Blue Skies and 78 Degrees -- Home Sweet Home!

December 16 - 18, 2011

It didn't take long for us to fall into a very comfortable schedule now that we are settled.  Mornings start slow with some putzing around.  Jennifer has hooked us on a game, Words with Friends.  I play on the iPad and Brian on his phone.  We usually have two games going with each other and a couple going with Jennifer.  I have lost every game with both of them, but I'm improving, I haven't quit and I'm trying to be a good sport.  I have used a few expletives!!!  We're taking long walks exploring the marina and neighborhood.  And, making some new friends.  Jim and Ann are on a Hatteras across the dock from us.  Ann stopped over the first day we were here and offered us one of their cars.  We had them over for a drink last night and had a great visit.  They are driving us to the airport tomorrow.  As with so many boaters we have met, they are exceptionally nice and generous. 
Tomorrow we go to Minnesota for Christmas.  We are both so excited to see Steve, Erin, Niko and Addison!!!  And, a couple of days later Jennifer and her family will arrive....what a blessing to have all of our family together!!!  One of my biggest worries when we sold the house and didn't buy another one was -- where will we have Christmas?  I never should have given it a second thought.  My girls never skipped a beat in offering to host it.  (Jennifer has already volunteered for next year.)  We are so blessed!    

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

St Armands Circle about five miles from the marina.
A fun area of local shops and restaurants.
We had a fabulous lunch at Tommy Bahamas.

Walking home from the grocery with plenty of Diet Coke
and a few groceries.

The marina office and restaurant.



Another tree that I don't recognize, but it has
great character!  They are all over this part of the world.

It looks like they decorated the mangroves
for Christmas.

Late afternoon the pelicans begin arriving
and roost for the night.

            

Brian,Hand Me the Bucket-----

December 14 & 15, 2011

December 14

Good-bye Apalachicola

Former cotton warehouse now a shop with
rooms to rent upstairs.

It took 33 hours (261 miles), but we made it across the Gulf from Apalachicola to Long Boat Key.  Even though we had waited almost a week for good weather and calm waters, it didn't turn out exactly as we had hoped.  Before we left, we made sure computers were secured, we put throw pillows in the cabinets to keep dishes and other breakables from sliding, we latched all of the cabinets and closets and stowed everything that was on
the deck.  We really didn't think it would be necessary, but just in case..... Well, luckily we took precautions. 

The oyster men harvesting

The sun goes down and the waves pick up





During daylight the seas were 1-3 feet and very manageable, but once the sun went down we had 14 hours of darkness that made us feel like we were inside a washing machine on the heavy duty cycle!  We were getting hit on the port side near the bow.  We'd come down with a thud and then get an extra twist at the bottom.  I had my new anti-nausea wrist bands on, but they were no match for Neptune's tricks.  I started vomiting before the moon came up, which meant Brian got the short stick and had to drive the majority of the night plus empty the puke bucket!!!  (He is such a good husband.)  Changing the course slightly, we thought would reduce the wave action, but that didn't give us much relief.  Nothing is more monotonous that staring at the total darkness....no lights from land or boats....for hour after hour. 

The sun has moved to the other side of the boat--
it's morning -- everything else looks the same.

Just before the sun came up I rallied and came to his aide.  I was feeling well enough to take charge.  Brian went below deck and passed out for several hours.  He still looked like death warmed over after his nap.  I sent him back down for additional rest. 

Look carefully -- Clearweater on the horizon

We had originally planned to go to Clearwater, but after this exhausting cruise, we just wanted to get to Longboat Key where we could dock the boat and relax before we go north for Christmas.  Well, we made it!  At 5:00 we pulled into our new winter home -- the beautiful Long Boat Key Marina!  Our friends, Doug and Mary, have an extra dock at this marina and are practically giving it to us for as long as we want to stay.  Wow, we are so fortunate!  I mean really fortunate!!!  We left our other boat in this marina for a year in 2005.  It has always been a favorite spot.  Well, with an offer like that, we quickly decided that this will be our base for the winter and we will take short trips to other areas that we want to explore.  As soon as we were tied up, we jumped off and walked to the grocery store.  It felt great to get out and stretch our legs.   A quick dinner on board, watch a favorite television show and early to bed.   

Our Home's New Location

December 15
The boat is caked with salt.  Even the top deck, got hit regularly with spray from the waves.  Brian spent the entire day washing and scrubbing every inch.  The teak, fiberglass and chrome are all glistening.  There is only one job left and that is mine -- clean the windows.  I've spent the day paying bills, responding to emails, setting up lunches and appointments for Minnesota and arranging for a few visits from friends that are coming to see us this winter.  Someone has to be the social secretary...          
Since leaving Afton, we have traveled 2597 miles.  It's been great and now we're enjoying blue skies and a 78 degree day. 

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Layin' Low in Apalachicola

December 8-12, 2011

We’ve always enjoyed Apalachicola.  Having a much longer visit has given us time to explore a lot of the areas that we never saw on previous visits.  This historic town has reinvented itself several times since it was founded in 1831.  The first industry made it the third largest port on the Gulf.  Cotton came down the river on steamboats and was unloaded.  Small shallow draft boats would then shuttle the cotton to ships moored offshore.  As the railroads expanded a new industry took over.  The area surrounding Apalachicola had large cypress forests.  In the late 1800‘s big lumber mills developed.  By the end of the 19^th century, harvesting oysters and seafood became the important business.  Today 90% of Florida’s oysters and 10% of the oysters consumed in the United States are harvested in this area.  As we wonder around town we see reminders of all of these industries:  brick cotton warehouses, lumber baron homes and a working waterfront.  The main commercial area has established shops, restaurants, galleries, hotels and B&B’s in former warehouses and old mansions.   
Oyster harvesting is done as it has been done for the past century.  Tongs that look somewhat like two rakes are attached scissor-style.  The oyster men work from small wooden boats that are 20-23 feet long.  The oysters are brought on board and sorted by size.  Oysters are harvested from more than 7,000 acres of public oyster bars and 600 acres of private leased bars.  Apparently, harvesting the oysters is good for the bed and keeps it healthy.

Our dock space is in the middle of downtown.  We have spent part of each day walking to the grocery, barber shop, restaurants, shops, galleries, internet cafe and church.  The fishing boats are docked right behind us.  We look like we’re part of the fleet! 

Trinity Episcopal Church has continuously had
an active congregation for 175 years. 

We’ve caught up with boaters that we had previously met and enjoyed several new friends.  We continue to appreciate how generous and friendly this community is.  Dave and Marla who were here the first two days and we knew from Mobile gave us great tips on marinas, apps for our new iPad and even helped Brian with a project in the engine room.  The longer we do this the more sure we are that we’ll see a familiar face when we pull into our next marina or anchorage.

We plan to leave tomorrow, Tuesday, about 8:00 AM.  It will take about 28 hours to get to Clearwater (our new destination).  We decided to skip Tarpon Springs since we had spent a lot of time there on our last trip.  The seas are expected to be 3 - 5 feet.  We don't think it will get any better in the near future.  

Gotta smile – We’re lovin the ride! 

Tick, Tick, Tick…We Have a Deadline

December 6 & 7, 2011

1 – Destin, 2 – St Joes, 3 – Apalachicola,

4 – Tarpon Springs, 5 – Long Boat Key

December 6

We left Destin early on the 6^th aiming for Port St Joe and then on to Apalachicola to wait for calm seas to cross the Gulf. Yesterday airline tickets were purchased to fly to Minnesota on the 19^th for Christmas. So, for the first time in 2 ½ months we have a schedule. We need to be in Long Boat Key by the 18^th to make our flight. I‘m hyperventilating a bit – not use to pressure anymore! 

Traveling on the ICW is a lot like traveling on the Mississippi.  Even the very wide areas are extremely shallow (sometimes only a foot or two).  Staying in the channel is a necessity.  We watch our electronic charts, paper charts and the buoys all of the time.  And, staying in the channel doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing. As I steered us from a wide area into a much narrower channel, we ran aground. Luckily the tide was rising and I had slowed down so we didn’t ride up on the sand bar. The changing tides and currents are constantly causing shoaling which produce unexpected shallow areas. After 20 minutes of bow thruster and engine action, we were free.

Notice anything unusual – Me either – Until I grounded us.

 

The dolphins led us to this beautiful anchorage –
Well it is a beautiful anchorage no matter how we got here!

As we prepared to anchor near Panama City I walked out on the bow pulpit, looked down and two dolphins were swimming just under the surface of the water on our bow. They continued to swim with us to our anchorage.

December 7

This is not a pretty day:  gray skies, low clouds, dropping temperatures and 35 mile per hour winds.  The water is choppy, but luckily we are riding with the waves (2-3 feet) and the wind. 

The area from Pensacola to Panama City is loaded with military bases:  two Navy and two Air Force.  We’ve heard a lot of planes go over that we couldn’t see and some

very interesting ships have sailed past like we were standing still. 

A hovercraft that passed us twice at 39 miles per hour.

This area has changed in the eleven years we’ve been making the trip.  We used to see a lot of confederate flags.  Today, I’ve only seen the stars and stripes.  And, the appliances that are in the yard have not been used for target practice.  We always joked that people put the turkey in the oven and then shot it.  It looked like everything in the yard had been used for target practice.

Change of plans – we are skipping St Joe and going directly to Apalachicola.  We looked on line at the St Joe Marina and saw that it has a very exposed entry.  With the winds now gusting to 45 mph, we don’t want to take on that challenge.

Arrived at Apalachicola just before 4.  We’re on the same dock that we have used two other times….in the middle of downtown.  Dave and Marla that we met in Mobile stopped by as soon as we tied up and asked us to join them for dinner.  They suggested Papa Joe’s.  Turns out it fits the description of our other restaurants -- local seafood shacks.  Excellent grouper fingers and oysters on the half shell with no frills. 

Looks like we will be here for a few days.  The Gulf is very turbulent through the
week-end with seas ranging from 4 – 11 feet.  Hopefully, we will cross on Tuesday.   

Gotta smile -- We're lovin the ride!       

Second Rescue at Sea

December 5, 2011

We woke this morning to find that the dingy we had tied to the side of the boat was half full of water.  The waves had picked up during the night and pounded it.  After spending the morning bailing the water and drying out everything we decided to take a trip into town.  Half way there the engine sputtered and died.  Brian tried and tried to get it started  -- no go!  He figured that some water had gotten into the fuel tank.  No options; get the oars and start paddling!  We head over to the marina dock and tie up.  Ok, no way am I going to be able to crawl up on the dock.  Brian goes to find something to fix the fuel.  I wait in the dingy.  Brian returns -- no luck finding the magic potion .  No choice -- we have to paddle back to the boat.  We push off.  We're paddling as hard as we can.  Go, go, go!!!  Well, two things are against us:  the wind has picked up (a storm is on it's way) and the tide is going out.  As fast as we paddle, we can't make any progress.  We are getting closer and closer to the mouth of the harbor.  I'm beginning to panic.  If we go out of the harbor, we're in the Gulf.  Yikes!  A professional fishing captain and his friend see that we are in trouble.  They direct us to another dock, catch our lines and secure us.  Brian climbs out of the dingy and everyone insists that I get up on the dock.  Big problem.  I could never boost myself from the dingy to the dock.  They maneuver us over to another boat's swim platform so I can crawl onto it and eventually stand.  But, oh no that's not good enough!  They insist that I get all the way up on the dock.  With the help of all three, I make it.  We're safe on the dock, but we still need to get back to our boat.  While I wait on the dock, hoping to flag a boat that can tow us back to our toasty home, Brian heads out to try and find a tow.  When he returns, he's smiling.  Good news we are being rescued by a pontoon with a 90 horsepower motor and a young confident driver.  Brian hops back in the dingy.  You know what that means -- I have to embarrass myself again with a less than graceful entry.  I sit on the dock, work my way to the edge and slip off the side hoping to land on the dingy.  Yes, I did it!  We tie our short six foot line to the pontoon, and our driver takes off yelling back "hang on"!  If you've ever seen the movie 'Captain Ron', this is his younger clean cut brother.  We bounce across the waves which have now gotten larger and head for Gotta Smile at a very fast speed.  The wind is blowing, the waves are breaking over the dingy, and now it is raining.  The next obstacle is getting the dingy close enough to the boat so we can grab it.  If we disconnect too soon and can't reach the boat, we'll start blowing towards the mouth of the harbor again.  First try doesn't get us close enough.  We can't reach the swim platform.  Second try is no better.  Brian asks him to go around the opposite way.  We've left a line tied the length of the starboard side.  It works!!!  He does a little bounce off the side of our boat, but we are able to catch the line.  Brian ties us off and finds his wallet to give our rescuer a big tip and many heartfelt thank yous.  Exhausted, but safe we're ready for a quiet night on board!

Before we knew how bad things would get!

         

"Hang on" --Like I needed to be told!

Gotta Smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Happy Birthday, Brian!!!

December 4, 2011
We are thoroughly enjoying our anchorage in the Destin Harbor.  It was just dumb luck that brought us here for their big Christmas celebration.  This place is a hubbub of activity.  The River Walk is busy with shoppers, eaters, Christmas pageant participants and people decorating boats for tonight's parade.   We put the dingy in the water and took a little cruise over for lunch. The biggest problem is getting me on and off the dingy. Even in my more agile years I had a terrible time with that task and today it is downright hysterical to watch me maneuver.  Luckily we were able to drive up on a jet ski dock at the restaurant so I didn't have to get on all fours and crawl off.  About 6:00 the parade started and it was great.  We sat on our back deck and watched about 20 boats decorated with huge amounts of lights circle the bay and us.  They ranged from tasteful to ridiculous over the top displays.  Once they completed the circle the fireworks started.  Brian and I agreed this would definitely be a birthday that he would remember.  It was a wonderful day! 

Is he waving or airing out his wing-pits?

Keeping with our tradition of eating in local
shacks we choose to have lunch here.
Good food and local band playing Jimmy Buffet.

The birthday boy in The Oyster Shack
Dollar bills stapled to the walls -- an interesting decor.

He's trying to figure out how he can hoist me off the
dingy and back on the boat.

Gotta Smile -- We're lovin the ride!

Destination -- Destin

December 2 and 3, 2011

December 2nd
After a little cleaning, filling the tanks with water and a bit of chitchat on the docks, we are on our way.  Good-bye to Mobile and Dog River Marina.  You were great hosts and we enjoyed our stay, but it feels so good to get underway again.  I'm always surprised at how large Mobile Bay is.  It took us four hours to cross and enter the Intra Coastal Waterway near Gulf Shores, AL.  We were welcomed by a pod of dolphins that seemed very excited to see us.  They continually taunted us by breaching beside, in front and then behind with no pattern that allowed for easy photographing.  We'd see a couple, I'd grab the camera and they'd be on the other side of the boat.  It must be comical to see us yelling there's two on the port side, no quick in front, gone.... darn I missed them again!  We decided to stop for a late lunch at LuLu's Restaurant.  As we pulled up to the dock, another boater (Tom Hines) came running out to help us with our lines.  He and his wife, Jan, are heading south from Indiana.  They invited us to join them at their table.  I decided that we could never travel together.  Their boat is called Laughter....Gotta Smile and Laughter...just a little too much!  While untying our lines, Last Dance passed with Jill and Glen. They are one of the couples that we had dinner with our last night in Mobile.  The sun is quickly setting and we need to hurry to our anchorage.  We didn't get in place until 5:15.  As we set our anchor, we could hear the dolphins flopping around us, but already it was too dark to see them.


Entering the Intra Coastal Waterway



December 3rd
6:30 and we are on the move.  We have about 70 miles to go today.  A lot of the ICW is narrow.  Almost like being on a river.  However, in some sections it opens up and is quite wide.  As we entered Pensacola Bay we were in very active water.  We had been checking wind and wave action on the Gulf....5 - 7 foot waves with high winds but, hadn't expected much on the ICW.  We were in  2 - 3 foot waves for the whole afternoon.  Luckily we have stabilizers on our boat.  They keep the boat from rolling side to side.  Nothing can stop the roll of the boat tackling waves head on. What the boat can take and what the passengers are comfortable with are two different things.  

WE MADE IT!!!!

White sandy beaches of Florida

The very narrow entrance to Destin Harbor.

A dozen or more dolphins met us at the entrance
and followed us to our anchorage.  They continued
to circle us for another twenty minutes.  The boat
that does dolphin tours even backed up to follow
us to our anchorage.  It was quite a welcome! 

Destin has a circus-like atmosphere.
We are anchored in the middle of this very small harbor.
Docks, condos, shops and restaurants totally
surround the water.  The lights at night are  spectacular!

A preview of what is to come...
This boat is anchored behind us.
For Brian's birthday (December 4th) there will
be a parade of decorated boats and fireworks.
Locals told us we are in a perfect location to
see it all tomorrow night.  Stay tuned.....

Gotta Smile -- We're lovin the ride!