January 2022

We took a break from the road to regroup and make some travel plans. It’s been cooler here than we’d expected, but we’ve managed to do some van maintenance, get a jumpstart on campground reservations, and see some local sights.

This is off-season on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Our Airbnb is a condo in a marina complex. In the summer, I’m sure it bustles, but it’s quiet in January. Frequently, we’re the only folks around and our van is the only vehicle in the parking lot.

Most of the boats bobbing dockside are moored for the winter months.

Even though the weather’s been brisk, we’ve enjoyed watching the sparkling water and the rosy sunsets from our mini-balcony.

The downtown is small. A handful of businesses and several marinas. Homes are a mix of pastel colored fancy beach houses on stilts and, away from the waterfront, much older houses that have seen better days.

There’s an IGA market right across the street from our condo and an ACE Hardware store next door. A tiny take-out called A Taste of Korea (with wonderful homemade kimchi and delicacies) is also within walking distance. We’ve gotten used to this easy, every day shopping.

The condo has been a good home base for exploring the area. We’ve taken day trips to Eastpoint, Tallahassee, St. George Island, Steinhatchee, and Apalachicola.

Eastpoint

Eastpoint, is about half an hour up the coast. It has a brewery with Happy Hour specials and, on certain days of the week, they serve pizza out of a dry-docked boat.

The beer and pizzas are great, and folks are friendly.

Lynn’s Oyster Raw Bar is a few doors down, which makes the half hour trip to Eastpoint just about perfect.

Apalachicola and Oysters

A few weeks ago, we went to Apalachicola’s Annual Oyster Cook-Off. Apalachicola bills itself as the world’s oyster capital. However, right now the bay is in an oyster fishing moratorium, to help the oyster population regenerate. But we’ve found that oysters imported from nearby gulf states are plentiful and delicious. The Cook-Off is a great small town event that raises funds for the volunteer fire department.

Oysters on the half shell or steamed, shrimp, locally brewed Oyster City beer, Bloody Marys, colorful event-goers, along with dancing firemen and witches make for a great afternoon.

The dance is a highly anticipated part of the day’s events. Everyone looks forward to seeing their neighbors strut their stuff.

Downtown Apalachicola was packed. So, we walked a few blocks from downtown and had lunch at the Up the Creek Raw Bar.

This is one of our favorite hangouts. The food and staff are terrific, and the views over and across the creek are, too.

Wakulla Springs State Park

When the weather dropped into a prolonged cold spell, we drove to Wakulla Springs to see if manatees had come into the springs to warm up. We were shivering in the cold and damp, wearing jackets and hats, watching the steam rising from the almost 70 degree springs.

Sure enough, we saw dozens of manatees close up.

We even saw baby manatees with their mothers; some babies were still nursing. Babies will stay close to their mother for their first and, often, their second year of life. We love watching these gentle giants loll around.

They’re intelligent, curious and playful. Manatees can grow to 13 feet and weigh 3,500 pounds. Their diet consists primarily of grasses, algae, and bottom-growing plants. Their closest relative is actually the elephant. Like an elephant, they have a trunk, toenails on their fins, hairs covering their body, and self-replacing teeth. (Eating stones along with grasses continually grinds down their teeth, so replacements come in handy.)

St George Island and “Hope” the turtle

We also had the good fortune to attend a special event on St. George Island: the release of a rehabilitated sea turtle. “Hope” had been found on the beach at St. George last October. She was in bad shape from red tide neuro toxins – almost 90% dead according to the biologists. The sheriff’s office transported her to the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea, where marine biologists helped her recuperate. Back up to a good weight – 165 pounds – and breathing well, she was ready to be released in the same area where she washed ashore. Hope’s story captured the hearts of locals. The date of her release was advertised on posters, social media and local radio. We joined more than 200 people who turned out to see her release.

Once she hit the sand, she wasted no time making a beeline for the water. There was no doubt in her mind that she was home. The event was over in a matter of minutes, but the warm feeling from this success story will remain a fond memory.

Our time in Carrabelle has been pleasant and productive, but we’re ready to hop back into our van and move on. We’re starting our 2022 trek west. Looking forward to new adventures down the road!

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