Around Pensacola

 

The trail from our campsite to the beach overlooking Pensacola Bay.

The beach on the Bay side was empty except
for a couple of fishermen.

From Santa Rosa in Navarre we drove only 40 miles west to Fort Pickens at the very tip of Santa Rosa Island. We had two nights there in the Campground. The Fort is the largest of the 4 forts that defend Pensacola Bay and was completed in 1834. One of the four forts in the south which remained in Union hands in the Civil War, it is now included in the Gulf Islands National Seashore Last year we had looked at the Fort from the Pensacola Lighthouse across the way. This is the start of the Florida Hiking Trail which ends 1400 miles later in Key West! We saw a number of hikers with their backpacks either starting or ending the trail. 

Fort Pickens was rebuilt many times ending with
batteries used during WWII. It remained in use
until 1947. 

I love the patina on the walls! I'm off in the shadows.

One of the 200 lb 15 inch Rodman smooth bore
cannons at the fort. 

Some of the walls of the old fort were demolished
when preparing for WWII guns.

Captives from the Indian Wars in the west were imprisoned here including Geronimo, the famous Apache War Chief from 1896 - 97. 

 From our campsite we could walk a short distance to the beach facing the Bay and in the other direction to the pristine white beach on the ocean side. About a mile further north is the fort. We toured the fort and walked the beaches. Our second night we brough chairs down to the beach and watched the sunset. It was glorious as you can see from the photos. 

Looking east at the beach on the ocean side just before sunset.

Looking west. The beach stretches 50 miles and a good deal of it is part of the National Seashore.

Walking back from the beach to our campsite we 
enjoyed the full moon!

Our second stop was 3 nights at Big Lagoon State Park a stone's throw from Alabama. Acquired in 1977, it has a four story observation tower, several beaches, and kayaks for rent. Our first morning we walked around the park and as you can see from the photos, it's a lovely spot. 

It was only a 20 minute drive into Pensacola so we  did some exploring there over the two full days. We enjoyed the Pensacola Art Museum, the History Museum and had lunch at Bistrology - beautifully decorated and great food. Our the second day we took the Jolly Dolphin Boat Cruise around the harbor and then had dinner at one of our favorites, Flounders overlooking the route we'd taken off shore! We saw a LOT of dolphins and they played around our boat for ages. 

The 4 story viewing platform

Looking across the Lagoon 

And the view looking east.

The Jolly Dolphin

It was cool enough out on the water for jackets

Scott at Flounders

One of the great fabric pieces at the Art Museum
by Nonny Oddlokken.

My pulled pork eggs benedict at Bistrology.

Scott likes to interact with sculptures - here with
J. Earle Bowden, historian, cartoonist and 
community advocte.

Our next stops were brief - one night at Harvest Host Prestige Waghu Ranch and then Lake City RV Resort. We left our RV "Baby" there for 11 days while we drive around Florida visiting family and friends. 

We stopped for lunch at Ponce de Leon State Park
which has beautiful swimming fed by natural
springs - a little too cold for us given the air
temperature. 

Some of the young cattle around our site.

"Nomad" and "Baby" at Prestige Waghu Ranch. Our host was so nice! He didn't have any waghu beef to sell us so gave us FREE (refused to take payment) bacon, eggs and some ground beef!