Ostomy Memories of Crossing the Bridge

APPROACHING APALACHICOLA, FLORIDA from the east along U.S. Highway 98, a driver is surrounded by the ominously named Tate’s Hell swamp on the right, unseen behind some coastal houses, and St. George Sound on the left, separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a 22-mile-long barrier island called St. George Island.  Turning left at Eastpoint, just ahead is the 4-mile-long bridge to the island where the vista opens up with water on both sides and the glare of the sun reflecting off the water’s surface.  As big as it is, the sky appears even bigger than usual as one begins to cross the long bridge.  Ahead is the narrow barrier island, stretching parallel with the coast, and the seagulls are there en masse to greet the new arrivals, flying in rows alongside the bridge, their beady eyes intent on their flight path.  This area is a seafood lovers paradise as the local fishermen pull from the bay and the Gulf oysters, scallops, crab, grouper, flounder, redfish, snapper, mullet, and more.  You can stop in the Red Pirate for a feast before crossing the bridge, or eat at the Blue Parrot once you get to the island, or head into Apalachicola itself for more possibilities.  There are no high-rises on the island, and although the shelling isn’t great, the beach itself is pristine and a nesting area for loggerhead turtles through the summer months.   The Gulf is typically calmer, and warmer, than the Atlantic Ocean.  Once you’re relaxing at the beach, the only excitement is watching the pelicans fly back and forth hunting for a meal, diving into the water once they spot their prey, then pulling out and up with their bill pouch full.  I live about an hour away and don’t go there enough.  I guess I’ve outgrown my beachboy days.  

You've described a little Paradise there! Blackbeard loved the area too. They say he buried treasure in the vicinity. I wonder how the US consulate would treat my visa application if I stated that my reason for visiting Florida was to hunt for buried treasure?

Yer a pirate me hearty, arrrrrrrrrr! 🏴‍☠️ ☠️ 

That sounds like my kind of Paradise and the seafood sounds like a real winner ...if it swims or clings to a rock I'll eat it !! 

Great description of your special place Henry , now I want to go there ☘

"if it swims or clings to a rock I'll eat it !!" LOL Eamon 😅

Mermaids cling to rocks, would you eat them too?

Oh no! Not Mermaids! 😲🧜🧜🧜

That is a leading question Mister Prosecutor ..!!  I stand on my previous statement  !! 😱😈🦌😋. I cannot lie but if I elaborate I might get Banned  LOL ...Although a Mermaid could present a sticky problem , a sticky wicket as you Cricket players might say😜.

Magoo ☘👍

😂

That tail might be a bit hard to swallow !!😋

A bowler on a turning pitch ( a sticky wicket) bowls googlies or a chinaman ( a leg-break bowled by a left-arm spinner) why is it called a chinaman, nobody knows! No wonder cricket is so hard to explain.

Yeah. "There's never a man looked me between the eyes and seen a good day a'terwards. Fifteen men on the dead man's chest. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum."--Long John Silver.

What you have described is my perfect paradise!  The beach is beautiful, and with the seafood, OMG, sign me up!

I guess it's a bit like Baseball , just more confusing and with even stranger names And  Even Slower !!  The icing on the cake has got to be  " chinaman " !!!  Be careful where you use that one !!  You could run into an offended Shinobi ( Chinese Ninja ....yea,  Had to look it up 🤪). 

   In Ireland Criciket is ( used to be ? ) thought of as an Elitist sport by the mere Mortals who did Not attend Trinity College !! 🤯. The "Culchies" ..Me .. , west of the Shannon ,  would really not have a clue about Cricket ! 😜☘.

Magoo ☘