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!