For the Destin/Panama City area re. horrible oil slick in Gulf
May 11th, 2010, 02:16 PM
#61
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I boated out in the Gulf of Mexico off Panama City Beach on Sunday. The water was a pretty and clear as I have ever seen it. It was a little cool for me to swim, but i saw several folks in the water all up and down the beach. We rode from the pass at St Andrew State park west along the beach for about 15 miles and never saw any evidence of an oil spill. No smell, no tar balls, no sheen. My family enjoyed raw oysters on Saturday. Please don't cancel or delay your trip. Our economy depends on tourism. Most,if not all, reservations clerks will work with you.
May 11th, 2010, 05:17 PM
#63
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You're welcome to all who said "thanks" and I will continue to report back.
bkluvsNola,
Like gracie said, the water is still way to cold for this Florida native to do more than get my feet wet. But there were plenty of people out in it. And it was clear and pretty - until this E/SE wind started blowing hard enough to bring the surf up. But that's okay. I'll take some stirred up sand in the surf if it means that the wind is right to keep pushing the oil away from us.
I feel guilty for being thankful for the wind direction when I know it means that Louisiana is being hit worse. A N wind would help us all. But shutting that thing off is what we really need.
bkluvsNola,
Like gracie said, the water is still way to cold for this Florida native to do more than get my feet wet. But there were plenty of people out in it. And it was clear and pretty - until this E/SE wind started blowing hard enough to bring the surf up. But that's okay. I'll take some stirred up sand in the surf if it means that the wind is right to keep pushing the oil away from us.
I feel guilty for being thankful for the wind direction when I know it means that Louisiana is being hit worse. A N wind would help us all. But shutting that thing off is what we really need.
May 12th, 2010, 07:49 PM
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Ok, I just have to reply to the ridiculous posts here. So many opinions and so few facts. First, QUIT watching the major news networks for your info. The spill is a big deal, but they are making it a lot worse than it is because they're turning it into a political strategy to blame the Republicans for this mess. Unfortunately, all of their rumors are taking a toll on our economy. People are canceling fishing trips and vacations, when our water is crystal clear and the beach is awesome. And people keep freaking out about tar balls? Anyone who has grown up in this area has stepped on a tar ball in their life. We just didn't know what it was. It sticks to your foot, you wipe it off and wonder what that was.
The best local news source is http://www.pcbdaily.com
Quit asking people on this site that are speculating from a distance. Most of them are completely wrong. That's super frustrating for us locals.
The best local news source is http://www.pcbdaily.com
Quit asking people on this site that are speculating from a distance. Most of them are completely wrong. That's super frustrating for us locals.
May 13th, 2010, 05:34 AM
#67
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It's frustrating reading bkluvsnola posts, telling people that the Panhandle's days are numbered & you should vacation elsewhere. It's awesome here. We're very proactive here, and if it does ever come within 72 hours, local fishermen are ready to set up booms to catch the emulsified oil.
It's perfect down here. Make sure your hotel offers a vacation guarantee and plan on coming down.
It's perfect down here. Make sure your hotel offers a vacation guarantee and plan on coming down.
May 13th, 2010, 06:57 AM
#68
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My parents lived on Gulf of Mexico in Panama City Beach from 1971 until 1987. Tar balls back then were no big deal. You wouldn't even see a "ball" on the sand. You would just see a little black stuff on the bottom of your feet if you walked the beach. Comes off easily with a little nail polish remover.
My parent now live in town on St Andrew Bay and I am over at their home every day. There are still no signs of an oil spill in Panama City or Panama City Beach.
My parent now live in town on St Andrew Bay and I am over at their home every day. There are still no signs of an oil spill in Panama City or Panama City Beach.
May 13th, 2010, 09:17 AM
#69
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moomoo1920,
I can understand your frustration with the media - though I don't necessarily agree as to their motive - they hype every tropical storm until it sounds like it will be a CAT 5 hurricane. But I don't think you needed to be so harsh.
Yes, bkluvsNola said that our days are numbered and people should vacation elsewhere. While I don't agree with that, I don't think she meant it maliciously. At one point an awful lot people in "the know" would have agreed with her. And, yes, I told MAP early on - when the forecasts were worse - that I wouldn't blame her if she canceled her vacation plans for Seagrove. And I don't apologize for that. Now that the predictions have changed from a major slick coming ashore, to tarballs, I explain that to people and let them decide. Most will find that an acceptable risk/situation. Some may not and I'm not going to fault them if they chose to cancel and go elsewhere. Although at this point I really don't think that canceling is necessary.
As far as fishing trips go, some of our local charter captains have had to cancel trips because all of the reefs they put down are to the West, in the closed area. Others are okay because their reefs are to the East. That means they're like the guys in Destin and PCB and out of the closed area. I mention this only so you realize that what's true for PCB right now, isn't necessarily true for the entire Panhandle. That's why when I answer people I make certain they realize that my "eyewitness reports" are for the Pensacola Beach area and anything I say about other areas is based on what I've gathered from NOAA and our local news outlets.
Most of the non-locals posting are people who are planning to vacation here and just want to know - from locals, if possible - what's really going on. That's what those of us who live in the area, or have just been here, have tried to do. I'm not going to give someone gloom and doom info if it's not warranted. But I'm also not going to say there aren't larger-than-normal or more-numerous-than-normal tarballs in sight unless that's the truth.
Early on they told us we (on Pensacola Beach) could expect an oil slick - very bad - to hit us almost 2 weeks ago. Hasn't happened. Now they say what we'll most likely get are tarballs. That hasn't happened - yet. I say yet because in all likelihood it will at some point. But as you and gracie pointed out, that's not all that bad.
There have been some confirmed Deep Water Horizon tarballs (biggest I think was about golf ball size) wash up on Dauphin Island. The vacationers they interviewed said it wasn't interfering with their vacation at all. Unconfirmed tarballs have washed up at Gulf Shores. They are testing them to see if they came from the spill or are just the normal ones they get from all the offshore drilling along the Alabama coast.
Right now the wind forecast here is out of the E, SE and ESE through the weekend. We then have a day of winds from the WSW and SW as a thunderstorm moves through. Then it's back to SE winds again. The one day of "bad" wind direction shouldn't overcome all the other days of "good" wind direction. The "oil" forecast is a continued overall movement to the West, with a little North.
bkluvsNola,
Gulf Shores is about 35 miles West of us as the sea gull flies. So far the number of tarballs, and whether or not they came from the spill, hasn't been confirmed.
I can understand your frustration with the media - though I don't necessarily agree as to their motive - they hype every tropical storm until it sounds like it will be a CAT 5 hurricane. But I don't think you needed to be so harsh.
Yes, bkluvsNola said that our days are numbered and people should vacation elsewhere. While I don't agree with that, I don't think she meant it maliciously. At one point an awful lot people in "the know" would have agreed with her. And, yes, I told MAP early on - when the forecasts were worse - that I wouldn't blame her if she canceled her vacation plans for Seagrove. And I don't apologize for that. Now that the predictions have changed from a major slick coming ashore, to tarballs, I explain that to people and let them decide. Most will find that an acceptable risk/situation. Some may not and I'm not going to fault them if they chose to cancel and go elsewhere. Although at this point I really don't think that canceling is necessary.
As far as fishing trips go, some of our local charter captains have had to cancel trips because all of the reefs they put down are to the West, in the closed area. Others are okay because their reefs are to the East. That means they're like the guys in Destin and PCB and out of the closed area. I mention this only so you realize that what's true for PCB right now, isn't necessarily true for the entire Panhandle. That's why when I answer people I make certain they realize that my "eyewitness reports" are for the Pensacola Beach area and anything I say about other areas is based on what I've gathered from NOAA and our local news outlets.
Most of the non-locals posting are people who are planning to vacation here and just want to know - from locals, if possible - what's really going on. That's what those of us who live in the area, or have just been here, have tried to do. I'm not going to give someone gloom and doom info if it's not warranted. But I'm also not going to say there aren't larger-than-normal or more-numerous-than-normal tarballs in sight unless that's the truth.
Early on they told us we (on Pensacola Beach) could expect an oil slick - very bad - to hit us almost 2 weeks ago. Hasn't happened. Now they say what we'll most likely get are tarballs. That hasn't happened - yet. I say yet because in all likelihood it will at some point. But as you and gracie pointed out, that's not all that bad.
There have been some confirmed Deep Water Horizon tarballs (biggest I think was about golf ball size) wash up on Dauphin Island. The vacationers they interviewed said it wasn't interfering with their vacation at all. Unconfirmed tarballs have washed up at Gulf Shores. They are testing them to see if they came from the spill or are just the normal ones they get from all the offshore drilling along the Alabama coast.
Right now the wind forecast here is out of the E, SE and ESE through the weekend. We then have a day of winds from the WSW and SW as a thunderstorm moves through. Then it's back to SE winds again. The one day of "bad" wind direction shouldn't overcome all the other days of "good" wind direction. The "oil" forecast is a continued overall movement to the West, with a little North.
bkluvsNola,
Gulf Shores is about 35 miles West of us as the sea gull flies. So far the number of tarballs, and whether or not they came from the spill, hasn't been confirmed.
May 13th, 2010, 06:00 PM
#71
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Thanks volcanogirl for correcting that!
As a kid growing up along the Louisiana/TX coast, we'd get plenty of tarballs on our feet at the beaches along Louisiana and Texas and we didn't care. When we'd take a shower there would be some oily mess but nothing some soap and shampoo didn't get out.
However, after traveling around the globe and seeing beaches such as in the Caribbean, etc... tarballs won't cut it for me on a vacation nowadays and that may be the case for some other people.
The reports of tarballs on Gulf Shores were not unconfirmed. They were confirmed:
http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/tar_..._gulf_sho.html
Listen, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from visiting the Florida Panhandle, but I'm just telling the facts as I know them. For the next 72 hours, Pensacola and points east will be fine. After that who knows...
If anyone knows my previous posts, you'd know I love the Florida Panhandle (even quoted in the Fodor's Florida guide) and New Orleans, and it breaks my heart to see what they're going through. We need to ensure this never happens again.
What this has shown us is that just because there's no drilling on your coastline doesn't mean you cannot be impacted by an oil spill.
As a kid growing up along the Louisiana/TX coast, we'd get plenty of tarballs on our feet at the beaches along Louisiana and Texas and we didn't care. When we'd take a shower there would be some oily mess but nothing some soap and shampoo didn't get out.
However, after traveling around the globe and seeing beaches such as in the Caribbean, etc... tarballs won't cut it for me on a vacation nowadays and that may be the case for some other people.
The reports of tarballs on Gulf Shores were not unconfirmed. They were confirmed:
http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/tar_..._gulf_sho.html
Listen, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from visiting the Florida Panhandle, but I'm just telling the facts as I know them. For the next 72 hours, Pensacola and points east will be fine. After that who knows...
If anyone knows my previous posts, you'd know I love the Florida Panhandle (even quoted in the Fodor's Florida guide) and New Orleans, and it breaks my heart to see what they're going through. We need to ensure this never happens again.
What this has shown us is that just because there's no drilling on your coastline doesn't mean you cannot be impacted by an oil spill.
May 13th, 2010, 07:07 PM
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bkluvsNola,
Sorry about the gender change. ;-)
When I said the G. S. tarballs were "unconfirmed" I was quoting our local news from last night. The reporters had been unable to get an answer from anyone in G. S. to verify or deny the reports that these were Deepwater Horizon tarballs, hence the "unconfirmed." Pretty much like when they report on the "alleged perpetrator" when the person has been caught red-handed committing the crime. They know it's true but are just covering their you-know-whats.
And I agree with you completely about the no drilling on your coastline not saving you from being impacted. Unfortunately, according to a recent poll, the majority of people in this country still think off-shore drilling is okay, even after this latest mess.
Sorry about the gender change. ;-)
When I said the G. S. tarballs were "unconfirmed" I was quoting our local news from last night. The reporters had been unable to get an answer from anyone in G. S. to verify or deny the reports that these were Deepwater Horizon tarballs, hence the "unconfirmed." Pretty much like when they report on the "alleged perpetrator" when the person has been caught red-handed committing the crime. They know it's true but are just covering their you-know-whats.
And I agree with you completely about the no drilling on your coastline not saving you from being impacted. Unfortunately, according to a recent poll, the majority of people in this country still think off-shore drilling is okay, even after this latest mess.
May 14th, 2010, 02:49 AM
#74
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I talked to the guy who is rented us an umbrella, chairs, maybe kayak, next weekend, in Seagrove, and he said that oil is nearly 200 miles away from us, and even if a Hurrican hit texas it would take two weeks to get to us. 
That was encouraging...keep the posts coming..I'm packing up a van with 7 people and all our stuff on Saturday. Loving the pics on bswupdate.com
That was encouraging...keep the posts coming..I'm packing up a van with 7 people and all our stuff on Saturday. Loving the pics on bswupdate.com
May 14th, 2010, 05:07 AM
#75
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Funny how two of these posters advertise web sites and this is their first post. (noodlemom and moomoo1920)
Do I sense some nervous hotel vendors or tourism board officials coming in here? Please notice that soliciting is forbidden on these forums - only travelers are welcome here.
Do I sense some nervous hotel vendors or tourism board officials coming in here? Please notice that soliciting is forbidden on these forums - only travelers are welcome here.
May 14th, 2010, 06:28 AM
#76
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Was not my first post at all...I am a traveler and one of the most honest peoople you would ever meet. Not sure what you mean but if you are suggesting I'm a soliciter, please go back and read the original posts by ME. I have been to the store several times, am packing my bags soon with 5 very excited children, and I am hopeful we can go to the gulf but will take us wherever we must to have a relaxing vacation together. I live in another state, not FL. If this is what you are suggesting, you are choosing a very rude route to communicate.
May 14th, 2010, 06:33 AM
#77
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I'm discouraged that I thought I'd found a good place where locals would give me the scoop so I could know but now a couple of people have started name calling and acting very immature. I will pray for you, seriously. Why be unkind? I hope that's not all you know. Very sad.
May 14th, 2010, 07:29 AM
#78
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"Funny how two of these posters advertise web sites and this is their first post. (noodlemom and moomoo1920)
Do I sense some nervous hotel vendors or tourism board officials coming in here? Please notice that soliciting is forbidden on these forums - only travelers are welcome here."
Well, I totally agree with bkluvsnola on this one. I have reported this thread three times to the Fodors editors because of first-time posters including their websites. Most have been removed.
And, it's really easy to see how many times someone has posted here and on which thread. All you have to do is click on their screen name.
Do I sense some nervous hotel vendors or tourism board officials coming in here? Please notice that soliciting is forbidden on these forums - only travelers are welcome here."
Well, I totally agree with bkluvsnola on this one. I have reported this thread three times to the Fodors editors because of first-time posters including their websites. Most have been removed.
And, it's really easy to see how many times someone has posted here and on which thread. All you have to do is click on their screen name.
May 14th, 2010, 10:17 AM
#79
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I live near Panama City Beach and have posted many time on this board, even before registration was required. Anyone who has ever read my posts knows I am an assistant public defender. If anything, there will be more work for me if jobs are lost due to the oil spill as crime usually increases. I don't own any rental property, nor I have any closes friends or family who own beach property. So, I have no dog in this fight.
Our beaches and waters are still beautiful and our seafood is still great. As I said earlier, my family fcame from out of state this past weekend and ate Apalachicola oysters (raw) and fresh snapper. No one got sick.
DH and I are planning to take our new boat out again this weekend if the weather is good.
Our beaches and waters are still beautiful and our seafood is still great. As I said earlier, my family fcame from out of state this past weekend and ate Apalachicola oysters (raw) and fresh snapper. No one got sick.
DH and I are planning to take our new boat out again this weekend if the weather is good.
May 14th, 2010, 10:19 AM
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Oh, and the best way to check for updates on the oil spill is with LOCAL news, such as the Pensacola News Journal, the Panama City News Herald, WEAR-TV, WMBB TV , or WJHG TV. All of these news organizations have a website.
