per·i·pa·tet·ic
ˌperēpəˈtedik/
adjective
  1. 1.
    traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods.
    "the peripatetic nature of military life"
    synonyms:nomadic, itinerant, traveling, wandering, roving, roaming, migrant,migratory, unsettled
    "I could never get used to her peripatetic lifestyle"
  2. 2.
    Aristotelian.
noun
  1. 1.
    a person who travels from place to place.
  2. 2.
    an Aristotelian philosopher.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Day-Tripping--Not Lotos-Eating--in Florida: What Will POTUS Think of Pensacola?

I wonder what the President's impression of Pensacola will be after his visit today? He ought to be allowed to take a dip in the Gulf, immerse himself in it, taste its brine, feel its warmth on his skin, and be in awe of its Life-force to know what it really means to the "folks down on the Gulf Coast." Secret Aging Man and I made a point of day-tripping to the beach this past Saturday. We didn't see any tar balls on the sand or in the water, but we did see plenty of other interesting things. Just after I took this pic of SAM entering the water, some people walking by yelled out that there were rays, dozens of them, swimming around him. By the time I got down to the water's edge, the creatures were gone, heading west down the shoreline.


After SAM's immersion, we took a long walk on a deserted stretch of sand toward Fort Pickens. We didn't drive all the way out to the end but parked at the last pavilion before the gate. Our annual pass expired at the end of May, and we aren't sure that we want to renew it. It does save you money in the long run if you visit the place regularly.

By the time we got tired of walking, it was time for lunch, and we decided to splurge on a sandwich at the Pensacola Pier restaurant. I recommend the shrimp PoBoy. The shrimp have a light, tempura-like batter, and they're not exactly shrimpy. I was pleasantly surprised by their size, quantity, and fresh taste. A cold, 99-cent draft beer or two was a good choice to wash it, the sandwich and fries, all down. I was also surprised, though I shouldn't have been, that there were few customers at the restaurant and down on the beach to rent the umbrellas and chairs. SAM and I both thought that the restaurant manager ought to consider sending someone down to the beach to take food and drink orders. Maybe it's not allowed, though. There are lots of rules and regulations in place on the beach to keep things under control. Lifeguards and beach patrol vehicles--see the yellow truck?--do a good job of maintaining order and safety, even when there aren't many people out and about.

We didn't see many fishermen or women on the pier. It was eerie to see it so empty on a beautiful, summer Saturday.

The emerald-green water was calm enough that the surfer dudes found another use for their boards.


This little kayak dude seemed oblivious to the rule about not paddling directly beneath the pier. It could be dangerous to him because of the fishing lines and hooks dangling down and frustrating to the fisher-people trying to catch something. I was one of the people who called down to him to stay clear of the pier. He paddled away with a smile and without a care in the world.


It was a good thing the kayak dude was out of the way when a young man on the pier hooked this beauty. I think it's a kingfish. While he fought it for about 15 minutes, following its movement around the end of the pier, we talked to his mother, who occasionally yelled out encouraging words to him. She said they were from Gulf Shores, Alabama, and couldn't fish there anymore because of the oil slick. We were all rooting for the fisherman, but, alas, the fish broke the line by swimming underneath the pier. It was pretty quiet on the pier after that, and as we walked back to land, I stopped along the way and took this pic looking down into the Gulf waters. The sun was getting high in the sky, the air was getting hot, and I couldn't see what I was focusing on. I think it's a pretty cool shot, though--of what, I don't know.



"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon."
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream...

19 comments:

  1. Thanks for writing this. Your words and descriptions and pictures brought me there--how awful it will be if the oil reaches that beach and those beautiful green waters.

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  2. Those are yolo boards those dudes are standing on. Apparently, its big in Hawaii.

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  3. I would certainly spend some time there too. It may never be the same in our lifetimes.
    Marnie

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  4. Hi again. To answer your question about where I found the Buck roses, they came from a local garden center. I don't do much ordering so I'm limited to what I can find here.
    Marnie

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  5. Great shot of the kingfish. The gulf is looking pretty good in Pensacola. I hope it stays that way.

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  6. So glad you are not seeing the oil drifting up yet. The water looked so lovely! So did your lunch sound so delish!!! You guys always have the best walks!!!

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  7. You're welcome, Christin. I was going to write about something in the garden today but felt compelled to write what I did. There is a lot of misconception about what is really going on at the beach, mainly because of the media's focus on specific areas that are seeing some oil. We have even talked to some local people who are avoiding the beach because they think it's covered in the stuff. I thought it would help for people to see that the mess isn't blanketing the entire Gulf coast like they might have been led to believe.

    Thanks, TFB! I knew there was something different about the boards--too wide, for one thing. I just wasn't sure what they were called.

    Marnie, thanks for answering my question. I don't order much anymore either. Your local garden center seems to have a great variety of plants to choose from.

    Tina, you and me both. I'm hoping you get to see it in pristine condition when you come to visit.

    Julie, the heat is keeping me indoors during most of the day. The only chance I get to walk or work outside lately is during the early morning and evening. You know what I'm talking about!

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  8. The place looks and sounds lovely. Enjoyed the trip you walked us through...

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  9. Enjoyed walking with you as you find the beauty, embrace it and share it....appreciating life's journey.

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  10. I'm always taken back to my South Carolina home when I read your ocean tale blog posts. Such fond memories I have of the beach, which was only 15 minutes away from our front door!.

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  11. Thanks, RGB. The beach is one of our favorite spots to visit.

    I'm glad you liked the post, Donna. You're right about life. It takes us down some winding roads sometimes, and you have to lean a little into the turns.

    TC, the beach life is pretty darn hard to beat--if you don't mind the sand between your toes.

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  12. This does look like a lovely dream, especially compared to the images I've seen on TV of the beaches near the oil slick. I just hope this area stays this idyllic.

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  13. Beachcombing is the best wherever it is. Let hope the future of the Gulf shores can survive this manmade disaster.

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  14. I always love your ocean posts! They are so refreshing!! How beautiful the white beach and the emerald-green sea! The shrimp PoBoy sounds yummy! I wish I could have a bite!

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  15. Well..from ur descriptions, it all look like the Shanghumukham beach (the one featured in my video) in Kerala, India. Here also we have the sea pier and an Indian Coffee House and at the nearby Kovalam beach we have the facilities for swimming and paragliding for the tourists..Lot of fishing activities can also be seen here..

    Then thanks for your informative comment in Fragrance of Love post..

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  16. I'm glad you're recording the reality along the Gulf coast. It seems somehow bittersweet to see such beauty and know it's very existence is threatened by our carelessness.

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  17. Wonderful and vived descriptions of the beaches... My only experience with Gulf beaches is from Sarasota, and I haven't heard anything about their condition. It seems a shame that days like the one you describe may be difficult to come by in the future.

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  18. Thanks for posting these photos. It's good to see that everything is not yet destroyed.

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  19. Lovely post, bringing back many happy memories of past Florida vacations. Your beaches are so very much different than ours. ~karen

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