On the Road to Ocklochonee

We are off to Ocklochonee State Park for a weekend of camping.  Everything is ready to go.  It doesn't take as long when you are already traveling and just stopped at your son's.  All you have to do is add food and add everybody else's clothes.  Oh, and load up the dog crates because they have been in the house.  And bring the dog food back out.  Mom, don't forget my blanky!  Aren't you people ready to go yet??? C'mon kids, times a wasting.

We were a little worried about the weather but clouds and rain come and go around here and we were definitely going.

Once you leave Panama City and head out past Tyndall AFB, it's a lovely drive along the coast.  We drove through Mexico Beach, Port St Joe and a few other small beach towns.

 We stopped in Apalachicola for a lunch break and a trip around town.  Our last trip here we parked down under the bridge but this time we snagged a nice spot a block from the main street.

We took the dogs and kids for a walk down to Battery Park and City Marina where you can see the smaller pleasure boats moored or play in the park.

Next we headed back to the RV to fix a little lunch and then took off for a walk around Apalachicola.  Apalachicola Historic District has over 900 homes, buildings and sites listed in the National Register District--some from the 1830's.  You can get maps and brochures from the Apalachicola Bay Chamber office and Visitors Center on Commerce St (or download from www.apalachicola.org) and then do a scenic walking tour where you will see cotton warehouses (from the 1800's), a sponge exchange, and Victorian homes in addition to some interesting shops.  Tupelo honey is famous and found near here instead of in Tupelo, MS as one might expect from the name.  Ulee's Gold, a movie about this honey starring Peter Fonda was made near here.  The store below has original props from the movie.

The port of Apalachicola was established in 1831.  Shipping cotton was the big industry and made it the third largest port on the Gulf of Mexico.  As railroads expanded throughout the U.S., lumber became big business due to the large cypress trees.  By the end of the 19th century, harvesting oysters and seafood became an important industry.  Today, 90% of Florida's oysters (and 10% of oysters consumed in the US.) come from here.

The following photos are for my Pink FlaminGoes friends.  I thought these were pretty unique.

Pink Flamingos are popular in Florida as well as among RVers everywhere.

This was a unique little outdoor garden store.  The owner retired to this area and opened the store.

The Apalachicola Sponge Company is an interesting visit.  This is a sponge divers suit on display.

Loofah anyone?  They also have all kinds of shells and goatsmilk soap for sale.

You might even have an Elvis "sighting".

Interesting building art.

There is lots more to see here but we ran out of time because we were excited about going camping.  You might want to consider visiting the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, the Apalachicola Museum of Art, the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Dixie Theater, the John Gorrie State Museum (contains a replica of the first ice machine, predecessor to A/C), or the Orman House.  We did visit the Raney House Museum on our way home so you'll see that in a later post.  And all of this is in Apalachicola.  Once you head out of town on this bridge, there is even more to see.

The clouds were still with us but no rain so far.  You just never know around here.

Here is a sight you might want to see in Carrabelle.  It's the world's smallest police station.  That's right, you are looking at it.

It's beautiful driving along the beach.

Hey, the sky is looking better.

Hey, Mom, are we almost there????

We have arrived!  More on the park in the next post.