this is my attempt at making spamming history...sorry for the cross
posts, just getting the word out. so if you have the notion to come
play in our ocean, bring it....

:*)

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what up, buttercups?

in case you haven't checked the nwfloridahworld board lately, which
btw is located at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nwfloridahworld/

there's a get together this weekend, and we want your pasty-white
self to be sunnin' and funnin' with the rest of the misfits.

here's the scoop, with another thank you for mr. farleft's efforts
in getting the ball rolling...

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We'll be throwing down on Okaloosa Island, between Fort Walton Beach
and Destin, Saturday 29 March (11:00 'til sunset and into the night)
and maybe Sunday as well. Everyone from Atlanta, Tampa and NWF (et
al) are invited. A few of us will be there at the Leeside Inn on
Friday night, so bring your party shoes, leave behind your blues,
and get your groove on.

The Place: The Gulf Island National Seashore, Okaloosa Area, on
Okaloosa Island between Destin and Fort Walton Beach. This protected
day beach area has many miles of sandy beaches to explore and if you
take shoes, the Destin jetty to walk on. On the gulf side of the
island, about 1/4 mile, lies maybe the best beach in NWF on the
federal strip of the Gulf. In addition to the above, it has a boat
ramp and fishing is available at the Okaloosa Pier (1/2 mile). It
has protected waters for swimming.

Not even 50 yards away is the Dock o' the Bay beach bar. The GINS
picnic area has a restroom, shower, a little shade and we'll have a
BBQ set up.

Here's some local hotels, and the Leeside is next door to where
we'll be kicking around on Saturday.

Leeside Hotel (closest, spitting distance)(pool) 1-800-824-2747
$65.00

Marina Motel, 850-244-1129
$63.00
Greenwood Motel, 850-244-1141 (I can't vouch for quality) $40.00
Ramada Plaza Resort, (Pretty Nice, pool) 800-874-8962 $105.00

If you would like to see where this beach is in relation to
Choctawhatchee Bay and Destin, you can look up the Leeside Hotel's
address in Yahoo Maps* 1350 Miracle Strip Pkwy S.E., Okaloosa
Island, Fort Walton Beach Fl, 32548, or www.leesideinn.com. Their
website is pretty good, if you go to "Dock o' the Bay" you can see
the beach we're talking about, it's just 50 yards to the East, left.

Pontoon boats and jet skis are available for rent about 1/4 mile
away. Pontoon boats cost $200 per day and jet skis are $50 per hour,
$75 for two. Parasailing is also available if ya got the 'scrotes.

What you don't need to bring...bring a BBQ, a decent sized radio and
a couple coolers of ice...beach toys for kids, a couple of kayaks,
and at least one boat for runnin' around in. If anyone has other
beach toys they'd like to bring, bring 'em. This beach is very,
very, very good for wind surfing if the wind is strong enough.

There'll be some early arrivers to the beach on Saturday a.m., so
look for the red balloons, which should be attached to whatever
picnic benches can be procured...this is a public beach.

For nighttime activities (including Friday)the Dock o' the Bay Bar
(located at Leeside Hotel) is open then and it's a pretty relaxed
place, they even have a fire place. Alcohol is allowed on this
beach, but NO GLASS BOTTLES and NO PETS.

I don't think the National Park Service would be too wild about red
balloons on their sign, so there will be no marking on Hwy 98 but
there is only one National Seashore Area on the BAY (Repeat BAY,
North) side of the island, it has a big brown sign. The Okaloosa
Island is only about 1/2 mile wide North to South. If you can get to
the Dock o' the Bay Bar, you should be able to see the red balloons
through the trees.

This is not going to be a big formal event, just a picnic at the
beach, the rest is up to you. But if you guys from outside the area
were wanting to do the beach anyway...this might be a good time
before the rates go up. Call it an early Spring Break.

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hope to see you all there!

- michael