bagel

A cool Friday morning here on Scipio Creek, hot black coffee and this fresh baked bagel from Apalachicola Coffee & Chocolate Company would have gone great with, if only I had thought to bring, that creamy spreadable goat cheese I bought at Trader Joe's as we were leaving Tallahassee this past Monday morning. To remember next time: how traditions are born.

Yesterday we drove over early after all, about noon EST had dinner at The Station, that was Pendleton's Gulf Station when we moved here nearly thirty-six years ago. Dozen oysters half-shell, delicious and perfect. As from time to time, I brought the three best shells along to add to my collection kept on 7H porch for baking oysters for Kristen now and then. This is Apalachicola, remember, the oyster capital of the South, but from long years of shameless, mindless and determined over-harvesting, Apalachicola Bay is depleted and nowadays the oysters served here are imported, these from Texas. Oysters labeled "Apalachicola" that we buy at Buddy Gandy's and Tarpon Dock Seafood are hauled in by truck to be shucked and packed in the oyster houses here. Neither secret nor shame, if you ask "Where are these oysters from?" you get the truth, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Cedar Key.

Afterward, here to Water Street Hotel, which, on the water and with an elevator, is the only place we stay. Every suite has bedroom, extra room that sometimes has a bunk bed, two bathrooms, kitchen and great room; and, best and most important, screen porch right on Scipio Creek, looking east and beyond over marsh and Apalachicola River, beyond that to Magnolia Bluff on the Eastpoint side. Our porch this time also looks north, up the creek. Which, come to think of it, is just a short walk south on Water Street and may be where we have early lunch/dinner, Up the Creek Raw Bar. 

Thursday's feared thunderstorm, or what was left of it, swept through here four or five o'clock as I sat out on the screen porch waiting for it, napping intermittently, waking with the thunder. There was rain, blowing from the west and flapping the screens a bit. Left the porch deck wet.

A good night's sleep and up at four o'clock for coffee and that half a bagel, sliced, warmed in the toaster and crispy on the inside.

Hoping you are the same.

T