03/12/2022
This is my final post for Bayside Sportsman’s Paradise. Steve and I had vacationed in the area since 1979. We started our adventure with the Forgotten Coast at Presnell’s Campground…now know as Presnell’s RV Park. During our many years vacationing there, we became friends with Mr. and Mrs. Presnell and gained many life long friends. Our boys grew up on St. Joe Bay and flourished just like the multitudes of aquatic life this bay has to offer. We discovered Bayside Sporstman’s Paradise in 2009. Is was a sad neglected property that needed some TLC.
My Steve believed in property investments and we soon added this one to our family. We transformed the property in to our slice of paradise. I taught all three of our granddaughters to swim in the pool. My frail, dying mother supervised the elevator installation and gave it the maiden trip up and down and put her stamp of approval on it. We hosted many family gatherings, caught many a Redfish, Speckled Trout, shucked gallons of scallops and made some of the most life long memories imaginable…regretting none.
BUT… as life has it all good things must come to an end. With Steve’s passing, I find that his final instructions to me…to be words of wisdom…his direction was to dispose of all of our properties except his beloved Hunting Camp. He said I did not need the pressure of doing it without him…he was right…we did so much together and now its not the same anymore.
We made many friends here at the Cape. Natural Retreats has been the best property management company EVER! Matt, BJ and the crew have taken care of our home as if it was their own and believe me that is huge since we “kissed a lot of FROGS” claiming to be property management companies. Marlen Taylor has maintained our lawn and all of its accompaniments and been a good friend. Jeff and the guys at St. Joe Pools kept the pool beautiful. Cisco and his crew with Caesar’s Painting have taken care of us many times over the years. The guys at the Cape Trading Post…always friends…the boys and Steve would swap hunting and fishing story’s to fill many pages of a book.
I made my final trip to BSP on Wednesday…the sky’s reflected my sadness…but a new chapter in this crazy thing call life begins!❤️
