Nashville Lifestyles magazine goes to South Walton. Click link above to learn more about Nashville Lifestyles. Pick up a copy of the September 2009 to read my most recent article.
With work scheduled for the afternoon, we took to the beach early, to spend some time with my family. After a short time playing on the beach, Rebecca and I decided to paddle out on the kayak, to search for things to see. Rarely do I see much sea life. The June Grass is floating up close to the shore, but with a few short strokes, we quickly were floating above the prettiest blue and green water I've seen in the Gulf. We were out for no more than five minutes before we saw our first marine life, a lone jellyfish. Only a moment later, we were paddling around on the second sandbar, which is in water maybe ten to fifteen feet deep. Not much to see from the kayak, but the water was so clear that I could clearly see the ripples on the sand at the bottom, like they were right in front of my face. I thought I even saw a sanddollar. Looking down into the water off the port side of the boat, I saw a big black image appear. My first thought is that it was a good size Stingray, but after another second or two, I knew it was a Sea Turtle, as I had witnessed a couple of them swimming last year. This was my third sighting in three years!
From above the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, I could mostly see a big black blob, which was moving around. It is very difficult to see the fins, but at times, they were apparent. I turned on my camera and began filming, and was
As my morning was coming to a close, kayaking on Western Lake, in the distance I noticed a canoe overturned with two people in the water, clinging on to the ends of the canoe. Already heading to the scene, to offer assistance in the WaterColor wooden motorboat was WaterColor BoatHouse employee, Jarrod Zerangue. He had a small crew on board and had been touring them around Western Lake when he saw the couple in distress. Jarrod motored up beside the overturned canoe, and saw that the couple were wearing their life jackets, and were okay. Jarrod’s boat was quickly blown away from the stranded canoe. Jarrod turned the controls of the wooden motorboat over to capable hands, then proceeded to jump overboard, still in uniform, to offer assistance to the stranded couple. Jarrod had not seen this happen before, nor had I, and I had no idea what Jarrod was going to do, other than help them swim it to the shoreline and wait to be picked up. I’m sure the couple in the water was glad to see him swim over to their canoe to offer assistance.
When I approached the canoe, the new captain of the WaterColor motorboat, had also pulled up beside the still overturned canoe. I paddled my kayak between the canoe and the motorboat, and we all assisted the couple, using my kayak as a platform to climb aboard the motorboat. Jarrod, still in the water holding onto the canoe filled with...
see attachment for my recent article published in thicket magazine for their Beach Guide, plus a great article, "go west," written by Ann Williams, focusing on the areas in South Walton, west of Grayton, such as Redfish Village and some of the surrounding businesses. You can subscribe to thicket at www.thicketmag.com.
Thicket is based in Alabama, but has many readers who are very familiar with our area in South Walton.
(My articles are posted below.)
Top 10 At the Beach
by Murray Balkcom
In our special little beach area of Florida’s Emerald Coast, there are no big-box stores, dance clubs, and chain restaurants. Some people want that from their beach vacation, and tend to stay in the bigger towns of Destin and Panama City Beach. But for folks wanting something different, then south Walton County is the place for you. We ’re for the visitor who‘s never heard of Sally’s in Blue Mountain Be ach and has no clue that Sally’s has the absolute-best fried chicken they will ever eat, but after a tip from an insider like me, you’ll go home with that little gem tucked away for future vacations.
My list of 10 hidden gems follows (in no particular order), and I highly recommend all of the places on this list, along with encouragement to find...
The entire 1300+ acres of the airport development site have been cleared and grubbed. This means all trees, roots, and vegetation have been removed.
The main access road ahs been brought to its final elevation, compacted, sub-base installed, curbed, and is ready for paving in early July.
The building pads for the Terminal, Terminal apron, and main parking lot have been finalized.
The building pad and parking area for the rental car facility has been finalized.
The primary runway taxiway is in the process of being graded and stormwater ditches are being installed.
The primary runway is being graded and brought to its final elevation.
Stormwater ponds and conveyance systems have been installed and erosion control applied in all of these areas.
The earthwork portion of this phase should be completed by November 2008, a full 3 months ahead of schedule.
We should start the paving of the runways before October of this year.
The design for the terminal, public safety building, control tower, air cargo, and maintenance buildings has been completed and bids will be solicited in early July.
The project is well underway and a substantial amount of work has been completed in the last five and a half months. The attached aerial pictures taken earlier this month might give you a full appreciation of the size of the effort and progress.
