Last Day on the Emerald Coast

It rained Friday so Barb and I drove west to Pensacola.  The old historic town there has been restored, and on visiting there, we walked right into their annual folk art festival.  We did take a tour of some of the early 1800 buildings but spent most of the time touring the art booths, listening to live music, and/or eating their local dishes.

Listening to live music and eating seafood gumbo.

Our tour guide of the historic buildings.  A local college student.

Destin II

Well I blew it.  We've been so lucky with our condo exchanges, we finally hit on one that does not meet our expectations.  It is spacious.  It is circa 1960.  The unit and the area are clean and safe.  It is near the water, has a pool and spa and that's about it.  Our unit overlooks a parking lot.  Barb has been so good about it. She so loves the water.  Each morning we get up "to leave the condo" to find a view of the water and the terrific environs here.  Next time, we will have a view of the ocean!

Destin is a great place.  The food, people, activities, beautiful beaches and weather have been fantastic.  The temps have been in the mid 80's and for the first time today, clouds came in to hide the sun.  We hit the beach a bit, then went out to view a kite board display. It is "off season" here, post summer but before the "snowbirds" come.  The many attractions are so accessible and no crowds.   Fun.  Tonight is Halloween.  Again, we've had far more treats than tricks.  Fun

Dinner on a local wharf.

Sunset from our table there.

A dolphin played in the current there.

Clouds come in.  Still comfortable to sit and read on the beach.  Oh, the fresh air.

The wind came up.  We visited a Kite Sailing event.

Some of the participants sail 20 feet into the air.

As they leave land, the achieve incredible speeds.

Fun.  Again we feel blessed to experience this part of God's creation.

Destin

In 2008, as we headed west in our RV out of Florida, we peered out the driver side windows across turquoise water bordered by the whitest sand that we'd ever seen.   At that time we were on a schedule to meet Nathan, Cailyn and Jane in AZ.  We had no time to stop.  We noted, "One day we have to come back here and stay."  It took 5 years, but we are back sans the RV.

We decided to extend the visit to B and P a week, but spend that week here at Destin using out time share points.  Our expectations so far have been fulfilled to the fullest.  The beaches are the main draw.  But the community is also top notch.

This area of Florida is a unique geological formation.  The sand is a product of the Appalachian quartz, washed down the rivers and accumulated here for millions of years.  It is bright white, cool even in the heat of day, it squeaks as you walk on it, and has the consistency of  corn starch.  The Gulf, now, is so clean and the beaches are free of debris and vegetative material.   This week, temps in the low 80's complement the beautiful land and seascape.

Destin may be a frequent destination.

Life is a beach

And a swim in almost 80 degree water

Lunch on the pier

Back for a swim.

And watch a local fishing tournament.

 

Aunt Esther

We were in the area so we took a 300 mile detour on our way to Florida to visit her dad's only surviving sister.  Aunt Esther at 79, vivacious, resourceful, energetic, and a risk taker ( she drove from South Dakota to Jackson MS alone to catch up and marry her true love) and one of Barb's favorite aunts (actually she reminds me of Barb,) has lived in Jackson since 1951.  She has visited Oregon a few times, has been to our house once, and we have now visited her twice in Jackson.  She is a wealth of knowledge of family history, continues to bring up new family stories, and helped Barb to connect with her family (second cousins) in Bergen Norway. 

Birmingham, the 16th St Baptist Church

We have been fortunate to visit a few areas in our country where historical events occurred that changed the world.  The places that fit that description that we have visited are:

·         The trail from Concord to Lexington where our Revolutionary War began and the event  is often referred to as, “where the first shot was heard throughout the world.”

·         Yorktown where Washington cornered the British troops leading to their surrender ending the War.

·         Ft Sumter where the shelling began our Civil War.

·          Gettysburg, where the horrendous loss of life was perhaps the tipping point leading to the end of the South’s insurrection.

·         Pearl Harbor, the start of World War II.

·        Ground Zero New York City where the debris was being removed after the destruction of the Trade Towers.

Today, we visited another place where events changed the history of our nation.  We visited the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Same window that is in my home church in Lacrosse, WA,  Selbu Lutheran

 

Many areas of the country were facing internal turmoil during the 1960’s.  The center of the racial turmoil was Birmingham.   The 16^th St. Baptist Church served as headquarters for the civil rights mass meetings and rallies, efforts dedicated to breaking the bonds of segregation (Jim Crow laws)  in Birmingham.  Marches and demonstrations were common, often resulting in retaliation and brutality.  I remember seeing on TV and pictures in Life Magazine of the fire hoses turned on marchers, and police dogs turned on defenseless demonstrators.  National and international pressure fell upon the leaders of Birmingham.

 

 

 In 1963, though 40% of Birmingham was African American, not one policeman, fire fighter, or city leader was of African American decent.  But the domestic and international pressure only worsened the danger in Birmingham.  Several bombings occurred, all directed toward the African American community.  On September 15, 1963, three Ku Klux men placed a bomb under the church’s stairwell during Sunday school.  The bomb injured many but killed 4 girls, ages 10 – 14, all which happened to be in the room closest to the bomb.  They were in that room putting on their choir robes just prior to the church service.

The location of the bomb and a memorial to the 4 young girls.

A memorial to the 4 girls in a park across the street from the church.

 

The act so sickened many of us (including me at 16 years old at the time) that the issue of race relation and segregation took on new meaning and perspective.

The Church does not glorify or exploit the event. Nothing was for sale and there was no charge for admission.  The overwhelming message throughout the church was, “we are here to serve Christ and you.” 

It was a very deep and personal 90 minute visit to the 16^th St Baptist Church.  Again, the anger and wickedness of humankind was on display.  No reason to market it.  Anger and wickedness needs no marketing.  Their actions are so stark, brutal, and thankfully, unproductive.

The new home in Atlanta

Since our last visit in 2011, Ben and Penny had sold their previous home and moved to a new home in the Brookhaven area of Atlanta, near Penny's newest store.  We arrived Wednesday afternoon and nestled into their new home.  Thursday a.m. Ben and Penny went off to work and left Barb and me carless (our choice) because Starbucks was just a .4 mile walk, Penny's store was just another .75 mile walk, and MARTA (rapid transit) was just another .5 mile walk, all which I was able to do quite handily.  We took MARTA to the airport to pick up the rental car for the next chapter in our trip.  A fun day and I even surprised myself in my ability to walk and explore.  There are changes in my body for which I am most happy...

Pictures of B and P's home forthcoming...

Ben and Penny, October 2013

Other than our home, Lake Oconee, GA may be our favorite place.  It certainly is our favorite place to visit.  Barb and I flew out early Friday morning and were walking on the docks by 8 p.m.  It may be their lovely setting. It may be their wonderful neighbors Kenny and Maxine.  But I think more, it be the quality time that we have with Ben and Penny.  The home and lake are so visit friendly.   Ben and Penny work to make it so.

Canoeing is our favorite activity on the water.

The dock with sitting area, boat and 2 wave runners.

There is always work.  Repair the flag pole.

Clean up yard debris.

But there is much more fun.  Ben

We eat well.  B and P's new salmon recipe..

Penny and Barb with neighbor Maxine, and her gkids Noelle and Ruth

Penny on wave runner.

A trip to the Ritz Carleton for lunch.  Ben, Penny, their friends, and Barb.


 





One last run before he puts the boat away for the winter.