Loop Dreams Adventure with Ken & Barbara: Dec 9-12th, 2011

December 9 - 12

The town of Carrabelle was incorporated in May of 1893. It was an area with virgin forest, deep water, and a railroad which was a recipe for a lively town. It is sad to see this fishing village suffering from the BP gulf oil spill. At one time this little town had many forms of livelihood. Hunting, lumber milling, turpentine production, maritime shipping, sponge, diving, deep sea fishing, mullet netting, seafood packaging military training, and railroad shipping kept this town thriving.
While we have been waiting for a weather window to cross the Gulf of Mexico we have walked the town to tour the sights and rode our scooters to a light house. We visited the Carrabelle History museum which had many displays including the story of the SS Tarpon that was caught in a terrible storm and sank in 1937. Today divers can view the wreck in the Gulf of Mexico about 7 miles from Panama City. Camp Gordon Johnston World Wart II Museum was another stop for us. This museum preserves and protects history on behalf of the veterans of WWII. The camp opened in 1942 to prepare amphibious soldiers and their support groups for the D Day landing. A quarter of a million men were trained at CGJ before it closed in Aprils 1946.

The first lighthouse we toured was the Crooked River Lighthouse which was constructed in 1895. After 100 years of service, the decommissioned historic lighthouse was to be declared surplus and auctioned. Carrabelle Lighthouse Association succeeded in obtaining ownership and rescued, restored and relighted this pyramidal lighthouse. The 103 foot cast iron skeletal tower with cement foundation has 138 steps. We ventured to the top and enjoyed the beautiful view!
Saturday night the town had a Christmas Boat Parade and fed 1,400 visitors chicken dinners for free!! We stopped at Fathoms for live music and to view the fantastic boat parade. We went with a group of loopers including John and Rita on Brandy IV and Stan and Barbara on Grogger. It was the highlight of our stay in Carrabelle.