Local schools start back up today, other regional schools went back last week…yep, our tourist season is coming to an end for another year. Traffic last week was much better. And I expect this week to be back to normal.
Speaking of traffic…HarborWalk Village Chief Operating Officer Paul van Leeuwen must think everyone who lives in Destin is a moron. Ever since they instituted the paid parking, traffic is worse because cars back up onto 98 as they try to get into the parking lot to pay. But you would not know it to listen to him. Here is an excerpt from a Destin Log story last week and they quote the COO.
“I don’t wanna indicate that that traffic doesn’t back up, what I am told is that it doesn’t back up any worse than historically it has as the flows of people have increased into our lots over the years in recent years,” he said. “We’re mindful of it, we’ve had the Sheriff’s (Office) come visit, we’ve had the Highway Patrol come visit ... we’ve taken a look at all of our gate operations.”
This clown must not ever get out to look at it himself. He’s “told” it’s not any worse? How about standing out by the road and watch as cars block the intersection as they can’t pull in due to cars backed up from the tent where they pay the fee. I drive by there every day. I can personally attest to the fact they are causing traffic to be worse because of what they have instituted. I don’t begrudge them from charging to park. I would have done it long before now but don’t try and tell us with a straight face it’s not hurting our traffic issues. Figure out a way to get the cars into the Harborwalk lot quicker is what they need to be concentrating on.
It was a hectic week for Sunshine Cindy and I. Her mom had some surgery on Tuesday and went home on Sunday. So Sunshine Cindy was back and forth. Wednesday we had a Parrot Head board meeting. A big Thank You to Trish and John for hosting our meeting at your lovely home. Thursday I stopped at Landshark Pizza on the way home to watch the first half of the Browns preseason game. They actually looked pretty good for a preseason game and won too! Paige was working the bar. Sue and Colleen sat with me. Rose was there to watch the Saints game. It’s been a long time since I have seen her. It was a nice evening there.
Friday Sunshine Cindy was back to the hospital. I ran a bunch of errands then went to the Parrot Head meeting at Landshark. Paradise Bayou played and we had about 70 people show up for a fun time as we raised money for our current charity. Saturday I went to the hospital with Sunshine Cindy. We stayed for several hours. The hospital is in Gulf Breeze, about an hour drive so it was an all-day thing. When we got back to Destin we stopped at Tailfins for some late lunch.
The people watching from Tailfins is awesome. The amount of rental pontoon boats out on the water is amazing. In the late afternoon when they all are coming back in it is like rush hour in Atlanta. We witnessed two different incidents. The first one was a sheriff’s boat alongside a rental. They drifted out of sight down the harbor. Then a personal boat pulled up to Tailfins dock with a FWC patrol boat right behind them. There were 3 officers on who got out and they were all looking at the guys boat. Then a Luther’s employee came down to look too. We surmised a Luther rental must have hit this guys’ boat. The officers were watching and checking the Luther’s boats as they came back in. Eventually they handed the guy some papers and he took off. We didn’t see them id the boat that probably hit him.
Just as all that was ending we saw the sheriff’s boat going back out of the harbor. We could see a person in handcuffs in the back of the boat. More than likely they got the captain for drunk boating. Yep, never a dull moment on the harbor.
When we left Tailfins we headed home for the evening. Sunday I did some yard work, washed Badass and then we spent the afternoon in the pool. I grilled out and we had a nice relaxing day.
Around town Paula Deen and Destin Commons have announced plans to open a Paula Deen Family Kitchen family-style restaurant at Destin Commons. It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2019 on South Street by Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl & Grill.
This weekend the Parrot Heads will have a beach cleanup on Okaloosa Island. The cleanup starts at 9:30 am at beachwalk number 2 followed by a beach party. The theme for this cleanup is wings. Bring your best recipe and see if you can win the title of best wings.
Have a great week. See ya next Monday.
Destin Steve
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