FLORIDA 2020—Memories of that Emerald Coast

The time had come to go. Not that we wanted to leave. We made a couple attempts to snag another campsite to extend our stay, if only for a day or two. All in vain. Spring break was in full swing here and that meant all types of accommodations were filled to the brim. Like it or not, we were homeward bound.

And here we are . . . back home in Indiana. Just in time to be self-isolated. Sheltered-in-place. With tons of unpacking and storing away waiting to be done, that’s not such a problem. Stocking up on food to bring in is another story. All in good time. First things first. The last of my Florida photos were waiting to be culled, organized and edited. One last destination waiting to be chronicled. My final Florida blog to be posted.

What a location to leave you with, especially in view of what’s currently happening in our country. Enjoy my photos and let them take you, if only temporarily, to a beautiful and special place that has become one of our all-time favorites. Feel the sun’s warmth. Hear the Gulf surf. And let your eyes feast on the vivid colors of this Florida paradise.

You might think this is the Cote d’Azur or a Caribbean Island. Surely not the Florida Panhandle.

It’s known as the Emerald Coast for good reason. And when the sun is shining brightly (as most days do), that reason becomes very apparent when you look out over the wide expanse of the Gulf of Mexico waters. The shallow surf stretching down the dazzling white sandy shoreline can glow as green as any emerald stone reflecting the light. Its color can stop a person in his tracks at first sight.

Sometimes I like to save the best for last. Maybe that’s the reason the Florida Panhandle comes at the end of our winter excursion, rather than at the start. Probably warmer temperatures in March rather than January has something to do with it too. As it turns out, rather than regretting our winter getaway is coming to an end, we both look forward with high anticipation to this final destination. The Emerald Coast has never disappointed us.

Stretching between Panama City and Destin, it’s made up of a string of small beach communities tied together by sugar sand beaches, pristine sand dunes and the blue-green waters of the Gulf. Separated by the large expanse of Choctawhatchee Bay to the north and the Gulf waters to the south, you can easily feel a world apart in this stunningly picturesque spot.

Map credit: http://www.30A.com

Map credit: http://www.sowal.com

Our destination for two weeks was positioned smack dab in the center of it all. Grayton Beach State Park is a 2,000-acre treasure that offers everything we hope to find in a camping destination—full-service amenities, a gorgeous beach, scenic hiking trails, adjacent to a fabulous bike trail, all nestled within a pinelands landscape wrapped around an incredible coastal dune lake. It should go without saying that a part of my heart would always reside here at Grayton Beach.

Chris worked diligently and persistently to reserve one of the nicest campsites in the park. Truth be told, all of the sites at Grayton Beach are more than a notch above most any state campground in Florida. With only 59 sites, all with water and electric hookups, and most with sewer, they are well-spaced and are found in a variety of settings. What I think made ours extra special was the view of Western Lake behind us, where the morning sun greeted us each day. Surrounded by tall pines in an amply large site, what more could a camper hope for? It would be ours for 14 blissful days.

Our morning view made it worth the early rising. Could a day begin any better?

While Chris was tending to the details of setting up a very comfortable and civilized campsite, complete with all the outdoor strings of lights we’d brought, I jumped on my bike and headed out. I was eager to refresh my memory of all my favorite spots. With a balmy breeze blowing and the scent of saltwater wafting in the air, I felt as if I were coming home.

Western Lake sits within Grayton Beach State Park. The lake, with its waters often gleaming bronze due to naturally occurring tannin, forms small, lapping waves. Surrounded by saw palmetto and pine trees, its calm surface makes for ideal conditions for kayaking or paddle boarding.

And it makes for an ideal foreground on which I like to capture the changing moods of light and sky.

In the coming days, my favorite overlook would be the spot I would often return to.

Returning to our site, I found another view that was also making its own statement. It was a moment to freeze, a moment when the image goes beyond expressing in words. Is it any wonder that I am attracted to this park? Who wouldn’t be?

This is our fourth Tour de Florida in the winter months. While being included in all of my Florida blogs, I wrote extensively about the Emerald Coast in my first posting. Each of our trips has included a stop at Grayton Beach, every time becoming a longer stay. We both feel its draw, we each have our own particular reasons for the attraction which makes for a totally wonderful stay. While I am more inclined to search out and wander through all the park’s different landscapes, camera in hand, Chris is more likely to be found in camp, soaking up the daylight ambiance or enjoying an evening fire, completely content. That is the beauty of this place . . . there are so many ways to enjoy it, there are so many facets to it.

Not the least of which is the beach. In fact, many would say it’s the heart of Grayton Beach. It’s easily the biggest draw.

It was the place I would be returning to time and again. The sugar-white sand is the perfect canvas for nature to paint her ever-changing palette of colors upon. And the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf present the perfect mirror upon which the colors of both dawn and evening skies can be reflected upon. It really should come as no surprise that the beach would be my go-to spot more than any other.

On one of my first visits I was met with a spectacular sunset sky. I was hooked. It would be my first of many.

To experience such incredible colors of a sunset sky was totally overwhelming. It’s no wonder many others make their own sunset pilgrimage down to Grayton Beach.

Other evenings would present a much more muted sky. A total change of palette, yet every bit as impressive.

There were sunsets where I couldn’t help but feel privileged to be a witness to such a fleeting display. Truly a magical show.

No amount of editing or manipulation of colors can possibly enhance what Nature can do with her light.

And I, one lonely and insignificant person with a camera, can do no more than hope to capture the moment in all its luminosity of light.

Lest you begin to think that Grayton Beach only shines when the skies light up with fiery colors, let me now present a wholly different side to the beauty that can be found in this special spot. As weather conditions often do, the atmospheric elements brought about a very distinct and sudden change. One morning I awoke to find a totally colorless atmosphere, a mist so thick that shapes faded into the gray. A foggy morning!!! And, as most photographers will tell you, fog can be a stroke of good fortune not to be squandered. I might’ve set a new record that morning for getting up and out.

One quick campsite shot—wow! What a different look! And then I headed to the lakeshore’s edge.

Backgrounds blur, or dissolve into the mist. Foreground objects lose their details, often being no more than silhouettes. Landscapes are perceived much differently . . . colors are almost non-existent. You see the world in a totally different light. Fog presents its own kind of mysterious beauty . . .

. . . and lets you see things in a way you’ve never quite done before.

Once discovering that early morning photo ops might be worth the effort it requires to get me up and out before sunrise, I found Grayton Beach held more rewards than just its glowing sunsets. I would also learn, early on, that aside from a mere couple other early-risers, I would have the park’s special places entirely to myself.

To see the pre-dawn colors backdropping the sand dunes . . .

. . . or washing that sugar sand in pastel shades.

To catch the full moon setting over sand dunes in pre-dawn light was an unexpected moment.

And then there were the early mornings that found me waiting to catch first light on Western Lake.

A moment like this is really breathtaking–lasting only a few precious minutes.

And as every photographer knows, it’s all about that incredible light.

Lest you begin to think Grayton Beach only shines during the fringes of the day, I share with you some daytime shots. There is no one special time on the Emerald Coast—every moment is a jewel.

Bird photos credit:

Chris Wall

Two more photos, credit to Chris Wall

Wouldn’t you know, to our very last day, the delights of Grayton Beach never let up. And you can be sure, I was determined to capture as many last shots that I possibly could.