Month: January 2016

We left the Moorings Sunday afternoon around 5pm, “Pura Vida” took the head of the pack followed by “Thanks Dad” “Cocomo” and “Island Gypsy” what  a beautiful evening watching the sunset, during the middle of the night the seas were around 2′ all was smooth.  At 6am we had a call from one of the boats that they were having fuel filter woes, the engine ended up shutting down and the captain wasn’t able to get it to restart after changing fuel filters.   What made this even more interesting was the boat with the fuel problems was also having electronic power issues and was communicating with a handheld Vhf.  the only way to get a TowBoat to respond from that far away around 50 miles offshore was to ask the coast guard for help getting the message to Boat US. I did this for the stranded vessel as their handheld didn’t have the range that my built in vhf has. By 8:40 we were in contact with Tow Boat Us and they were minutes away from the stranded vessel. Sunrise was amazing out their as well. During this whole engine issue that the other boat was having the seas had to be 3-4′ once we were closer to land around 11am it laid down nicely and we had a beautiful ride up the Anclote River. To Tarpon Springs.  Feels amazing to be on the other side.  Life is good.  So are all the people in it. 
Sunrise at The Moorings, Carrabelle Fl taken by Mandi Singer

Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico Salt Pasture   

Route to Tarpon Springs from Carrabelle 
  

First glimpse of the West Coast of Florida 
  

Shallow green water greeted us at about 10 miles offshore  

line of sight to land is 7miles

Anclote River, Tarpon Springs sponge docks ahead 
  

  

Pura, Coco, and Thanks Dad 

  

We all tried for a noon crossing but found conditions to be worse than expected.  Anchored untill 4pm off dog island and tried it again.  Still same scenario. Headed back to the Moorings and sitting it out untill Monday/Tuesday most likely. 

The Pura Vida and the two other boats that tried to cross yesterday with us.   

Pura Vida port profile 

 

The way back in, feeling defeated lol not really 

 
Protected Marina the Moorings is a great staging spot Bc it’s so close to East Pass   

 36 monk trawler.  Getting down 

  
  
 “Thanks Dad” and their dingy  

 

Anchored behind dog island  
 Dolphin in the Marina 

    

  

 

My stay in apalachicola was incredible, the people I met and places I visited just made it feel like home.  Stopping here for as long as I did really did me good, it reminded me that all people are freaking great. And theirs nothing to be afraid of because everyone is willing to help and lend a hand. The people I met here I will never forget. When your “just passing through” in apalachicola be sure to talk to all the locals.  Their a awesome group of people no different than you or me.  Most of them with amazing stories on how they ended up their I can’t wait to come back and see my friends and listen to live music at the Bowery Station.
Apalachicola bay was pretty today with sunshine and plenty of cold wind, still it was awesome.  Lots of markers were way off so following the gps closely was the only way to really be sure you were in good water.  The dredging operation going on in the bay may have also been why some markets were out. This is a pretty stretch. Wide bays pretty shallow water with dangerous sandbars and oyster beds that will destroy a hull.

Tomorrow is the 177 mile jump to Tarpon Springs. It looks like a good weather window for the next couple days, my friends John and Sue from Pensacola are headed to the keys and are going to cross with us tomorrow since our boats cruise the same speed

Leaving Water Street Marina

Entrance to the Carrabelle River

These are my friends Ted and Sarah in their Katy Krogen Manatee 37 they bought this boat new in 1987 and have been doing the loop ever since. This is their 26th time!!!  It was amazing meeting so many loopers while I was in apalachicola. Ted and Sarah have such a laid back attitude about boating it’s refreshing and shared some amazing stories with me.  When you loop time after time you really learn the water ways like the back of your hand.     Their flybridge has been enclosed so makes great for all weather cruising.  It’s powered by a single d3 Volvo 130 that sips fuel at 1.8gallons per hour

 Their dingy has to be the coolest one I’ve ever seen with a 90hp it can do anything they need and also help their boat maneuver if for any reason with the push bar

A small work tug  sunk while I was staying on scipio creek and I got to see them swap the locked up 6/71’s for a freshly rebuilt pair         

Apalachicola has been a great place, they have been practicing yoga at the marina I am staying at so I have been going to that on Tuesdays. My good friend Louis Hines made a trip down here this past weekend on his Birthday and we explored Scipio creek.
Sunken shrimp boat and two other commercial style boats are abandoned about a 1/2 mile down the creek, probably a hurricane hideout that ended up not being so safe.

 Pura Vidas aft and a nice downeast style cruiser 
Louis at the tiller of the Twin Vida

Flood waters moved some big debris. Tree wedged against a navigational marker   

Scipio creek tributary that goes through turtle Harbour.  Apalachicola River is the fat one then Scipio is the darker narrow one

This town is rich in old Florida history, it has been a great place to rest relax and explore this week.  In 1849, Apalachicola physician Dr. John Gorrie (1802–1855) discovered the cold-air process of refrigeration and patented an ice machine in 1850. He had experimented to find ways to lower the high temperatures of fever patients. His patent laid the groundwork for development of modern refrigeration and air-conditioning, making Florida and the South more livable year round. The city has a monument to him, and a replica of his ice machine is on display in the John Gorrie Museum. John Gorrie Memorial Bridge, originally built in 1935 and rebuilt in 1988, carries U.S. 98 across Apalachicola Bay to Eastpoint, Florida.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the sponge trade, led by Greek immigrants, was a major industry in town.

This was a picture in the Apalachicola Maritime Museum here, I like what it has to say about Florida.  We are all so lucky to be living in this beautiful state, so close to nature.  The Maritime Museum is definitely worth checking out

More than 90% of Florida’s oyster production is harvested from Apalachicola Bay.

  The civil war was 
My amazing parents and sister came to visit me and brought Louie!

We departed St. Andrews Marina today around 7:40am it was cold around 42 so the flybridge isinglass stayed closed most the day, with my little space heater running. today took us through St. Andrews Bay to East Bay and then into the narrow ICW, this was a long stretch because from all the rain the north has had, The river was in flood stage so all the debris in the woods that was flooded floated into the river and caused hazards.  This has been going on for a while so debris was scattered and you just had to dodge occasional big logs. Winding through this low swampy area was fun and being on high alert made it go by fast.  The boat handled well in the heavy currents. Once getting to the Apalachicola River the boat picked up considerable speed and we saw some homes that were getting water inside from the flood.   Our drive took 8 hours today and crossed the Eastern time zone line of demarcation 
  Apalachicola shrimp boat “beachcombers bounty”  
Water Street Hotel slip

  Floating docks are the best 
    
   
  Panama City natives  
 

 

Happy 2016 from Panama City, I’ve never really spent much time here even though it’s so close to Pensacola. It’s a interesting quirky place.  My friend Louis  Hines came by last night on his way back from Orlando visiting family and went to dinner with us, he stayed and offered to take us shopping today for some supplies we need  so we look forward to do this and enjoyed his visit,  tomorrow we will head to Apalachicola Florida and we are anticipating good weather. 
Port side to docking is preferred in calm marinas for ease of getting on and off the boat