Exploring Apalachicola

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd

Trip Day:	249	Latitude:	29°43.92' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	0	Longitude:	084°59.28'W	Locks Total:	108
Total Miles:	5,453	Location:	Apalachicola, FL    MM 351

Well, plans changed.  Unfortunately our trip to Tallahassee was cancelled since Kent woke up with flu symptoms.  As we had our morning  coffee we watched the seagulls playing in the wind along the canal which is lined by tall sea grass.  Not a bad place to think about how thankful we are for so many things in our lives.  Ron got the bikes out of the locker and we took off to explore Apalachicola.  First stop was the memorial to Vietnam Veterans.  .  . nicely done.

Facing the park was this beautiful old house with its two-story porches   decorated for the holidays.



Then we rode the downtown streets, stopping on Market St. to see the Raney House.  In the 1830s Apalachicola was a rapidly expanding port for the cotton industry.  David Raney, a native of      Virginia, was a prosperous merchant who built this home where he and his wife raised their eight children.  His son, George, practiced law in Apalachicola and later served as Attorney General and finally become Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. 

 

 

 

Expansion of the textile industry brought increased demand for cotton from the plantations along the Apalachicola River.  Large ocean-going vessels unloaded goods into warehouses on the River, and in return loaded their cargo of cotton bound for mills in Europe and New England.  The little town of Apalachicola was the third largest port on the gulf until the 1850s.

Only a mechanical engineer such as Ron would know or care why Dr. John Gorrie was famous.  Dr. Gorrie came to Apalachicola in 1833 to practice medicine. 

 

During an outbreak of yellow fever, Gorrie developed a method for cooling the rooms of ill patients.  He invented a machine that produced ice using saltwater as a refrigerant.  He   received a Patent for mechanical         refrigeration in 1851, but died before realizing the far-reaching effects of his discovery.  So next summer when you flip on your AC, you should say thanks to Dr. John Gorrie from the little town of Apalachicola!

 

 

This town seems to be standing still in time.  The historic charm of houses and buildings from the late 1800s is     mirrored by a seafood industry little changed in nearly 100 years.  Oystermen still harvest their catch by hand with long handled tongs, return empty shells to the water to form artificial reefs making oyster nurseries.  We can vouch for the freshness of the oysters served by many   restaurants within walking distance from the oyster plants along Water Street.

 

 

 

 

Passing by the Gibson Inn, we rode our bikes out to the point to check out the bay.  We saw a sailboat clear the bridge from the river and as it pulled into the marina we realized it was Truant whom we haven’t seen since Mobile Bay. 

Shortly after Wish arrived and we all made plans to meet for dinner.   

On our way to Boss Oysters, we were pleasantly surprised to find the town alive with excitement.  All the stores and galleries were open, the sidewalks were lined with luminaries., and the Christmas lights were shining bright.   Our curiosity about this long line was satisfied when be recognized the celebrity at the end of the line.

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner was good with oysters all around.  We all walked back to Wish where we enjoyed wine, shared stories and friendship.  Thank you to Jeff, Donna, Mark and Jo for a great evening.  I still think Jo should write a book—she is a naturally funny girl.