Destin & Henderson Beach State Park, Carrabelle & Ho Hum RV-Park, Panama City & St Andrews State Park.

Condo complexes as viewed from Henderson Beach State Park

When visiting Destin in our motorhome we generally stay at Henderson Beach State Park. It is a State Park with location, location, location. Huge condominiums are wedged tightly along the state park boundary. The state park itself contains one mile of pristine beachfront property on the Gulf of Mexico.

Dune walk over at Henderson Beach State Park

Dune walk overs are provided in order to protect the fragile ecology of these barrier dunes throughout Henderson Beach State Park.

Beach & Gulf of Mexico in Henderson Beach State Park

Words do not adequately describe this beautiful, yes pristine, snow white beach and aqua blue water. There is no one on the beach at this time because it is so cold. Actually, a stiff north wind is blowing and the temperature is in the 50's. Later in the day hearty snowbirds will venture out for a stroll up and down the beach.

Beach scene Henderson Beach State Park

Beach renourishment dredge operating off Henderson Beach State Park

We took this picture of a dredge operating not far out in the Gulf of Mexico from the state Park.

We visited the Destin harbor area where these pictures were taken. Destin is truly an awesome fishing village with literally hundreds of charter fishing boats.

Destin fishing fleet

Charter fishing is not the only boating activity. Sight seeing, snorkeling, ski doos, pontoon boats, dolphin cruises, dinner cruises, sailing excursions you name it the activity is here.

Destin Harbor

Great egret at Bay Town Wharf

Joyce got this picture of a great egret when we were visiting Bay Town Wharf shopping/dining area in the Sand Destin complex east of Destin.

The great egret was stretching just before striking out and catching a fish. We watched this bird catch and eat the small fish but none of the pictures turned out.

The enormous Emerald Grande condominium complex is being constructed at the foot of the Destin Bridge in the old town of Destin. One can safely say the quaint old fishing village of Destin is rapidly changing into a millionaires playground.

We left Destin, heading east on US-highway 98 along the Gulf of Mexico through Panama City, then Tyndall Air Force Base, Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, & East Point before stopping in Carrabelle at Ho Hum RV-Park a quaint little mom & pop type RV-Park located on the water $23 per-night full hookup.

We stopped and visited this lighthouse just west of Carrabelle

Although this is mid-January and the nation is in the grips of one blizzard after another weather around here is in the 70's and pine trees are generating pollen with a vengeance. This is the pollen generators (my term) on a sand pine common along the sandy dune systems of coastal Florida.

This is the pollen generator on a long leaf pine also common in the Florida Panhandle. Pollen is so thick everything is coated with a thin dusting of yellow. Our normally red automobile is reddish yellow.

It rained a bit this morning and pollen was washed off of parking lots and such areas where it became concentrated and easily visible to even to the oblivious.

Remember that this is mid-January.

Just east of Carrabelle, on Carrabelle Beach, is a wayside/public park that is frequented by RV'ers passing through the area on US-98. Look for it around N29° 49.835' W84° 41.362' if you are traveling with a GPS mapping system.

It is a good place for RV'ers to pull off the highway and stretch their legs. There is also restroom facilities for those so inclined, but more importantly it has a place for an RV to pull off the highway and park.

This area of the United States played a crucial role in WW II as a training site for the D-day invasion. Then during the war it became the second largest POW camp in Florida.

One of the German POW's who was interned at Camp Gordon Johnson POW camp has a good perspective of the place at:

http://home.arcor.de/kriegsgefangen/deutsch/memoir/gordon_johnston.html

And another perspective from a German/American emigrant-- you will have to read the story to understand, but it is very compelling:

http://www.foitimes.com/internment/Ahrens.htm

While the US Army 4th Infantry Division was training here other Army Divisions were also preparing for the D-day invasion on sites close by.

With our involvement in WW II an amphibious Training Center was constructed beginning in the summer of 1942. A 20-mile swath of coastline was used to train for amphibious assaults. Originally known as Camp Carrabelle the name was soon changed to Camp Gordon Johnson for a Medal of Honor recipient. Over 100,000 acres of training area was utilized in training over 30,000 troops.

Another Historical Marker commemorating those who served in the military at this camp is located on Oak Street at the American Legion Hall in Lanark Village a few miles east of Carrabelle.

More information on Camp Gordon Johnson and the role it played in WW II can be found at: http://www.flheritage.com/wwii/sites.cfm?PR_ID=54

On our way back to Pensacola we stopped overnight in St Andrews State Park located on Panama City Beach.

The campground at St Andrews State Park is located on Grand Lagoon. It is a short walk to the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico from the campground.

As you can see the campground has a lot of vacancies. Remember that this is winter time and the "high" season around here is summer.

Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix