Acting all giddy like two happy, little children because every new year in January, Joe & I would get on the website looking for places to stay in the Seagrove area for a one week stay in May.
As May neared, we booked our tanning bed visits so we wouldn't get scorched on the beach. Our love for the sun and our skin doesn't really go together well. Within, a week from the time we depart-I loved shopping for last minute "do we need it stuff" and finally with 24 hours away from getting ready for the road towards paradise-things are packed and we're on the go.
The thought of driving down I-65 south until we turn off from the Montgomery exit (Hwy 331) excites us more than anything. Joe cruising with his shades on while I'm watching the movie, "Finding Nemo" in the backseat with Maddie on the way down and even a better feeling was when we saw the Florida state line sign in Florola, Alabama...because baby, we're ALMOST there.
Our most well known tradition of four years was to stop for boiled peanuts in Freeport, but this year was the first time we didn't get any because they weren't there. Oh, well...maybe they'll be there next year. Leaving Freeport, driving ahead is the most famous Bay Bridge. Every year, we would open up the moon roof, roll down the windows with the Beach Boys & Jimmy Buffet CDs playing in the background.
I could seriously live on the beach for a month at most...waking up at sunrise, walking on the beach, smelling the salty air with my eyes closed, listening to the waves crash, feeling the soft, gritty sand between my toes and just enjoying the scenery...nothing is more beautiful than the sunrise/sunset at the beach.
Of course, we knew it was more fun when it was just the two of us...nothing held us back and it was just...us alone. Maddie was younger and the environment was new to her...which was understandable, but she hated the sand so we had to put down a big sheet for her to lounge on with her cute little red child-sized folding chair she would sit in. Luckily, we came to our senses in buying one of those nice, big canopy tent you can buy from Wal-Mart-which to say was a great idea.
Our moment of peaceful meals at nice restaurants were over...well, just until she gets a little bit older. The whole week we were there...we went out to two restaurants -The Red Bar and Yianni's. Both times around 5:30 or so, she acted awful. We were slightly embarrassed by it and we asked nicely for the check & to put the food in a doggy bag to take home so that was a lesson learned. The rest of the week, we decided to go out to The Seafood Market and bought fresh shrimp, scallops & grouper for Joe to grill for dinner. We had a wonderful time getting meals prepared and eating outside on our balcony which was 200% better than any restaurants put together-"the view, casual attire, peace and quiet, but we could talk as loud as we wanted and could tolerate a screaming child and we were home". I don't mean to sound like she was this "horrible, evil child", it was just a lot of work especially at her age... "not respecting us when we say no or wouldn't hold our hands when we walk outside"...she was young and we were frustrated because it wasn't going as planned.
The majority of our stay...was great and memorable. Especially, we three, had great fun in the swimming pool which she loved. And finally, our last day there, we went to the beach to hang out (on the sheet, of course) as the sun sets, we knew it was the last daylight when the sun hit the horizon into the ocean. But until then, we'll be back!!!
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