The Kitchen Counter: panhandle

Tate's Hell State Forest,

While we were staying in Carrabelle, John and I went into Tate's Hell State Forest. There's a stand of dwarf cypress trees that is simply amazing. No one is sure what dwarfed their growth, but the forest is prehistoric. We watched our second sunset from the Kendrick boardwalk and then hurried back to the car before seeing any wild cats or bears.

lilly pads in the black swamp, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Kendrick Boardwalk in Tate's Hell State Forest, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Dwarf Bald Cypress Trees in Tate's Hell State Forest, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Peace in the cypress swamp, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Kendrick Boardwalk in Tate's Hell State Forest, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Sunset on Carrabelle beach

We took photos of the sunrise, got breakfast at 2Al's, and then we slept for a few hours. We decided to go to 2Al's for dinner, because they are right next to a beach access. At 2Al's a couple gave us part of their red wine and headed off towards the beach.

The sunset was just as gorgeous as the sunrise! We even got to see the full moon rise.

sunset on carrabelle beach, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

carrabelle beach sunset, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

hermit crab and sunset on carrabelle beach, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

There were a ton of these hermit crabs all over the beach.

sunset with sea oats and sail boat, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

carrabelle beach moon rise, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Sunrise and Cypress Graveyard at Carrabelle Beach

When we first get to the beach the sun had not come up yet. We got to see the colors get more and more intense as the sun rose.

Carrabelle beach has a cypress stump graveyard and we got a lot of good photos with the stumps (until the biting flies ran us off).

Then we went to 2Al's for breakfast. They had the most amazing pancakes! I don't know what they did to them, but I think they had melted butter and buttermilk rather than oil and butter. Amazing!

Sunrise at Carrabelle Beach, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Sunrise on Carrabelle Beach, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Cypress Graveyard at Carrabelle Beach, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

Carrabelle Beach

I took so many photos during this trip that I will make a few installments. John and I drove to Carrabelle Beach (on the panhandle) and arrived near sunrise. We drove down to the beach and caught the sunrise over the water.

A lot of the photos involved feet/footprints/and hands so I figured I'd gather those all in the first post.

Sunrise and shell at carrabelle beach, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

This is one of the hermit crab shells with the sunrise in the background.

sand spur in toes, originally uploaded by queenofthemoodswingset2.

I walked on the dunes to take a photo of a beach ball and was not paying enough attention (apparently) to the sand spurs. These actually made me bleed!