Back to Florida’s Emerald Coast

Since we were back on the Emerald Coast, we made sure to carve out some time to catch up with my longtime friend Barb and our former coworker Walt. It was so good to see them again and spend some quality time together.

I always enjoy checking out zoos when we visit a new area, so on Valentine’s Day, Johnny and I headed to the Gulf Breeze Zoo. They were offering a special package that included food to feed the goats and pigs, along with popsicle sticks dipped in bird seed for the budgies. For an extra five dollars, we added lettuce to feed the giraffes. Naturally, we said yes.

We had a great time with all the animal encounters, although feeding the pigs turned out to be more challenging than expected. The pigs were behind the goats, and you had to pour their food into a tube that dropped it into the pig pen. Unfortunately, one particularly clever goat had figured out the system. He simply stationed himself at the tube and helped himself to the food as it slid by. The pigs didn’t stand a chance. (There’s a photo below that proves just how proud he was of himself.)

We also met up with Barb at Turtle Creek Park in Niceville. We spent a time walking and talking along the two-mile Turtle Creek Nature Trail, which winds along the water on a peaceful boardwalk. We saw kayakers gliding by and even a couple of brave swimmers. The water is crystal clear, so I suppose they could spot an alligator if one came their way… but I think I’ll stick to admiring the creek from the boardwalk.

Spending time with friends, meeting a few mischievous goats, and enjoying a beautiful walk by the water made this stretch of the trip especially memorable.