Laguna Beach

We were planning to go to Atlanta after New Orleans but the hotel barman, JT, told us we should go to South Walton in West Florida as they have incredible beaches there.

It took him around 90 seconds to persuade us, and around half an hour later we had booked a holiday home down on Laguna Beach.

The drive over was meant to be just four hours but took almost eight hours. Huge traffic jams. But was worth it when we got there.

On the drive over, we passed a battleship!

Thought this collection of houses was cute, with their colours.

Most of the way over there are outlets of land with hotels built on them.

Had to laugh at this sign. Can’t imagine doctors in NZ doing this.

First confederate flag wearing vehicle we had seen.  The driver was everything you would expect. A young guy wearing a singlet and wide brimmed hat.

This is the place we had for two days. Spent most of it on the porch drinking home made cocktails and reading books.

It literally was beachfront.

And a mighty long beach. Our section was well away from the hotels and was really only used by those staying in a house there.

The water was of course very warm, and went in several times.

The highlight was a jet ski tour not just out to Shell Island, but also to a pod of local dolphins where you got within feet of them. Sometime you can even swim with them. The tour was great for they took you out there for an hour, but then left you unhuided to muck around for another hour and return home at your own pace.

I’ve jet skiied before, but on Lake Taupo on in fairly calm seas around Vanuatu or Thailand. But never in conditions like this, where the swell was around three metres or more. We were all bouncing up and down like you couldn’t believe. At one point I swear my body was parallel to the jet ski, holding on with my arms only. It was superb fun. In the calmer waters we got them up to around 75 kms/hr which was also fun.