Apalachicola

Try saying that three times fast. We have been here for a few days and it still gets tangled up on its way out of my mouth. Our current boating buddies, Leigh and Chuck on Almost Home, and Teresa and Jib on Make It So, tell me is runs off the tongue like appalachian. This makes it easier but the mental block still causes an occasional stumble.

In any case, this is an interesting little town. It is reminiscent of Merrickville and Almonte in eastern Ontario. These old industrial towns were successful in the past but have seen their business base whittled away by technology.

Originally, Apalachicola was a seaport and benefited from being the birthplace of the first ice making machine. A local doctor, Dr. John Gorrie, devised and patented the device as a cure for Yellow Fever. It certainly helped his patients with their symptoms as a rudimentary air conditioner but was not the cure he wanted.

However, his invention did prove to be quite helpful to preserve the locally caught fish and seafood so it could be shipped to more urban locations. A large fishing fleet sheltered in the protected waters of the Apalachicola River and creek until the railway whipped the economic feet out from them.

Now the town lays claim to a historic district like none other in the Panhandle. There is a collection of eclectic boutiques, unique eateries, art galleries and popular music venues tucked into the old brick, tin-roofed warehouses.

The town dock where we stayed is adjacent to the old Ice House located right in the centre of town. Dr Gorrie’s originally machine can be seen the Smithsonian and a 3/4 scale model at the museum here.

We had a fun few days exploring. Found three geocaches with Teresa and Jib. Had our best meal out since Chicago and grilled some fresh snapper on the boat. Walked 1.5 kilometres to the laundromat and then walked another kilometre to not find a fourth geocache. Wandered through a lot of the shops and galleries. And, sampled some local beers and declined to do shots at the local liquor store.