Pumpkins

Yes we have turned into pumpkins.  Our time is up.  We made it to The Wharf Marina last night (Saturday) after a 107 nautical mile run from Panama City.  The seas were calm, so we ran in the Gulf and arrived here around 5:30 PM.  Today (Sunday) we are cleaning the boat and preparing to re- enter the world.  We have not read a newspaper or watched the news since we left Palm Beach.  We have kept in touch with our offices via e-mail and cell phone, but that has been it.  It has been a relaxing adventure, and we are not the least bit cramped on the boat.  The loop is definitely in our plans.   We will rent a car tomorrow and drive to Houma.  The good thing about leaving the boat here is that our mechanic, Bruce, will take care of the list while here. Stats:  Total nautical miles traveled from Palm Beach to Orange Beach-1,029.  Total engine hours-122.  Total fuel-1,192 gallons. Signing off for now.      

The Wharf Marina

St. Andrew’s Bay

We spent last night on the hook in St. Andrew’s Bay by Panama City.  This is one of our favorite anchorages on the Northern Gulf Coast.  It was Friday, and there were many boats of all types enjoying the beach.  Another trawler (53 Tollycraft Amber Isle) pulled in, one we had seen in the Gulf.  The couple came by dingy and we chatted with them.  They had been in the Bahamas for six months, and are headed to Knoxville for hurricane season.  They left their jobs, and live aboard and are having a grand time.  Their advice has been the same we get from many boaters-do it while you can! 

It was a good place to spend our last night on the hook (for now).  Today (Saturday June 11, 2011) we head to The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach.

The ICW by Apalachicola.

St Andrew's Bay.

Amber Isle.

I pulled a lure in the Gulf-a bonito was all that hit.

Apalachicola.

Today is Thursday June 9, 2011 and we are in Apalachicola, FL.  We had left Sanibel Tuesday and anchored at the Sarasota City Anchorage.  It was strange to be so close to Marina Jack, and not go to the piano bar!  Our plan was to go to Clearwater and anchor in a protected cove Steve Willet had told us about, and cross the Gulf Thursday.  We left Sarasota Wednesday and went into the Gulf via Longboat Pass, and it was so calm we kept on going and crossed the Gulf last night.  It was a calm crossing.  The weather forecast was uncertain for today because of a low moving north into the Gulf.  It was a good call.  The ICW ends in Clearwater, and does not start again to Apalachicola, which means about 150 miles in open water.  Last time we did the crossing it was in 5’ seas, so this was quite pleasant.  We rotated shifts every two hours at night.  Watching the moon set around midnight was nice.  We traveled 192 nautical miles from Sarasota to Apalachicola.  On the positive side we went about 7-8 knots and our fuel burn was 1.09 NMPG.  Much better than the .63 NMPG at 10 knots!  Our plan is to rest here and dine out tonight at one of the several nice restaurants in town.  Apalachicola is a small town about one half fishing village and one half art community.  A cross between Dulac and Fairhope!  We plan to be at The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach, AL. this weekend and rent a car and return home via land yacht.  Back to reality…….

Sunset in the Gulf.

Apalachicola waterfront.

Bataan Bike Ride

We broke out the bikes this morning and explored Sanibel's numerous bike paths.  Alexis had the map.  We got lost.  10 miles later we were back at the marina courtesy of google maps on my I phone.  The saving grace is the marina delivered hot blueberry muffins and a newspaper to the boat.  We ate the muffins and threw the newspaper in the can.  We are headed north and looks like we will cross to Apalachicola on Thursday.

Well my version of the bataan bike ride is not the same.  Surprise! Surprise!  The map was left on the boat.  I did not have it.  We only got lost because Berwick didn't want to stay on the main drag (I understand that) and so we made a couple of left hand turns before we decided to check our location with his cell phone.  I have to admit, it was quite the ride. Two hours non-stop.  The gulf was hard to access.

Sanibel

It is Monday evening and we are at the Sanibel Marina on Sanibel Island.  On Sunday we left Little Palm Island went to Marathon, crossed under the seven mile bridge, and entered the Gulf and then travelled to Little Shark River in the Everglades.  We anchored there for the night, and today made it to Sanibel.  If the weather holds we will cross to Apalachicola on Wednesday.  We had calm seas today, but yesterday took a little spray.  We ate at Grandma Dot's restaurant here at the marina and are about to turn in for the night.  We have traveled 249 nautical miles from Fort Lauderdale consuming 377 gallons of diesel.  We have been running at 10 knots, so are burning more fuel than normal, trying to get home. 

Headed North

Today is Sunday, June 5, 2011.  The wind is still blowing out of the northeast, but is predicted to come down this evening.  We have had a glorious time here at Little Palm Island Resort.  It has been a great place to wait out the wind.  Our plan is to head to Marathon today, take on fuel, and then try to get to Apalachicola by Friday.  The predictions are favorable, and we should be able to run in the Gulf to make better time.  Due to work issues, I have to be back in a week, so we will try to make it to at least the Destin area, leave the boat and rent a car to Houma. 

Giant chess set.

Zen garden.

This was taken from our dinner table on the beach.

The dinner table-true beach front dinning!

Little Palm Island

Today is Thursday June 2, 2011.  I had some work related issues come up and have not been able to blog the past couple of days.  The wind is still 15-20 knots from the NE.  We stayed at the Marathon Marina the last two nights and there were several boats waiting to either cross over to the Bahamas or the west coast of Florida, like us.  The collective wisdom on the dock is that Monday will be the first day we can cross.  We have an open ride of about 60 miles in Florida Bay until we reach Naples, Fl.  From there we go to Sanibel Island and will be back in the ICW until Clearwater, Fl.   Because of work issues it looks like we will cut the trip short and leave the boat somewhere on the Florida west coast.   Marathon is fairly economically depressed.  The marina and people there were nice, but besides the one restaurant at the marina, not much to do.  All dive trips were cancelled due to 5-6 foot seas.  There were a few Grand Isle type bars within walking distance but that was it.  Today we decided to make the 17 mile run to Little Palm Island Resort off of Big Pine Key.  We had been here before many years ago, and it is on an island only accessible by boat, and is quite nice.   We will stay to Sunday, then go back to Marathon and cross to Naples on Monday if the wind abates.  This is a really nice stop, but we are leaving many dead presidents behind!  Not a bad place to wait out the wind.       

Rainbow over Florida Bay at Marathon

Little Palm Island pool.

This is a Key Deer an endangered species that lives on the islands.

This one ate the pineapple out of my drink!

For the price they put the boat name on the slip.