Gulf Islands National Seashore

"I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied."                     

                                                                                                                    -John Masefield

Never really been much on the beach, sand or the ocean but Sunday changed my mind a bit.  The beach that most people go and have their fun at is not the beach I experienced that day, it was almost like Bon Secour but it seemed endless.  Miles upon miles of undeveloped land and nothing but beauty as far as the eye could see.  White quartz sand surrounded by beautiful water, golden rods, and dunes.  Where is this?  The Florida district of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

A few friends and I headed down to Perdido Key to paddle out and see the earth, I had no clue it was going to be as amazing as it was.  We started the day by dragging our boats from the road through the sand to start off in Big Lagoon.  From Big Lagoon we would paddle around five miles or so to what was known during the Civil War as Fort McRee.  Halfway there we stopped to eat lunch and take a break on Redfish Point, an excellent island with so many colors and beauty as the sun shined bright above us.  The lagoon was a little choppy but nothing that couldn't be enjoyed.  During our break, we hung out around an old abandoned boat, probably washed up from one of the hurricanes in previous years.  I decided I would climb inside in hopes to find a sack full of money, no money but still very interesting to be inside.

As we arrived closer to Fort McRee, you could almost feel yourself going back in time as you looked upon the hill and wondered how rough it was for those soldiers during the most deadliest war in history.  Fort McRee was established to defend Pensacola Bay, along with Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas.  On November 22, 1861 Fort Mcree was bombarded by Union forces and ships Niagra and Richmond.  Though Richmond took heavy fire from the Confederate troops, Fort Mcree was no match and 5 p.m. that day the Fort was silent.  The next day Niagara resumed fire on the Fort as well as the Union controlled Fort Pickens, although the Fort survived it was badly battered.  With chunks of wall demolished by cannon fire and most of the wooden decks destroyed by fire the Fort was no more and the Confederate abandoned and set fire to McRee by 1862.  Battered and burned is how the Fort would stay for the next three decades.

In 1898 a battery was constructed with eight inch rifled guns, known as Battery Slemmer, also in 1899 a battery of rapid fire guns where installed known as Battery Center but by 1906 a hurricane destroyed most of the structures.  The guns where later removed for WWI and sent to Europe.  Later the sight of Fort McRee would be used during WWII as another battery, constructed but never used.  The war ended before the guns where even installed.  The remnants of this still remain.

After exploring the Fort, we paddled back across the lagoon and decided to take the Gulf back to the cars.  This would be a first for me and made me a bit uncomfortable, but I always up for new adventures and it was well worth it.  As we made our way back dolphins almost seemed to be following us, making sure we made it back safe.  There is nothing like watching the sun go down as you paddle back on the ocean.  I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, do something that you will remember for the rest of your life.  If you have never experienced paddling give it a try, if that doesn't intrigue you, everything I talked about can be reached by foot.  Overall it was an eleven mile paddle, but the benefits and the sites you get to see are well worth the effort.  This earth is not our home, but it truly welcomes us as guest.  With a little respect and effort your soul can be freed.  Try it, I promise you won't regret it.  Until next time, live to wander.