We looped back through St Andrews to revisit the beach and Gator Lake! A beautiful Great Blue Heron swooped just over our heads at Gator Lake, then at the end of the boardwalk to the lake there was a second GBH in obvious distress. Its wings were down and its head was bobbing from the rapid breathing… Something had bitten a half dollar sized piece at its left shoulder. We watched, concerned, for several minutes. Fortunately it seemed to recover a bit and walked to waters edge to drink.

We drove past our next campground – up another 12 miles to Destin. Home of Henderson Beach State park, reputed to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the gulf! Sadly hurricane damage has its campgrounds closed until fall but we wanted to check it out anyhow. Glorious!

We walked the Henderson nature trail with the boys, but it was truly too brutally hot to be outside. Rex actually leapt into the truck when we got back to the parking lot! He knows where the air conditioning is!

We setup camp back at Topsail Hill Preserve State Campground. We have a lakeside spot which is lovely but it’s 3pm and we’re bushed from overheating on the hike so the boys & I are sprawled on the bed while Chris slaughters electrons playing Diablo on his Switch! Life is good!

Friday is our day to explore Topsail Hill State Park so we made the most of it by starting early! Took the pupsters for a walk at 6:30 (73 degrees!) over to the little camp coffee house. Chris got a decaf & I a fresh brewed sweet iced tea! We dropped the boys off to rest in the gloriously cool camper while Chris & I hiked the mile & a half trail to the beach!

There were benches on the beach so Chris was comfy sitting with cool breezes from the gulf as I walked in the shallows up & down the beach for an hour! There is nothing I find more soothing than listening to waves crashing ashore!

Apparently there is a man made reef (Seahorse Reef) 725′ off shore which is teeming with marine life, next time we visit I hope the rip currents are gone and the water is open.

After lunch we took the free tram back to the beach as the ranger told us a four foot gator lives in the pond behind the dunes. Sadly no gator sighting for us so we decided to have another stroll on the beach, which was delightful!

Back at our camper I indulged in delightfully refreshing shower and think it is most definately five o’clock somewhere! Tomorrow we start our journey north again, but this sojourn in Florida has been nothing short of absolutely fabulous!

Forty-six states! Including Alaska!