Dipping Our Toes in Warm Water

Two webcams and a dip in the Gulf of Mexico? Yes, please!

Family commitments done, TaGeez and I found ourselves with a free afternoon so we hopped into the car and headed to Gulfport - a new first! I've never been to the Gulf of Mexico! Our first stop was one of four webcams on this trip - sweet!

Gulfport Marina Webcam Cache GCKRPM

Next we cruised up the Gulf Coast to take in the tourist sites including the "chicken church" on Madiera Beach. Yes, my kind of Virtual!

Chicken Church GC7B7DF

We saw that chicken church was next to Caddy's, a local institution and favorite hang-out of a favorite friend, employee parking lot. So, TaGeez, crab cakes while overlooking the water? 

Front row parking spot, immediate seating on the balcony overlooking the water, and not a care in the world. Truly, the first peaceful, carefree afternoon in many months. No wonder SJ loves it here!

We do that "old people thing" - sitting on the same side of the table

View from our balcony seat

To cache or not to cache? This afternoon the choice was easy - walking along the sand in the direct sunlight, picking up seashells and videoing birds on the beach. We've missed so much of the year and the water lapping on our tired legs made us feel human again.

After living and loving the Great Lakes, wading in the ocean waters outside Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina, the Gulf waters were SO calm and SO warm. Have you been? 

We hit the souvenir shops to find SJ a postcard from Caddy's, but they didn't have any. So, SJ, here you go!

Quick stop at John's Pass for ice cream, souvenir coasters and a quick laugh, and then we had to turn east. We will be spending tonight in Orlando before heading to Kennedy Space Center tomorrow.

scary bug a rest stop

Final stop is Orlando's webcam - luckily we grabbed it before it was too dark. 

Park Avenue Webcam GCBFE3

Then into Orlando heading to our hotel, we could see the neon lights of amusement parks nearby. It was fun seeing the traces of "the mouse" alongside the highway - such as mouse ear-shaped poles supporting the power lines.

Hard to believe we only have one full day left in Florida. More tomorrow!