An overnight in Pensacola. Dinner at Hemingway's Island Grill

Spending the night at "Camp Walmart" in Pensacola.

Driving towards Pensacola Beach

This is a favorite restaurant of ours in Pensacola. We've been here several time before.

Looking at the ocean from the rear of the restaurant

In the ladies room! For those who don't know, this is Hemingway taking a shower on his dock, probably in the Keys.

Some of his book titles in tile in the ladies room. We have no idea what's in the men's room.

The view from our table

 Here's what's for dinner. Cuban jerk pork tenderloins on rice and beans with a mango sauce.

Grilled trigger fish on garlic mash potatoes with a side of spaghetti squash

Sunset on the beach

Looking toward Pensacola Beach

A satisfied customer

Wakulla Springs State Park

Camping at Newport Campground while visiting St. Marks Wildlife Refuge and Wakulla Springs

Wakulla Springs was developed by Edward Ball in 1937 as a lodge and destination for the more affluent travelers. 

The Lodge

The lobby

The lobby ceiling is made of 'heart' cypress. The paintings on the ceilings were done by Mr. Piplack who was the last court painter for Kaiser Wilhelm.

This photography was on display in the lobby. It's a great picture.

The dinning room. We had two fine meals here.

The tour boat returning from a trip

We're waiting to board

Blacked Faced Vultures meeting on the swimming platform

Cypress trees in the water and on the banks

We think this might be a Bufflehead?

Turtle decorated with swamp grass

A Common Moorhen

This is not one long alligator but two.

Here is a shy young Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron

Great Blue Heron

A Male Anhinga, they have to sun themselves after diving for food because they do not have oil glands on their wings.

Here is a Cormorant and a Common Moorhen

We were told that in this area of the river two Tarzan movies and the Creature From the Black Lagoon were filmed.

Returning back to the boat house

We saw four mantees. Here is a mom and baby. (Center left in this picture)

St. Marks Wildlife Refuge in Newport, FL

After a good visit with our friends Joni and Nell, we headed north and they headed south.

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge encompasses about 70,000 acres and includes about 43 miles of north Florida's Gulf coast.

Views of the drive in

 Two herons and two ibis share a raft

 The tide has come in

Guess who's coming to dinner

Visitor Center

Seen from the visitors center viewing platform

Great white heron

 Great blue heron

 Tri-colored heron

Turtles

 Great blue heron with common moorhen

 A well constructed osprey nest with at least one chick

 Kingfisher

Historic St. Marks Lighthouse, in continuous use since 1830

 The palm on the left didn't loose his top, these are 2 different palms

An assortment of ducks

We think this is a common grackle looking for dinner

Just a note to the alligators, "we do not taste like chicken" respectfully, Callie and Shelby

An immature heron

Slime gator

Views of the drive out of the park