Moving from Carrabelle to Brooksville

Thursday 12 March 2026

   Last day in Carrabelle. We are ready to move on to a new adventure place. We packed and organized (best we could) for our travel day to Brooksville. We were as done as we could be by 2pm.  Headed into town to run the comforter through the dryer to get rid of some of the dog hair. Washed the car. We

Odd sign for the
ocean front, but
they say they see them.

stopped for an early dinner at Fathoms Grill for our last night. Shared a dozen oysters and then ordered shrimp for me and a grouper sandwich for Diane. That was so good and we were sooooo full. Diane ate her sandwich without the roll and I brought shrimp home. Back to the camper stretched out on the sofa. Can't believe we ate all that food! 😋

Friday 13 March 2026

   We were packed and on the road by 10am. We picked a breakfast place 15 miles down the road, so we didn't have to do dirty dishes at the camper. We pulled in ....it was a food truck, no tables, no bathroom and we moved on. The very next restaurant was 20 more miles and 3 mile out of our way, but we stopped anyway.  It is just a little diner (Savannahs Country Buffet) but very busy, good service and really good food. All locals in there except us. They all spoke that southern (sock in their mouth) language😁. Homemade corn beef hash and the fluffiest biscuits. A couple bathroom breaks but no lunch on our way. Arrived at the Airbnb about 3:30. A decent place well stocked kitchen. Unpacked. Doga and beans for diner.

Saturday 14 March 2026

   Diane cooked a nice breakfast although a fair amount of the eggs stuck to the fry pan. We headed out. First was lunch at the Green Door Cafe in Brooksville. The place was nice, a bit pricey $3.50 for iced tea. Food was good. Then off to find a flower shop. Diane googled flower shop. First one closed, second was all artificial and the third was 5 miles away, but they had fresh cut bouquet like we wanted. Diane even picked up two air plants she wanted for Chase and Kennedy 😏. Over to the cemetery, visited with Shawna a bit and headed home. Passed (almost) an antique store we didn't remember being in, so we stopped. Nothing. Dollar General for creamer the back to our place to make steaks and bake potato. Opened up the steaks one turned out to be a pack of tips. So, we cut up the other and had sautéed steak and potato and mushrooms. All was good.

Sunday 15 March 2026

    Breakfast from Florida Cracker Kitchen take out to eat at the house, then off to shower.  We cleaned up to pick some strawberries. Diane found a place up the road, so we had to try it out. We stopped at the Jayco camper place on the way back, turns out it is camping world under a different name. I guess they are trying to lose the terrible Camping World reputation. We didn't even go in! It was almost 2pm we missed lunch so...we stopped for oysters and a drink at BVL Oyster Bar (Bob's). These were charbroiled and yummy. Brought a pound of shrimp home for dinner.... and mac and cheese for Diane. Back to our house just in time to save Rudy as a severe thunderstorm rolled through. lighting and thunder really close. We sat on the sofa with Rudy between us and covered. He still shook like a leaf in a windstorm. It lasted less than an hour, but Rudy said it seemed more like half a day. 😕

Time in Carrabelle coming to an end

 Saturday March 7

   Kind of a stay-at-home day. Heavy foggy all day. sometimes almost misty. 😒 Nice cooked breakfast. Diane off to town for laundry run, I stayed home cleaned up a bit wandering what to do all day then Ben texted looking for tools I borrowed and never returned. Had to call Bev...called Ben back...then Bev back and then poof Diane was home. Went for a long walk, without Rudy.  Rudy's idea of a long walk is to end of the driveway and back. Anyway, on my walk I came across an all-white squirrel he was really

pretty.  Just a yucky kind of day. Brauts cooked (inside) for dinner.

Sunday March 8

   Still foggy but not as bad as yesterday. We went back to St. George Island to check out a different restaurant and do some tourist shopping. Finished our shopping and went to the Blue Parrot Raw Bar. Kind of disappointed😒.  It was on the Gulf of America side and had a nice view, but the prices were high and the food wasn't all that good.  No need to go back. We drove to the far end of the island to check out the state park. Stopped at the gate it was 6 bucks to get in. I told the lady we just wanted to drive through, didn't matter still 6 bucks. Turned around and

left.  Back across the bridge to Apalachicola.  Stopped to check out John Gorrie Museum inventor of air conditioning. Back to the camper wings for dinner and the day was over.

Monday March 9, 2026

   A much nicer day today with sunshine.  Back into Carrabelle had lunch at a food truck the (A Train).  It was really good I had shrimp😏Diane had grilled grouper. Diane had to go back to the Carrabelle Junction to pay her bill from Saturday.  Seems she did the dine and dash move while doing laundry. They didn't even remember anyone walking out. She felt better. 😅 Headed back to the camper around 1:30 just running out of things to do close by. Diane made homemade spaghetti for dinner. YUM

Tuesday March 10, 2026

   Back to Apalachicola for the day. Shopped, geo-cached (found two, couldn't find 2) shopped the whole town again.  Had lunch at the Hole In The Wall I had grilled shrimp, I know you all are surprised. And Diane had grilled grouper although it came out fried. 😞 She ate it anyway and said she was glad it came out fried. Very light breading and perfectly cooked.  Another geo-cache, two more stores and we were done. Being sad that our stay is about over, we stopped at Lynn's for oysters

and drinks to cheer us up. 😆 And it did.

Wednesday March 11, 2026 

   Down to just two days left here in Carrabelle and we were just planning to stick around the camper, but we had an emergency situation come up last night.  Rudy ran out of his favorite dog food. 😢 So after breakfast we were off to Crawfordville.  Publix for groceries, water and money. Wal-Mart to return charcoal we didn't use, picked up wine and Rudy's dog food. 😏 Back through Panacea for lunch at Possey's Grill. Food was great Diane had grilled scallops; I had the shrimp basket. Diane says I need to try something else, someday, maybe. 😂 On down the road, next stop the Salty Donkey for a drink. Sat at the outside bar enjoying the bay view. On down the road we passed another bar, well didn't really pass it, stopped for our last drink by the water's edge for this trip. Back to camp, leftovers for dinner.

To much seafood?

 Tuesday 3 March 2026

    Nice day today and not much wind. Diane was reviewing the local map and found a raw bar in Apalachicola we haven't been to yet. And off we went to the Station Raw Bar. We are in the oyster/seafood capital of this area and Diane orders a chicken sandwich, go figure, but I had my pound of shrimp. They were both very good. We walked around town for a bit, hit a few stores for the second time still didn't buy anything😑. Stopped at the hardware store for water and I found a pair of sunglasses I needed (Stihl)😏. I managed to get a short bike ride in before dinner. I've cut my exercise down to 1/2 hour and my legs feel so much better. I'll try to pick it up a notch next week.

Wednesday 4 March 2026

   With great anticipation we went down the Lanark store/dock to look for an old duck boat sunk in the mud. This was the lowest tide this week and we were there 9am sharp. Looked and looked but couldn't find it😒. Back to the camper cleaned up and off to St. George Island for lunch and day of tourist

activity. Heavy fog today and it didn't lift until after lunch. We were kind of disappointed there really wasn't much to see or do on the island.  But Diane found us a good restaurant, Paddy's Raw Bar and the food was great. Diane stepped out and had a grouper sandwich, and I stuck with my pound of shrimp. As most restaurants around here, they are all open-air seating, but it warmed up nicely by lunch time. Stopped and took a walk out a fishing pier.  It is actually the other end of old that I was on last week. Quite windy out in open so cut that short and headed to Up the Creek Raw Bar for oysters and a drink. Time to head back to Rudy. Quick stop a Piggly Wiggly for a few supplies.  Leftovers for dinner.

Thursday 5 March 2026

    Nice warm morning, the heat never ran last night; this is what we waited for.  Rudy was so happy he took some extra time outside this morning. 😏 After a little computer work, we headed to Fathoms Restaurant in Carrabelle.  I know you'll be surprised, I had a pound of shrimp, now wait today I had it grilled. 😋 The best I've had yet.  Diane had grouper tacos which was also very good. Stopped at the post office to kill some time, still too early to go home so off to Harry's Bar and Grill for drinks😏. Then home. Diane cooked up some homemade sloppy joes. Very good.

Friday 6 March 2026

   Another great day. We had a good plan to. We needed cash so off to Crawfordville we go. Stopped in Sopchoppy for a geo-cache (found it).  Over to Panacea the back way to the Trident Restaurant for

Caught at the 
Trident Restaurant!

lunch. Diane had cobia tacos and I had a buffalo shrimp wrap.  Excellent food and we ate on the deck facing the bay, very nice. Now another restaurant The Salty Donkey is right next door. More on that later.  Off to Crawfordsville for money, water and groceries. Diane shopped while I tried to get the water machine to work (frustrated) finally get water put in the car and went to find Diane. She couldn't find everything, eventually finish up and head home.  Decided to stop at the Salty Donkey since it was on the way home. We had a drink and the barmaid brought the bill.... when we realized we never got money.  S@#$!  Back to Crawfordsville for money and back home (without stopping). Shane called he is in Eglin AFB for guard training but is heading home tomorrow no time to get together. Back to the camper, short bike ride and leftovers for dinner. 

Warmer weather & sun shine

 Friday 27 February 

   Nice breakfast bacon cooked outside.  After showers headed to Crawfordsville, stopped at a few little shops in Sopchoppy.  While we were shopping, we learned all about the annual and Famous earthworm grunting contest held every April. Yes, that is right "worm grunting contest".  And we will miss it, Darn!
   Stopped along the way to do some geocaches.   We hit the ATM for cash.  Drove thru Panacea to check out the city park for gumbo cookoff tomorrow. Another geocache then noticed this seafood restaurant, Possey's, and picked up a lb. of shrimp for dinner. Back to camper, chicken fajitas for dinner, I saved the shrimp for snacks

Saturday 28 February

   Cooked breakfast, then spent an hour or so with Rudy before heading to the Panacea Gumbo cook off. Arrived at about 12:30 and the place was packed.  20 bucks each to get in, you got 10 tickets and they

had 10 gumbo stands. They gave us these little 3oz cups of gumbo per serving. I figured I would still be hungry. But, after 10 3 oz servings plus a few bites of Diane's, I was stuffed. That's 30 plus oz of Gumbo. They all were quite tasty. We voted for the guy giving out free mimosas. 😁 It was the usual festival with other kinds of food including oysters and hot dogs and yes, I saw at least one person eating a hot dog at a seafood festival.😐 It ended around 3pm (ran out of food) so we went to Crawfordsville picked up Diane's prescription and grabbed some groceries.  

 Beautiful sunset tonight!

Sunday 1 March

    Started with yogurt (can't live on just seafood😏) Diane went to town did laundry. She returned and we went to the Red Pirate Family Grill & oyster Bar.  Started with a dozen oysters to share. And ordered the Fisherman's plater to also share. The oyster came out. OMG they were huge

. Apparently, there has been a five-year moratorium on oystering in the bay, and it just opened back up this year.  Never seen oysters so big. We were only halfway through them when the platter came out. We ate the hushpuppies and 1/2 the coleslaw, the rest came home. Diane found a nice fishing pier (old bridge), we parked I walked the whole length just over 1/2 a mile each way.  Made it back home crackers and cheese for evening snack.  

Monday 2 March

  Sooner or later, it happens.  Stayed home to pay bills, balance check books and work on taxes. 😓. That was so depressing we went to the beach😄 spent about a hour or so, I walked up and down the beach while Diane sat in the sun and read her book. After the walk I was thirsty, so we hit Harry's Bar.  A little shady looking from the outside but we sucked it up and went in, not a bad place really. Both ordered Bloody Harry's as they call them.  Check out the picture it was like a drink and snack plate all in one. You can only handle one. Back home fired up the grill and made steak, baked potato, mushrooms and grilled garlic bread.  I know it's not seafood, but it was great. A good day after all.

After the meal on top of the Bloody Harry, I really didn't need anything for dinner!!

Windy week

Sunday 22 February

   Another at home day. Cleaned camper. Ugh! Rudy has been very busy shedding profusely. Very windy (gale force warning for the gulf) we could barely hold the door open. Played a couple games of farkle. Until I finally couldn't stay in anymore, to windy to ride bike, so I headed out for a long walk.  Walked hard for an hour. I came back and we were setting here minding our own business when Rudy ran in and tried to jump up on the bed. It is too high he fell backwards landed on his back.  He just laid there and whimpered.  We were so scared! 😟 Needless to say we spent the rest of the day worrying over him. He slowly regained his wits, started walking around. after about an hour he was almost normal. Burgers for us, I tried cooking on the grill but way to windy. Diane had to finish cooking them inside. And of course, a lot of lovin' for Rudy

Monday 23 February

   Yogurt for breakfast and then Diane headed into Carrabelle to do laundry. There was only one machine available (giant sized) $8.00 just to wash. Ouch.  The wind has let up bit but still quite breezy. Salad and sandwiches for lunch, couple games of farkle and it was time for another walk.  I did another hour-long hard walk, Diane made it around the block.  Made plans for the next few days. Dogs and beans for dinner because Rudy wanted a hot dog. 😏

Tuesday 24 February

   The wind was calm this morning. almost eerie after two days of hard wind. Now, I mentioned I walked hard for 2 days and that went well until this morning. My legs were so sore I could barley walk Rudy this morning. I didn't think I was that out of shape. 

    Breakfast wraps, showers and we were off to Crawfordsville for supplies. First stop gas, then into Walmart (I know) to look for dog steps (no luck). Finally, lunch time arrived Diane found

Divey places have the 
best food!!

Hamaknockers BBQ, we shared a rack of ribs with sides, oh yum. We started Geo-cashing again, hit 5 spots, found 3, couldn't find 1 and 1 the road was gated. Took Diane back to the grocery store while I hit Tractor Supply again looking for dog steps again no luck. Picked Diane up and back home stopping for two more geo-cashes (found both). 😁 Leftovers for dinner. No walk or bike ride tonight.

Wednesday 25 February

    Yogurt for breakfast and right out the door for some sight-seeing. First was the Crooked River light house and museum. We had to do a geo-cache first because the museum didn't open until 11am. We couldn't find the cache, but I found 5 or 6 ticks!  Diane picked some off when I came out of the woods, found another in the museum and yet another while we were eating. Had lunch at Mi Ranchito food was very good. Back to camper took Rudy for a nice walk. Then back to town to the Camp Gordon Johnston WW II museum. It is a small building we figured we would be in and out in an hour. Boy, were we wrong. The camp was only open a few years but trained 10's of thousands of soldiers for the D-Day invasion using the Gulf coast beaches. Another very interesting place I had never heard of. We were there 3 hours.  Stopped to pick up some steamed shrimp but they were sold out. Back to camper had Hog Maw sausages for dinner. 

Thursday 26 February 

    Into town to Mornin' Bites for breakfast, both had big breakfast.  Then back to camp, rested and

Found where the
shrimp boats come in!

walked Rudy.  Headed into Apalachicola, toured the Orman House very interesting. Walked around town for several hours trying to work off breakfast hitting most of the shops and even bought a tee shirt. Around 3 o'clock we headed home stopping at Lynn's Oyster Bar.  We were only going to have a snack but ended up sharing a dozen oysters, they came with horseradish and hot sauce. Just after I stuck one in my mouth the waiter stopped to tell us the horseradish was really hot!  💥***To late*** my mouth was on fire. Never knew horseradish could be that hot.  Next Diane ordered seafood gumbo and I had steamed shrimp. Everything was very good. We were hoping to sit on the deck, but it was too windy.  Back home, we shared a half of sausage and called it done.  A great day.

Steamed Oysters,

6 with parmesan and garlic butter

6 with jalapeno, bacon, cheddar and a dash of hot sauce

both were delicious.

Yea, warmer weather

Wednesday 18 February

   After a quick breakfast we went to downtown Apalachicola for a bit of site seeing, by the third boutique store it was lunch time.  Stopped at a food truck and split a Cuban and it came with homemade chips, it was all very good.  Hit a few more stores then the Rainey Museum Home. It was very informative took about two hours; it was one of the first big houses built in Apalachicola. Another shop or two when I got the munchies, so we hit the 'Up the Creek Oyster Bar' for a snack. Split an order of steamed oysters 

Beautiful view from the deck!

and had our first afternoon drinks Margarita/bloody Mary.  Back to the camper walk Rudy and leftovers for dinner. 

Thursday 19 February

   Breakfast at home. Cleaned up a bit and down to Costal Family Restaurant for late lunch.  Much warmer today but still needed a jacket to sit on the deck for lunch.  I had gumbo (grouper, scallops, shrimp) Diane order grilled scallops but ended up with fried.😒  They were still very good. Stopped at antique store, and Boutique, bought a tee shirt for Diane then back to camper, Brad not feeling well. We watched Hacksaw Ridge (war movie) very good. If you get a chance you gotta watch it. Grilled cheese for dinner.

Friday 20 February

   First shorts all day weather day. Diane made breakfast.  She is not liking not having a gas grill for quick cooking. Only cooked breakfast outside once since we have been here. I got another bike ride in, up to almost a hour. Boy am I every out shape surprised I made it that far.

   Diane bought us some charcoal so I could grill the stuffed deer loin for dinner. I had to use campground charcoal grill (see picture). 

Our old school grill.

No heat adjustment except for manual adjustment.  How old school. It took much longer (3 glasses of wine) instead of the normal two. 😏  In the long run it was one of the best I ever cooked. Walked around the block and enjoyed the warm weather.

Saturday 21 February

    Up and moving by 7 AM.  We are going to meet Shari and crew for lunch at The Back Porch Restaurant in Destin, a 3 1/2-hour drive.  We hustled right out of here at 9 AM, we should arrive around 12:30 and have a half hour to spare.... or so we thought. Terribly foggy for the first hour of driving, considerably under speed limit. I'm keeping an eye on our arrival time 12:30 then 12:35, slowly the fog starts to lift, arrival time 12:45 still time to spare. We had to stop for a bathroom break, 5 more minutes, get back on the road glance at the arrival time and surprise it is 11:50.  Yep, we crossed the time zone. Now we have an hour to kill. Stopped at Public's for wine, probably the only Public's in Florida that doesn't sell wine and we found it. 😑 We did find an ABC store and our wine was on sale.... sold out.  After all that we still arrived at 12:30. Diane went in to make sure they could seat the 11 of us in the pet friendly area. No pets allowed the guy tells her; it was a mistake on the google map site. We drove around the parking lot to find some shade to park in. Finally, all settled in, Rudy parked in the shade and Matt, Shari and crew roll in.

    After hugs and hello's, we head in.  Nice place right on the beach. Big waves rolling in just like East coast ocean beach. The food was very good😃 but very pricey! 😕 I had crab stuffed shrimp and Diane had shrimp tacos. Oh YUM. 

    So good to see the kids. We talked for some time got hold Eamon Kent (third named after the now famous Bradley Kent) 😁 Then we headed out to the beach, kids played in the sand and got ankle deep in the water (Gulf of America). 

   All good days come to an end!  Walked to the ice cream/candy store right beside the parking lot. Then it was hugs and goodbyes. 😔 

   Now a 3 1/2 hours drive home.  Arrived 8 pm. 

Go to FL to meet family from CO

It looks ugly but was a nice day!

Getting to know E. Kent

BACK ON THE ROAD (for a bit)

 Vacation February/March 2026

Well, it has been a year since we said goodbye to the Moho and took up residence in Wellsville. Then came 2026 after 25 days of below freezing temperatures, we headed south.  To Carrabelle Fl. for a month. We are at an Airbnb which is actually a travel trailer beside a house. It only took a day or two for us to realize how much we miss having a camper. But here we are.

We arrived Thursday February 12 around 3:30. We unloaded the car, getting the frozen food into the freezer as quickly as possible after the 3-day drive down. Rudy quickly went room to room sniffing the place out. The unit is only four years old, but it is made by Thor (cheapest possible). We hid our winter coats and put on shorts. 😉 And just like we did while full timing first night we had burgers on the grill.

Friday 13 February 

    First day here we headed 'downtown' to look 'around'. Justa little rhyme there. We found the grocery store, hardware store (looking for food dishes for Rudy we forgot) had lunch at The Fisherman's Wife, it was verry good. Then over the bridge to Apalachicola to look around, and found the Piggly Wiggly grocery store

Saturday 14 February   (Happy Valentines Day)

  We stayed at the camper today just to decompress from the trip and to enjoy Valentines Days. We enjoyed breakfast on the grill then exchanged cards this morning......I gave my card to Diane (it was a nice card) ...... I waited for mine OH NO she forgot it!!😔 But I'm very understanding and it will be waiting for me when we get home (she paid for that all day) 😀.  Brad scores a BIG ata boy card to be played later.  We had a wonderful day, warm (a bit breezy) and sunny. Did I tell you there is no snow down here! 😏 Steak, baked potato (on the grill) with mushrooms and garlic bread. YUM.

Sunday 15 February 

   Headed back into to Carrabelle had breakfast at Morn' Bites. Interesting place, go in one door it is Morn' Bites, in another door it's Eve'n Bites. Same restaurant two names and two different reviews! 😐 
  Back to the camper to wait out a storm with hail and possible tornado. We had some rain and thunder but nothing bad. The sun came out; it warmed up nicely. Grilled sausages and enjoyed the sunset.

Monday 16 February

     A real vacation type day. Diane cooked us a nice breakfast then off to Panacea. We were late leaving so first was lunch😋.  First pick was closed Monday and Tuesday, go figure.  Diane quickly found

another restaurant The "Angelo & Sons Tropical Trader Shrimp Co.". What a mouth full!  We sat outside, a bit of a breeze but comfortable. We shared a queso and blackened shrimp appetizer and shrimp salad. both very good. Up the road to Woolley Park (a city park), walked around they had a nice fishing pier to walk on. Next was the Gulf Specimen Aquarium. We spent at least two hours in the place (avg 30 according to the internet).  Just as we were leaving it was feeding time for an injured sea turtle.  We were invited to watch it was amazing. what docile creatures they are. 
  Back to the camper, wings from a local food truck, Diane says the best we ever had. End of a great day.         

Tuesday 17 

   Our first "work" day today.  Headed up to Crawfordsville this morning we were looking for an antique store couldn't find it. So we stopped at a Goodwill walked through the store didn't find a thing but killed enough time to make it to lunch.  We ate at B W's Grill, rough looking but the food was really good. We both had grilled shrimp with a side. When the waitress brough out the food she looked right at us and said " One thing I ask is you roll up the shrimp tails and put them in the center of the plate". I guess she saw the surprise on our face. Turns out she was very allergic to shellfish. That made sense so we carefully wrapped up the tails and put them in the center of the plate.
   Next was the work, laundry, groceries, credit union and gas before heading home. Leftover for dinner and a nice walk for Rudy.