The first time I saw the ocean was in Long Island Mississippi. The next time was a couple days later when we spent 5 days in a small motor lodge on Pensacola Beach. The carefree vacation was the first ever taken. In the 55 plus years since I first was on the Emerald Coast, (It used to be called the Red Neck Riviera) the rest of the world has found it. High-rise apartment units, Condos, resorts, and hotels were now where squat quiet motor lodges had been.
When Natasha was born, her father was stationed at Whiting Field just outside of Milton Florida. As Natasha was the only grandchild or niece at the time, there were plenty of trips to Milton to the little one. Navarre Beach was always quiet and fairly close to the little community known as Pea Ridge.
When I was visiting, I always made my way to Navarre Beach, which at the time had been isolated and without any permanent structures on it. One of my favorite photos from those mid 80’s is from that beach.
Now, 40 years later it is fully developed but it is still one of those beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. While there for New Years, I hooked up with a sorority sister from college days and we spent the day together. She showed me around the beach from her now native eyes, eating great Seafood and going to Fort De Soto National Park seashore which is the one place that still looks like what I remember. Thank goodness our country has invested in saving some of this peaceful tranquility from desires of pocketbook.
This picture that I took on the beach is one of the most perfect beach pictures I have ever taken.
