Trip Report

[BeachbumAggie]

I got home at 7pm last night, it was a lovely two week stay in the panhandle. Usually I am so obnoxious with excitement leading up to a trip but since hubby started a new job and couldn't come and I was chronically fearful of tar/oil, the lead up to this trip wasn't quite as fun filled (for me) as usual-I'm sure my co-workers appreciated my less obnoxious pre-vacation attitude!

Left Texas on Friday 7/2 and drove to Jackson, MS to visit and spend the night with one of my best friends and her family-perfect layover. Some other friends came later in the evening and stayed over all well.

Saturday 7/3, My friend's son and his friend, age 9, left for Destin with me Saturday morning. Me and these boys rolled back the sunroof and rocked out to some 80's hairmetal music from Jackson to Destin-much like his mom and I did 20 years ago on our way to Destin :)!!! Traffic to turn to the mid-bay bridge was horrid and there was a wreck on the mid-bay bridge, also horrid. Finally arrived at our beachhouse in Crystal beach and unloaded my car and explored. My friends and 2 four year olds arrived next then my friend's mom, aunt, and another friend and her daughter arrive next. We unloaded everyone and me and the big kids hit the beach. It was quite green, the waves were big and fun! Back to the beachouse and the rest of our crew had arrived, 8 adult women and 5 minors total-this is a big beachhouse, private pool, poolhouse/tv room out back, decks everywhere, large screened porch/dining area that we used all of the time!

Sunday, 7/4, I was up at 6am to walk along 98 and enjoy the ocean breeze, it was actually quite cool this morning and I walked almost 2 hours-covered 7 miles! On to the beach until after lunch, still green and strong waves, big boys and little kids had lots of fun, us grown chick's relaxed and watched from our comfy beach chairs! Sunday night me and my friend fixed chicken and veggie kabobs on the grill with some fab bread and watermelon then off to the beach for fireworks and we were promptly poured down rain on so back to the beach house!

Monday 7/5, another 7 mile walk along 98, still pretty cool outside at 6am. Back to the beach thru lunch then relaxed and off to dinner at the old Dewey Destin, I had crab stuffed, bacon wrapped fried shrimp with boiled corn and new potatoes-yummy, here comes the rain right after we ordered so everyone was crammed inside that little shack but still fun.

Tuesday 7/6, another 7 mile walk along 98, not so cool this morning though, then on to the beach. I think this is the day we tried to wait out the rain on the beach and got pounded with wind and rain so back to the house then later back to the beach. Grilled fajitas for dinner with homemade guac and pico for dinner.

Wednesday 7/7, another 7 mile walk along 98-this doesn't get old when you have the beach and the breeze and good people watching! On to the beach but then came the rain so back to the house. We picked up steamed shrimp from Skippers and did potatoes and corn and had homemade brown sugar toffee ice cream.

Thursday 7/8, up to do my usual walk and on to the beach, the water is beautiful today, quite calm after a rough water week and crystal blue-loooooove it! Hours at the beach, kids left beach early with my friends aunt and us grown up girls got to play in the waves-I got rolled big time twice-it just brings out the giggles in me to play in the waves! Dinner at Mellow Mushroom tonight, kids were falling asleep in their pizza!

Friday 7/9, my walk then the beach, another lovely day with kids playing and we got a little grown up beach time in as well-nice. Pool time then dinner at Bayou Bill's Crab House for the group-yummy as always, I love the crab cake and fried shrimp platter. Back to pack up.

Saturday 7/10, no walk today, just loaded up my car to head to Seagrove and my friends to head back to Texas. I hit the outlet mall for a little shopping then some Ciao Bella pizza-yum. On to shop a bit along 30A and arrive at our condo in Seagrove. Condo is cute but not as clean as it shoulda been and a bit more worn than shone on photos (I'll be emailing the owner in a bit). Out to the beach for a welcome to Seagrove mimosa and walk along the beach and relax after a week of wild and crazy kiddos!

Sunday 7/11, slept late-nice and off to the beach until well after lunch, the water was murky and waves were rough but I enjoy the beach in all it's forms! In for the afternoon to relax, Kat brought me a fabulous key lime pie, I made some homemade pimento cheese and some ranch dip, then I got cleaned up and on to the Red Bar for some Dread Clampitt and a beer, I was lucky enough to get a sofa seat next to a friendly couple from Texas and had a great couple of hours. Off to pick up my mom at the new airport-my iphone sent me to the wrong airport which caused much distress to me since my mom was on the last flight in and I didn't want them to lock her outside by herself! A nice fella gave me directions on the phone and I found my way thru the dark dark night to the new airport! Mom and I shared a lovely to go of the Red Bar's fish special when we got back to the condo-courtesy of my new friends from Texas-thanks ya'll!

Monday 7/12, up to walk a good hour to Seaside and around Seagrove and then to the beach. The water was murky and rough again but we enjoyed our beach time. In for lunch of pimento cheese and pie-I love vacation lunch! On to shop all of Walton County then to Stinky's for an early dinner where we shared a fried brie appetizer, mom had crawfish pie and I had shrimp fettucini and a couple of cocktails.

Tuesday 7/13, up to walk an hour then hit the beach-more murky water with choppy waves but still nice and relaxing time. In for lunch, to clean up and shop Okaloosa County then dinner at Bayou Bill's with a gumbo to start then we each got crab cakes and shrimp dinners.

Wednesday 7/14, up to walk another hour-a really hot hour today, like dripping solid sweat! Our beach was murky so we drove down to the far west end of South Walton by Pompano Joes on 98, the water was quite nice here. We met a nice couple from Illinois and had a great visit with them and enjoyed the beach. In for lunch and a nap-my only vacation nap in 2 weeks! Dinner at Pandora's-first time there and we really enjoyed it. I had the prime rib special, mom had the Delmonico. I preferred the Delmonico because it had such a good woodfired taste. I like the funky decor, blend of Italian countryside and the southseas with a doggie over the bar!

Thursday 7/15, another sweaty walk then back to the beach by Pompano Joes since our beach was still murky. The water was smooth as glass and a lovely shade of clear aqua-wow was this water fabulous....until the baby jellyfish or jellyfish pieces or whatever invaded the waters-everyone pretty much cleared out of the water! Back to the condo for a little lunch, more shopping-I know, you're wondering what's left but this time it was Bay County and I washed my salty wind covered car and vacuumed out 80lbs of sand! Back to dinner at Stinky's where we shared a gumbo and wedge salad appetizer, this time I had crawfish pie and mom had shrimp basket-good stuff.

Friday 7/16, last walk of the trip, not quite as hot as the last couple of days then mom made us sausage gravy and biscuits for brunch-yummy yummy, then on to the beach for a last hurrah. In to get cleaned up, a little last minute shopping in Seagrove then back to outlet mall and last night dinner at Bayou Bill's (mom's fav) where we shared hot crab dip and each had crabcake and fried shrimp again. Back to pack up condo, load up car, finish key lime pie and crash.

Saturday 7/17, up and out of the condo by 7:30am, bye bye beach, hope to see you again soon!

2 week trip personal highlights: playing with my friends kids and my friends at the beach, I forget how much fun kids have at the beach-until they are tired and then I forget how much not fun kids are at the beach!!!!!!! my daily walks that first week, these were my 2 hours of self time and kept me from feeling so guilty over the copious amounts of fattening foods! getting to have a mom and daughter trip was great and the first time we've every been able to do this just the two of us, we're gonna try to do mom and daughter trips every few years from now on! Kat's key lime pie-enough said!!

We had no problems with tar balls, mom was a bit freaked out by the clean up crews walking up and down the beach but these folks were polite and didn't disturb us unless we spoke first to them.

I'm looking forward to next year when I hope hubby can join me at Seagrove again, his new job is going well so far, please send some good thoughts his way that it continues to go well!

[graytonbeachguy]

I'm glad you came to join us this summer. A wonderful narrative. Please come again soon.

[DD]

Great report bba. I stopped adding up how many miles you walked. You go girl!

[SWGB]

July 4th was definitely the coolest July 4th mornings I've ever woken up to.

[kurt]

Awesome report - thanks!

[ItzKatzTime]

Oh My Gosh girl....you packed so much into your vacation!!! Great reporting....look forward to seeing you next summer! If you need a walking partner let me know,

Kat