GOLF at A C READ

Norm played nine holes of golf and I got to be driver. Routed on two salt water Bayous, the ninth hole is the most scenic of the three 9s at the  A C Read, 27 hole course. Although the course was originally built for the Navy they opened it up to the public just a few years ago. What a privilege to golf here!   

This is the dry season, so the grass had a somewhat “scorched earth” appearance, but it was beautiful just the same.  It’s old growth oak draped in Spanish Moss, and not only one of the most beautiful courses in the Navy, but in the entire Pensacola region. It was a perfect 73 degree, sunny day that could not have been better.

The only glitch was when I ran over Norm’s foot with the golf cart, or, as my version goes – Norm got his foot under my cart.  No serious harm, but he doesn’t want to let me forget it!  I told him it was his “best drive of the day.”

Dinner followed golf at The Oar House which has a real "Jimmy Buffet" sort of feel. Delicious fish n chips  for me and Paella for Norm. We sipped down a few suds then drove back to our winter home tired but content.  It was a very good day.

Living the Moment in Florida,

Nancy & Nancy

The Pride and the Shame of Fort Pickens

We took a little trip to the western end of the island and visited Fort Pickens, a place where time tiptoes past with the story, both impressive, and shameful, of America’s past.

Begun in 1829 and completed in 1934, Fort Pickens was the largest of four forts built by a work force of skilled slave laborers to defend Pensacola Bay. Construction was difficult. Workers were exposed to an unfriendly climate, yellow Fever and experienced severe heat exhaustion.Their owners collected their wages. Shameful.

In October 1886 a train carrying 16 Apache families pulled in to Pensacola. Under guard the men were separated from the women and children and taken by steamer across to Santa Rosa Island where they were imprisoned at Fort Pickens. Among the prisoners was the great Apache chief, Geronimo and also Naiche, the youngest son of Cochise, and hereditary chief of the Chiricahuas.The editor of The Pensacolian wrote that “Geronimo would be an attraction which will bring here a great many visitors.” President Cleveland approved the idea. The men were held prisoner until 1888 and treated as a “human freak show.” Like I said, shameful. 

Ironically, the only real action this fort endured happened when America was at war with itself. It was one of the few seacoast forts that remained in Union control in the civil War and several major battles were fought from it.

The Fort Pickens gunnery was updated during World War I, and again in World War II. Then it was closed in 1947. Now gulls and children play where powerful weapons once shook the earth and stood ready to defend our country.

WELCOME to HAKUNA MATATA

Our first impression when we arrived on Rosarita Island Saturday evening was ....BRRRRR!  The air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers had sent everyone indoors - very few cars on the road, nobody out walking. It was like a tourist ghost town!

When I stood on the balcony of the condo that is to be our nest for the next two months I saw nothing but a beautiful white sand beach stretching as far as I could see in both directions. It was empty, exceopt for one long legged bird. Waves of shades of green and blue crashed the beach fiercely. The red flag (hazard for swimming) whipped about in the wind. Beautiful, to be sure, but not quite the tropical paradise I had been imagining for months and months. No fear though, the cold snap should be over by Monday.

Welcome to Hakuna Matata!

Norm & Nancy