Lisa, GiGi (the dog) and I will be camping at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park on the Florida pan handle near Port St. Joe arriving Wed, Dec 30 and leaving on Sun, Jan 3. We plan on windsurfing, kiting and kayaking in the cove (?) on the inside of the peninsula. There are still sites available, $24+ tax, with electricity and water. Join us if you will, ROAD TRIP!
http://www.floridastateparks.org/stjoseph/default.cfm
Gene
—
Gene Mathis
I'm in.
too many people on vacation, i'm out
Alan
Buddy the dog and I went down to check it out last week and stayed at this place:
http://www.oldsaltworks.com/
It's nice albeit a little rustic-verging-on-funky but clean, reasonably priced and just as advertised.
The state park is really nice and unspoiled. Beautiful white sand beach with huge sand dunes and inviting looking flat water on the bay side. "Like Florida used to be" rings true.
Made just one photo while there, at sunrise. I thought– If it weren't real, you wouldn't believe it could look like this.
wow, did you windsurf there?
Mimi
I really like the photo. Can I have one?
PeelSkid
Sure, you can have one. Can I live in one of your houses?
Didn't windsurf last week... there was nobody around Eagle Harbour, the easy launch on the bay side. (Plus I thought Buddy woulda been too worried). The park's cabins farther up the bay look really great– modest but very nicely kept. Good for a small family or 2 couples. They are perched above the water a little bit, with a good sunrise view. Somebody I talked to said you can sail from the beach there, but it looks very shallow. The chart shows only 1 foot depth and I wonder what might be in the "spoil area" shown here:
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11389.shtml
The cabins are south of where it says "DUNES".
Here is what they are calling for at Cocoa Beach for Dec.31 and Jan 1
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. West northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
New Year's Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. West northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
PeelSkid
Here's the Marine Forecast for CAPE SAN BLAS. Currently some wind (subject to change,) but also some rain for us campers.
Apalachee Bay-
Coastal Waters From Apalachicola To Destin Fl Out 20 Nm-
Wednesday
East wind around 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas building to 3 to 5 feet. Protected waters a light to moderate chop increasing to choppy. A chance of rain in the morning...then rain likely in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Southeast wind around 20 knots...becoming north toward daybreak. Seas 3 to 5 feet in Apalachee Bay and 5 to 7 feet elsewhere. Protected waters choppy. Rain likely.
Thursday
North wind around 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Protected waters choppy decreasing to a light to moderate chop. A chance of rain.
Here's the link -
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/GM/750.html
Also, Thanks Chris V for the link for the water depth maps.
Gene
Gene Mathis
My wife and I are going on the Cape San Blas windsurfing trip from Dec. 30 to Jan 5. My brother and his girl friend will also be bringing their big WS board and joining us Dec. 30 - Jan 3. We are staying on the Gulf side of the peninsula at Unit A, 235 Haven Road, Saint Joe, FL. The house is just south of St. Joe State Park. If conditions favor the Gulf side, you are welcome to launch from our location. I plan to bring a hose for rinsing gear.
Chris, thanks for posting your beautiful sunrise photo.
Barrett