Florida: Apalachicola residents protest powerline plans

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Citizens hold mock funeral to draw attention to their efforts to bury a section of powerlines that would otherwise mar their historic waterfront district

The waterfront in Apalachicola, Florida.

A rendering posted at the SaveApalach website shows what the powerline might look like.

SUMMIT COUNTY — One of my favorite stops during a 6,000-mile, 15-state road trip last summer was historic Apalachicola, Florida, a Gulf Coast town that hasn’t yet succumbed to the over-development that  mars so many parts of the Sunshine State.

After finding a pet-friendly motel, we discovered the municipal fishing piers, where my son enjoyed full-moon angling session that yielded a big catch (and release), dog-friendly restaurants featuring the best oysters we’ve ever eaten and friendly locals who were ever-so-glad to share the secrets of their little haven with us.

I wrote about our stay in Apalachicola a couple of times, and that’s probably why this weekend I received a press release from a group called SaveApalach, letting me know that the tiny town, located 75 miles southwest of Tallahassee and 60 miles east of Panama City, is battling Progress Energy over its planned installation of 100-foot power poles through the downtown district. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, Florida | Tagged: , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Travel: Shrimp, oysters, cotton and … the ice machine

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Keeping it real in Florida

Moonrise over the Battery Park pier in Apalachicola, Florida.

Shrimp boats moored along Apalachicola Bay, Florida.

By Bob Berwyn

APALACHICOLA, FLA. — After passing through the heavily developed strip resorts around Destin, it was a relief to pull into the pet-friendly Rancho Inn, in Apalachicola, a historic fishing and  harbor village in the heart of what locals call the forgotten coast.

We decide to linger an extra day, if only to learn the correct pronunciation of the six-syllable town.

Since the town sits back from the Gulf Coast a ways, on the shore of Apalachicola Bay, there are no beachfront motels. But it’s a working harbor town, with shrimp boats lined up along the shore of the bay, unloading tons of rock shrimp into small warehouses where they’re immediately sorted, packed, frozen and loaded on to trucks.

The bay is also one of the world’s most productive oyster fisheries, with just the right delicate balance of salt water and fresh water, along with perfect temperatures, combining to nurture productive shellfish beds. (more…)

Filed under: Florida, Travel | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

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