Jackie and Jerry at Pompano Joes

Destin RV Resort

Dinner at Pompano Joes

Destin, Florida

We had a great drive from New Orleans to Destin, Florida on Thursday. We stopped for fuel in Mississippi and for lunch at the Florida Visitors Center as we entered Florida. We were in four different states today, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. We got set up at the Destin RV Resort, across the street from the Gulf of Mexico, and then I jumped in the pool to cool off a bit. The pool was hotter than my morning shower but it was able to make me feel cool when I got out.

We drove down the gulf shore looking for a place to have dinner and ended up at Pompano Joes, which was right on the Gulf. We had a cocktail and walked on the beach while we waited for our table. The emerald green color of the water was very striking against the white sand beach, just beautiful! We got a great table right by the window and everyone enjoyed a terrific meal. Jerry and I had a Garlic Crusted Grouper with a lobster sauce while Tippy and Patty had fried grouper and Jackie had shrimp. I can’t remember what Mike had but he ate it all so it must have been good.

Today Tippy and I slept in and just relaxed in the morning while Mike and Patty took Duffer to be groomed and Jerry and Jackie went to visit Jerry’s cousin in Ft. Walton Beach. Tippy and I went to do some shopping for shorts and tops with a quick stop at the neighborhood grocery store, and then lunch on the beach. I had a Calamari appetizer and the fried clam strips while Tippy had fried shrimp and we both had a glass of Pinot Gregio wine to enhance our meal. We will stay in tonight and have a light meal while the other guys’ head for dinner and drinks on the Gulf. Tomorrow we may play golf and then eat in with Patty cooking a London Broil with asparagus and some seafood for an appetizer.

On Sunday we start out on a two-day trip to Tampa with a stopover in Perry, FL. Mike and Patty will spend two days at Lazy Days RV to have a few things on their coach fixed. We will stay in Tampa for two days and then head to Vero Beach to see our friends Ray and Sandra. Jerry and Jackie will spend six nights in the Tampa area and will visit Jackie’s sister while there. Mike will take our spot at the RV Park when we leave on Wednesday and then we will all join up again in Titusville, FL near, Cape Canaveral. I will add a few pictures from here in Destin and then post again from Tampa. Be safe.

Music outside of Cafe Du Monde

Near Jackson Square

French Quarter

French Quarter galleries and balconies

Dinner at K Paul's

New Orleans and Mississippi River

Lunch at Margarittaville

Kitchen at K Paul's

Cocktails at K paul's

Cathedral near Jackson Square

Art Sale

Afternoon Jazz

"Nawlins"

Hi all, we have spent the past two days in New orleans having fun, can you believe it? We went to the French Quarter on Monday and walked around a bit and got the lay of the land. We spent a few hours with our friends Rick and Cindy from Birmingham and walked around the quarter and saw many famous sites and found some that were new to us. Rick showed us an antique store that had so many unbelievable pieces that all we could do was oooohh and aaaahh. The best exibit was by far the Rodin statue of "The Kiss" that was for sale for a mere $850K. They also had a yellow diamond that was only $250K but was quite extraordinary.

Later this evening we met Mike and Patty and Jerry and Jackie for dinner at K Paul's and what a wonderful dinner we had!!! The service was outstanding, especially for a party of eight, and we all enjoyed our meals. Today, Tuesday, we went to Cafe Du Monde for coffee and Beignet's, which were wonderful, and then walked about the area around Jackson Square while we waited for our 11:00 tour of the city. The tour ended up pretty well and we all saw many things we didn't know were in the area. To be honest though, New Orleans is not my kind of town but I am glad we got to see it and experience the music and food.

After the tour we took the Red Line, a street car, to Margarittaville and had lunch at Jimmy Buffet's restaurant. The food was great and we all ate too much, again. We walked and shopped a bit and finally we headed for home. I took a short nap and then we started to gather to discuss the day and then watched American Idol outside while we enjoyed our cocktails. We grilled at our place, everyone brought something to grill, and we ate at our picnic table. On Wednesday we will play golf at the Links at Stonebridge Country Club and eat at home again. On Thursday we leave for Destin, Florida as we get back to the beach. More from there, be safe.

The swamp tour begins

A small gator

Cypress Knees

Bubba the 12 foot gator