Topsail Preserve - Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Tonight will be our last night at Topsail Hill Preserve, a Florida State Park on the east side of Destin in Santa Rosa Beach on the west end of FL Hwy 30A.  

It's been a good park for this part of the trip - as it's let us take some time to acclimate to the Florida weather.  NOT!!!  The temperature on Saturday and Sunday mornings was below freezing both days.  While the afternoon temperatures of 60 degrees were welcome - the mornings were way to much like Kansas winters.  In fact, you had it warmer there than we did here.  Enough said, as we will head south tomorrow looking forward to a week's stay in Ft. Myers.  There will be plenty of pool and beach time as well as opportunities to explore the area's Amish community and to catch some fresh strawberries in Plant City.  

Saturday started out on a bad note.  Nancy's car had a low tire pressure light, so we went to Pep Boys in Destin to get it checked.  All they could say - was leave the car and we'll get to it when we can.  That wasn't going to work for us as we had no way back to Topsail and then would be without a car to get back over to pick it up when and if it was fixed.  Found out that the Pep Boys in Ft Walton Beach had no wait time so we headed there.  Got it checked and found out it was a nail that could not be repaired - "surprise, surprise".  We then played the waiting game of tire change.  In the process they broke one of the tire valves with the pressure sensor.  Then it was an additional waiting game to get a new one installed.  When all was said and done - we spent the morning and a chunk of change getting a needed tire issue resolved.  

We spent the afternoon looking for antique stores in Navarre.  Nancy had the find of the day - in that she found a 1960's white Featherweight sewing machine.  However we missed eating at one of our favorite restaurants - Dewey's Bayside as it closed at 3:00.  We had a great evening meal at the Shrimp Basket instead that topped off the day.

Sunday started out great.  We went to Good News United Methodist Church for their 9:30 service and I truly enjoyed the sermon.  However - the preacher constantly used the word "right" far to often - using it over and over again.  Music was great to listen to, but was not singable 👎.   We also witnessed an infant baptism and new members joining the church.  This service here reminded me of the worship services at the churches our daughter's families go to in Arkansas and New Hampshire.  It was a good way to start the day.

After church we spent some time getting things situated for the move on Monday to west central Florida.  We then went to a sport's bar to watch the KC - Cincinnati AFC Championship game - which unfortunately the Chiefs did not win.  

All in all - our stay on the Florida panhandle is exactly what we needed:

1. Weather that reminds us of home and what we are trying to get away from. 
2. Beach time - though it was a bit abbreviated here. 
3. Seafood that is fresh and well cooked.
4. Sunday morning worship that begins to refresh the spirit.
5. A reminder that life is about the experiences and people that cross our paths.

With that - the road goes south.  

We are forever blessed.  God is good.