Beach Camping


	September 16, 2008 I’m camping at Saint Andrews Park, overlooking Grand Lagoon in Panama City Beach. Sitting in my screen room with the fan wafting cool breezes and safe from all the flying biting critters I survey the beauty that is my camping nirvana. I arouse this morning at two am, unable to sleep. This night work really does a number on the circadian rhythm. The trip took around six hours plus numerous stops. I must admit, I am a distractible traveler. I stopped more times than I care to admit. Still I got here at 10 am. The boat was in the water shortly after and camp was made. I enjoyed a short sail out to the channel and back. Now Cadenza is anchored just off the beach in the one spot bare of sea grass. Yes, times have changed in Florida. You just don’t anchor willy-nilly off the beach without regard for the growth of sea grass. So I am environmentally and politically correct and the boat is less than one hundred feet from my camp site.

Cadenza peacefully at anchor.

Screen room, a vital comfort measure.

Stealth camper with air-conditioning on the cheap.

Built in bed with custom futon for comfy sleeping

I just finished a bike ride through the park. This is the time of the night when all the nocturnal animals start to prowl. Birds are roosting and nature offers itself at its best for those who care.

Deer are everywhere. These are the short Florida variety, a scant 3 feet in height and tame as they can be. I talked to one tent camper as two deer grazed in the adjacent campsite. Down the road a mother and a yearling calmly watched as I rode by. Down at Gator Lake, I saw a small one conning with eyes and dome visible. A large flock of egrets and herons camped in the bushes, squawking loudly as straggler’s finished catching the swarming insects in the waning light. Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera. But this was a preliminary survey. Tomorrow I will be out earlier and in earnest.

9/17/2008 I had a short sail today. The wind was flukey so I drifted over to Shell Island and walked around a bit. I forgot the camera so unfortunately, no pictures are available.

As the day wore on, I became I’ll with some virus and felt too achy to go on. For comfort I set up the air conditioner and took a two hour nap. Being rested some, I arose and took a bike ride in the waning sunlight. No deer were seen tonight but here is what I did see.


	‘Gater Lake with roosting egrets.

Path around Gator Lake

9/18/2008 9:54 am. I’m waiting out the tide. Around 6:40 this am my boat, Cadenza was sitting on the hard. Well, now it is still pretty solid in a couple of inches of water. The high tide isn’t ‘till after 10 pm. Forgot about having only one low and high per day!

A hermit crab finds himself high and dry too.

The day started with a shower and breakfast. First, I sautéed some onion and garlic in some olive oil and Hot Madres curry. Then I cooked up some chopped potatoes in the mix. In another skillet, three pieces of prime bacon cooked to perfection. I pronounce it very tasty; and highly unhealthy. The coffee is fresh ground in the timed grinder my daughter gave me for my birthday. Gourmet coffee in a coffee press: now that is heavenly. It’s already getting warm, so my box fan cools me as prepare and eat my breakfast.

Next, it’s time for morning bike ride. It is well timed and richly rewarded. Here Here some scenes as I ride and hike the nature trail in the dunes.






		Live oaks on the sand dunes


	Dunes at the waters edge. Now it’s time to go sailing. More later. Sailing video here


	Camping journal continues here


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