Quest for Warmth-- Part 6-- Hitting the Bars

February 20th. Pineapple Willies, Time Out, Donovan's, Bahama Bob's, Donovan's.

We drove to Pineapple Willie's down by Thomas Drive. They bill themselves as being one of the oldest eating and drinking establishments in Panama City Beach. We saw that they still had NTN and wanted to play it, but again, it wasn't on any TV, so we left. We had the same problem last year. We definitely don't know why they keep the game if you can't play it.

We drove the really long way east along Thomas Drive to where it hooks north and found Time Out, which is attached to a gas station. A good crowd in there, but we were the only ones playing NTN (usually the situation when we travel and a big problem with dear old Buzz Time).

Played several games then decided to get back to the Driftwood and took the Middle Beach Road back which was much faster. Time Out is about eight miles from where we stay.


DRINKING CLOSER TO HOME

Walked across the road to Donovan's and met Gary, the Mayor (so-called because he is there most nights of the week). Not surprisingly, he didn't remember us at first, but later he did. Donovan's was getting ready for karaoke.

After a bit, we decided to go next door to Bahama Bob's at the Calypso Beach bar. Here it was at 9 and they were closing the bar. Not what you call a happening place in that case. As I said before, they had NTN Buzztime last year, but were reluctant to play it.

Went back to Donovan's which was packed by then. We like this place because you get all sorts of people in here. There are oldsters like us and the mayor and his group as well as quite a few younger twenty-somethings, locals and snowbirds, You can hear anything on the jukebox from rap and hip hop to oldies and country.

About the only problem is the smoke. Lots of cigarette smoking going on, but the doors are usually open so it is tolerable.

Good to Be Back. --RoadDog