Drinking Cheap Down on the Coast

Of course, Liz and I have been known to have a toddy or two when on the road. Never when we're in route, but once we are in place, it's the drinking hour is near.

All of these places were in Panama City Beach.

DONOVAN"S REEF-- We were in here every night and enjoyed the $1.25 Natty Lights (that's the local name for Busch Natural Light Beer. I'd also occasionally have a $3 Corona for a change of pace.

REGGAE J's-- At Pier Park, an upscale Yuppy sort area. But every day 4-7 pm, they had Happy Hour with $1 domestic bottles and pints and $2 import bottles and pints. Always hard to get a seat in here for some reason. They also had a ten wing plate for $5. Their resident macaw was quite a character.

DUSTY'S-- Besides great food and noted for their oysters, they have 75 cent 12 ounce drafts from 11 am to 6 pm and $1.50 pints after that. Good luck finding a parking place.

SHUCKUMS-- Another oyster joint with $1 draft all the time.

BAREFOOT BEACH CLUB-- Right on the Gulf and happy hour 4-7 pm $2 cans.

SHARKY'S-- Also on the Gulf. Happy Hour 11 to 6. $1.50 16 ounce drafts.

CALYPSO-- $2.15 pints. Some days it is just $1.25.

Of course, all these prices were pre-March and most probably went up with the influx of spring breakers.

Drinkin' cheap and enjoyin' it.

Nothing Like Warm Weather and Cold Beer. --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: Consciousness, that annoying time between naps.

Getting Rid of Those Winter Blues

On our vacation, we spent nine days at Panama City Beach, Florida at the Driftwood Lodge, a real mom and pop kind of place amidst the ever more numerous high rises. Our room was as near to the water as you could get. There was a deck up by the sand dune and you could see the Gulf about 50 yards away when you were sitting at the picnic tables.

No swimming in the Gulf, though as that water was REALLY cold. We did have a heated pool though and there was a hot tub next door at the Osprey, also part of the complex.

Every day except one and our final day were perfect in the weather department. Not like last year when it was way too cool (but still 20-30 degrees warmer than back home).

We spent part of every night across the street at Donovan's Reef as well as hitting a lot of bars for food, drinks and some of them had NTN.

There is also a bar right next to Donovan's called Calypso, which is a great one, but unfortunately, they are usually dead as far as people and fun. We went there the first night to see if anything had changed, it hadn't. We were also there the last night where they had a guy out at their Tiki Bar performing and we had a good time.

Why Are We Back Here? --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

Back Home Again

Arrived home last night a little after 9 pm after driving 2,593 miles, 9 states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri) and 15 nights in motel rooms. Eleven of those days were right on the Gulf of Mexico.

Unlike last year, we had great weather and sure enjoyed sitting outside. It was way too cold to go swimming in the Gulf. We spent nights in Hopkinsville, Ky; Prattville, Al; Panama City Beach (9 nights), Fl; Foley, Al; Biloxi, Ms (2 nights); and Sikeston, Mo.

On average, we spent about $58 a night, including tax.

We went to lots of bars and ate at some noted restaurants and saw some history stuff. I got my history fix at Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis' home in Biloxi and Fort Pickens by Pensacola, Florida. As mentioned before, we did get in one Mardi Gras.

Ran into lots of midwestern snowbirds and interesting locals along the way.

But, Always Great to Get Back Home. --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Heading Home

We actually were expecting to be home by now, but with all the reports of cold and snow back home, that sure took a lot of desire out of it for us. We ended up staying two days in Biloxi and enjoyed the sun out by the Super 8 pool.

Today, we started driving north through Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and am now in Sikeston. Missouri. Judging from the much colder temperatures, tomorrow, I have to switch from my shorts to long pants as well as pull out the sweat shirt. Sigh!!

Hoping we can make it home while we can still afford it. Gas today was anywhere from $3.20 to $3.50. Thanks a lot to the GRB investors, Big Oil and Middle East for really putting it to us.

Home Here We Come. --RoadDog

Cruisin' and NTNin'

The last two days, we have been heading west along the Gulf Coast from Panama City Beach to Biloxi where we are today.

We've spent time out at Fort Pickens by Pensacola, Florida, ate at Lambert's Cafe "Home of the Throwed Rolls" in Foley, Alabama, and sat in a clinic in Daphne, Al., while Liz was in seeing a doctor about a respiratory infection.

We've been stopping at places with NTN along the way:

Paco's Grill in Navarre, Fl.
Mellow Mushroom in Pensacola, Fl
BW3 in Pensacola
Seville Quarters in Pensacola (a real taste of New Orleans in seven bars in one building)
North Shore Pub in Orange Beach, Alabama
The Jungle in Foley, Al.

Yesterday we stopped at:

Shep's Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
The Quarters in Gulfport, Ms.

Play Way TOO Much of the Stupid Game. --RoadDog

Sitting Here in Biloxi

Checked in last night at the Super 8 Motel a little west of Biloxi and looking out the window at the Gulf of Mexico, shimmering across US-90, just past some palm trees.

We've decided to stay another day and catch some sun and perhaps pool time as it will be 70 degrees and sunny (even though there's a definite chill in the air right now).

I'm going to go to Beauvoir in a while. This is the last home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and it was closed the last time we were here, two years after Katrina. We saw it last night with that brilliant white fence surrounding the property as well as lighting, and it was impressive.

Later, we'll drive along US-90 out to Waveland to look at what has happened since Katrina.

One More Day in the Sun Before Heading Back to Winter. --RoadDog

World's Slowest Walgreen's

We'd like to nominate the one in Panama City Beach. Unfortunately, some of our prescriptions ran out while we were down here, so had to get them refilled.

Last year, this was a very time-consuming affair, as they did not have it ready to go when they said they would. That was a two-hour wait.

This year, they had it ready, but it took twenty minutes to get it.

Yesterday, we went to McDonald's as it really looked like a rain day in the morning, but cleared up nicely so sat out by the deck and enjoyed the sun and sounds. A company must have the beach lounge and umbrella concession as they were putting up large groups of them all up and down the beach.

Gas is now around $3.40 thanks to the GRBs trying to make a profit on the troubles in oil countries overseas. Thanks guys. Hope you choke on those profits.

We ate lunch at Krystal's and split dinner at the Barefoot Beach Club overlooking the beach. We also went to Donovan's Reef. Big surprise there.

Last Day, Sigh. --RoadDog


NEW SONGS FOR BOOMERS: The Bee Gees' "How Can You Mend a Broken Hip"

Where's the Time Going?

Hard to believe we've been here eight days now. How time does fly when you're having "rhum," er beer.

Yesterday was the worst as we never did get but scattered (very scattered) glimpses of sun. Sitting here in McDonald's typing away again. Thank you Mickey Ds for having this free, strong wifi.

Sun's out on what was supposed to be a rainy morning, so looks like time to catch some rays.

Yesterday, we went back to Sandpiper Tiki Bar, played NTN, enjoyed the buck drafts, and were entertained by a performer along with lots of partyin' snowbirds. Then went to Y-Not Lounge where there was karaoke going on with a guy who could really do George Jones and Bocephus.

Then, on to Dusty's for $1.50 16-oz. drafts and split a delicious fish and chips dinner.

Then, to Donovan's Reef, where we met up with the Mayor and crew for some more karaoke.

Sure Gonna Miss This in a Few Days. --RoadDog


NEW SONGS FOR BOOMERS: Bobby Darin's "Splish, Splash, I Was Having a Flash"

Worst Day So Far

Sitting outside the room right now, with the sound of Gulf waves washing ashore about sixty yards away and the smell of salt in the air.

Considerably cooler this morning, but warming up nicely to a high of 74 degrees. It was overcast, but the sun is peaking through. It has been sunny and warm since we arrived Friday afternoon. Hard to believe we have just two full days left before time to go home.

But then again, I see that we're under a winter storm warning again with temps in the lower 30s and 3-5 inches. Maybe I'll stay a little longer.

Some company must have beach concessions as they are setting up hundreds of wooden chaise lounges by the water. They bare going up and down the beach in loaded pick up trucks.

Figure on catching some sun before going over to the Sandpiper Tiki Bar later to play NTN/Buzztime, drink buck drafts and listen to a performer.

I can think of worse ways of spending an afternoon, like shoveling snow.

No Snow! No Snow! --RoadDog


UPDATED BABY BOOMER SONGS: Herman's Hermits-- "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker"

When the Going Gets Tough...

The tough go to the beach.

Ate at the Loveless Cafe near Nashville, Tn., on Thursday morning and well worth the stop.

Drove to Alabama and stopped to play NTN at sites around Huntsville, Birmingham and finally at the Mellow Mushroom in Prattville (outside Montgomery), where we spent the night at another Rodeway Inn.

Friday, it was on to Panama City Beach, check into the Driftwood Lodge, shopping, a great sandwich at Krystal's, drinks at the Calypso and karaoke and more drinks at Donovan's Reef. The mayor and court were there as well as our favorite kj.

Temps in the 70s, can definitely live with that.

Bring On the Sun!! --RoadDog

On the Road Again-- Feb. 16th

Much later start than I wanted, but that is usual. Left at 10 am. Took the usual avoid Chicago hassle with Il-47 all the way to I-74 by Champaign, then into Indiana and US-41 to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where we spent the night.

Stopped for lunch at McDonald's in Yorkville and had another stop in Gibson City, Ill., for dessert.

Listened to CDs, tapes and the radio. Heard about a horrible two-people collision in Vincennes, Indiana. I guess they just walked into one another or something.

In Kentucky, we took the Penneyrile Parkway which will become I-69 eventually. It was built as a toll road with the promise that once it was paid off, the tolls would drop. That is exactly what happened. Imagine that happening in Illinois? Not too likely.

Had a huge meal at Captain D's called their Double Shrimp and fish along with two sides and hush puppies for $7.99. Too full to consider the Key Lime pie.

Tomorrow, On To the Loveless. --RoadDog