Florida, Day 2

Slept in!  Love it.  Voyager is empty so we're going to stock it today as well as venture out and about a little.  We're getting to know the Oak Grove CG which is located on Pensacola NAS between Gulf Shores and Ft. Walton Beach/Destin.  We thought it would be a good base for exploring the Florida/Alabama coastline.  While Gina was getting ready, I explored the beach access of the CG.  Wasn't as bad as I'd thought with the vegetation right behind us.  Two sites over, about 100 ft., is a path leading to the beach.  BP cleanup crews were out and about doing their due diligence.  I walked the beach a little and snapped some pics.  No oil noticed in water or on beach, but the crews were picking up containers and you could see rake-type scrapes in the sand from combing the beaches.  Enjoy the pics.

Corry Station is a separate Navy training center and is located about 5 miles from Pensacola NAS.  It is also where the Commissary and Naval Exchange are located.  This is our destination to stock up.

After unloading the groceries and resting a bit, we decided to honor a highly suggested establishment with our presence.  It was THE top suggestion to try so look out Destin, here we come.  We drove hwy 98 the entire trip and it took just over an hour to get there right at dusk.  After entering, we requested a seat outside facing the harbor.  It was a nice little place and unlike what I'd expected.  With it's reputation preceding it, I was expecting a huge improvement to Perdido Bay Oyster Bar from yesterday.  The staff were really nice, the ambiance was nice, and the food was good, but not awesome as we'd expected.  We started off with a "Dock Rocker" drink that we shared.  It had everything in it you can think of or so it seemed.  A good drink that Gina thought was a little strong.  Gina had gumbo as an appetizer (a favorite seafood of ours), Mediterranean Mahi meal w/steamed potatoes and coleslaw, and finished off with a Dos Equis beer.  I had the shrimp and crab chowder for an appetizer, Stuffed and Wrapped Shrimp (specialty of theirs) with potatoes/coleslaw as well, and also a beer.  Now the critique.  Gina thought the gumbo was a touch spicy and by the time she hit the bottom, had enough of it.  I tasted it and liked it better than Perdido Bay's version.  My chowder was really chunky and quite good although I've had richer versions at other locations.  The seafood was kind of lost in the stock base--a tad floury.  Still very good.  Gina's dish was a bit surprising and encased in green olives and capers that drowned the tasted of the overcooked fish.  I tasted the fish by itself and it was ok.  We both thought that the chain, Bonefish Grill, had MUCH better Mahi.  My stuffed shrimp was bacon-wrapped and the subtleties of the shrimp and it's stuffing, whatever it was, was lost in the taste bacon.  It was good as well, but not up to expectation.  If you take the bacon off and dip the shrimp in butter, it was a tasty dish, but still not great.  The steamed potatoes were perfect although spiceless.  The coleslaw was a very good sweet preparation that I enjoyed.  Overall, 1-10, we gave Dewey Destins a 6 with staff a 7, food a 5, and atmosphere a 6.  I have to caveat this rating with the fact that Gina and I LOVE New England seafood.  That might have colored our expectations along with not having oysters on the half shell.  Here are some photos with the bottom being the crew of Dewey Destins.  It was a good time and a nice drive.