After making reservations for the Pensacola area in January, we, like many others, had concerns about the oil spill. Watching the news and talking to our agent, we decided to come on down. And we're glad we did.

We're about to end most of a week on the West End of Santa Rosa Island and it's been great. Drove down through thunderstorms and have had great weather since. There's been some chance of T-storms each day, however, as is typical for the area, then tend to move inland. We've spent all the time we wanted to on the beach.

The oil spill has been as far as 100 miles and as close as 85 miles from Florida's panhandle. Forecast for this Memorial Day Weekend is to be around 90 miles off the coast. Fresh fish and shrimp have been no problem and remain readily available.

Last time we were here we did not get to spend as much time in the water as we would have liked, due to Jellyfish. So far on this trip, all I've seen has been one harmless little jelly-blob. This morning, as I sit on our balcony overlooking the beach, I thought I might be seeing some dinner-plate size, whitish blobs in the water just off shore. Not seeing anything now and not seeing anything washing up on shore.

Have had the pleasure of seeing HUGE schools of Manta Rays swimming along the beach in the mornings. Anywhere from a few solitary rays, to small schools of a dozen or so, to anywhere from 50 to 200. Beautiful creatures! Yesterday we managed to be in the water as some of the schools passed by. If you hold very still, they will swim right among people standing in the water. I tried snorkeling among them, but they are pretty skittish and would not let you get much closer than about 10 feet.

Saw one small shark swimming by that caused panic on the beach. People were running along the beach trying to throw things at it and yelling at people out on floats, "THERE'S A SHARK!". Poor little three foot shark was not going to be eating any swimmers and was just looking for his lunch. A fisherman caught a small shark, same one?, and released it. They are catching some Pompano and not sure what else. Don't know the local fish very well.

We've just eaten out once. Decent restaurant called Peg Leg Pete's. Good food; Key Lime Pie was just O.K. Cajun Catfish is very good; light and crisp, mild spicy flavor. Chargrilled Mahi-Mahi was excellent. Grilled Shrimp was also very good. The rest of our meals we've grilled with seafood from Joe Patti's , in Pensacola, off Bayfront Avenu. Huge shrimp, 21/26, $6.99/pound. Also had Grouper and will cook Mahi-Mahi tonight.

That's about it. It's been a lazy, on the beach, kind of trip. Not a lot of touring around this trip. Need to go check out Fort Pickens and the lighthouse on the East End of Santa Rosa . . . .

Cheers!

John

When in danger, or in doubt,
Run in circles, scream and shout!

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