Emerald Isles

In our efforts to avoid tornado alley, we are exploring new territory. We spent Thursday night in Pensacola, FL, at a very poor example of what La Quinta usually is, then happily escaped to explore the beaches (in spite of it being the start of Memorial Day weekend).

First we walked around the historic part of Pensacola, which was interesting but ho-hum, then started out across the causeway and headed east along the white sand beaches. The sand is like the sand I remember we used to find in the bottom of ashtrays ... very fine, very white, and to carry the metaphor a bit too far, it was littered with butts. Thousands of them ... families, couples, college kids playing volleyball, and so many beach umbrellas that we could hardly get to the water to dip our feet.

After about half an hour, we got back into the car ... we're from Hawaii, we've seen beaches, and yes, the gulf shore beaches are nice, but ... well, as I said, we just came from Hawaii!

The road narrows, and on a holiday weekend, there were thousands of cars creeping along, parked in every square inch, half of them probably stuck in the sand, and the people were disappearing over the grassy dunes towards the miles-long beach. The parking stopped after awhile, and suddenly we were the only car on the road ... speed limit ranging from 35 to 20 mph and strictly enforced according to the signs, so we motored along enjoying the scenery and watching the nesting shorebirds in the Gulf Island National Seashore.

It was time for a late lunch by the time we reached Navarre Beach. Wyn tried some grilled fish, but discovered to her dismay that they used the same grill on which the did the blackened fish, which meant that the grilled fish was VERY spicy. Second try was a bit better. I had a New Orleans style shrimp poboy.

We then headed to Panama Beach, but discovered that all of the hotels were full, except for one that had a single room remaining at $169. We drove on, away from the beach, and ended up at a motel in Marianna. Tonight, perhaps we will dream of having dinner at La Mariana on Sand Island.