Hallelujah, praise Jesus! Gospel music and Radio Selma preaching entertained as I descended that Mountain of Configuration towards the Gulf of Mexico, fabled panhandle beaches of Alabama and Florida (a.k.a. The Redneck Riviera). Quoting the guru, Dr. Beach, this sand savant referred to my destination as: “…the greatest strand of white sand on earth.”
I was heading towards 30A to be specific, an 18-mile stretch of powder snow beaches and glittering emerald water hemmed in between Destin and Panama City. Keeping to the speed limit (those Bama cops are notorious), my goose-egg Fiat couldn’t get there fast enough as I navigated four hours south from my brother’s home – the house where I was raised – outside Birmingham, Alabama.
Zipping past stands peddling green peanuts and Hank William memorabilia, tufts of cotton from a nearby field flitted in the breeze, littering the road that fine afternoon, the third of November. I’ve taken this route dozens of times in my youth; to Destin as a child, and Panama City as a teen, but these towns of yesteryear bear no resemblance to the present. Since my last visit, the past three decades have witnessed hurricanes and oil spills pillaging the once sleepy fishing communities, and as fast as lax zoning laws could say “Go!”, tourists piled into sky-high condominium jungles, built in the blink of an eye, leaving only memories in the rubble. Bless those tight restrictions on high rises and vigilant nature conservation efforts along 30A – this stretch of beach and community remains pristine.
On my three-day hiatus, the plan was to regroup, clear my head and stockpile energy to confront the nightmare of work, and the holiday onslaught awaiting my return to Ann Arbor. Banishing negative thinking and nagging future concerns, at that moment I was having a blast, to the point, alone. Arrivederci husband, adios kids; I was Thelma and Louise wasn’t around to confound my adventure. Here’s my scrapbook:
Neck’s a blazin’ on the Florabama Riviera!
Hi Peggy,
I love reading your blog! You have such fun personality, creativity, and humor in your writing. These cold days are perfect too for trying your recipes when everyone wants to just stay inside and eat warm, good food. My family thanks you!
Thanks for the comment, Lydia. It made my day and I hope the summer locale brought some warmth into your kitchen. (Next blog will be an actual recipe!)
Hey, Peggy – You did indeed make me laugh out loud with delight. A fine, fine article and a flashback for me to Lexington, Ky and the Rolex when there was a Louise and the bunch of us watched horses jump big fences. Great photos. I think I’ll go look for that can of butter beans in the back of my Lazy Susan.
Tania! Fellow horse lover! So good to see your (albeit tiny) face. Glad you enjoyed the post, and esp. appreciate that it comes from such a talented writer. Do you have a blog I can subscribe too?
A beautiful post, Miss Peggy. From the looks of those suntanned knees, you didn’t get out of the sun a moment too soon! (-:
Looking at the snow covering the roof next door, I may disagree with you. However, the sun is really bright today – too bad it’s in the twenties!
Peg,
What a fine fine piece. The pics and prose were interesting. Only thing better, is if I could have gone myself. Have a great Turkey Day. I’m making Cajun rubbed birds this year. Call if you want a recipe.
Ha Ha Ha
Cajun-rubbed turkey? I want you to post that recipe, NOW! (everyone else wants to see it too!)
What a fun trip! Sometimes vacations with groups can be exhausting instead of relaxing…You’ve inspired me to explore solo journeys of my own! Cheers!
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