Last Dance: Florida Panhandle

Cruising on Last Dance

This blog archives the adventures of Glen and Jill Moore and provides a means of communication for friends and family. Exploration and adventure have been synonymous with boats and water for centuries. The joy of adventures shared while exploring new places and meeting new people has built a strong bond for Glen and Jill. Last Dance is the platform for the exploration.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." St. Augustine, 354 - 430

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain, 1835 - 1910

"There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats." The Wind in the Willows, 1908, Kenneth Grahame, 1859 - 1932

"I've never believed speed and ease are conductive to living fully, becoming aware, or deepening memory, a tripod of urges to stabilize and lend meaning to life." River Horse: a log book of a boat across America, 1999, William Least Heat-Moon,1939 -

The Great Loop -- The current adventure is a circumnavigation of the Eastern United States, cruising north up the east coast through New York into Canada, across the Great Lakes to Chicago, navigating multiple river systems south to Mobile, along the Gulf coast to the Florida Keys and back to St. Augustine. This trip by boat is commonly referred to as the Great Loop. Progress and current location are indicated by the red line on the map to the right. It was titled the Traceless Path in recognition of a German sailor we met in St. Augustine who published booklets of his travels with hand-drawn, detailed maps describing his travels across the water as the Traceless Path.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Florida Panhandle - Apalachicola

Apalachicola is one of the most famous towns along the Florida Panhandle. Its fame comes in a large part to the seafood products harvested there. The Apalachicola oyster is arguably the best in the U.S. The brackish waters of Apalachicola Bay are perfect for the growing of the bivalve culinary delicacy. Apalachicola has a large shrimp and fishing industry, also.

Unique, hand-built small boats are used to harvest oysters. These oyster boats ply the waters of the bay every day.

Oysters are still harvested by hand. Long tongs are used to capture the oysters, which are lifted onto the boat deck and sorted.

The town of Apalachicola provides many opportunities to eat the produce of the Bay and Gulf. Every restaurant features seafood. And, it seems, that every restaurant does a great job in preparing the fruits of the seas.

The locals fill the Seafood Grill for good reason. Their fried oysters have the thinnest, crispiest batter coating, lightly cooked to a steamed oyster consistency. Delicious.

In the early 1800's, Apalachicola was a busy port, the largest in the state of Florida. While the city is not as large as it was then, it retains some of the old architecture and charm.

The restored Dixie Theatre brings live theater to this small community. After many near misses by a day, the Last Dance crew finally got to take in a play, Florida Girls, a one-woman show.

And, there are fun places. At the Tin Shed, you can get everything from nautical antiques to cypress stumps.

Along the waterfront, near where Last Dance was docked, was a pole labeled with colors and numbers. What do they represent?

The height the water will reach by hurricane category.

1 comment:

Pat said...: I thought maybe the marks were for SNOW!! (HA-HA); January 25, 2012 at 1:53 PM