable, and we’re looking forward to working with them. They took us out to our lot and explained what was what. After luncn we worked on our 10K steps. As we were strolling the neighborhood, numerous people not only spoke but several struck up conversations. The peerless happening occurred as we walked past a lady who was pruning her roses. She held out a rose for me; we chatted; we bade her adieu. This has been the tenor of Candler Hills residents that we’ve found each time we visit.
We now have an address!
We cast April aside on the 30th when 22 future Larkhill residents gathered to meet each other and get acquainted over cocktails and dinner. We’re going to be part of a fun neighborhood where the party has already begun.
Tomorrow we’re heading to Solomon’s, MD, to resume our cruising.
Bill and Laura
Ocala, FL
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