February 2013

We departed Panama City February 2nd.  Cruised to Apalachicola.  Zia's drove in from Mexico Beach to have dinner with us. We went to Papa Joe's at Scipio Creek Marina.  Good to see them again.

Had been watching the weather and it looked like we'd have an opportunity for a crossing in a few days so we wanted to get to Carrabelle.  February 4th was the day we opted to cross. A couple of  Endeavor Catamarans were crossing too, Ann and Bob, Sandpiper and Rick and Ann on Assisted Living.  They traveled faster than we did but we kept in touch until about 4 am.

 The crew from Makin Memories hanging out at C-Quarters when we pulled in.

Busy dock at C-Quarters getting a fishing boat loaded with ice and fuel.

 

 Zia's stopped by before we took off. In fact they threw off our lines.  Okay, Roz didn't really help with the lines.

Jerry caught this picture of dolphins riding our stern wave while we were underway. 

 

Sunset at the beginning of our crossing.










The crossing started about 15:30. Seas were .5-1 ft until about 1900. Got bumpy. Jerry and I took 2 hour shifts. Worked good. However I missed a spectacular moonrise at 02:52.  Seas calmed about 04:00. Pulled into Anclote Key anchorage about 12:30 on February 5th. 165 miles, 21 hours.

Clearwater was our next stop. Stayed at the City Marina a week. Jerry took one of the charter boats out into the Gulf.  Brought home several gray snapper.  Did a sunset at a bar in Clearwater with Jo and Nate, Bob and Ann and Rick and Ann.  Free shots at sunset!
Jo was running a marathon in Jacksonville.  We worked a deal for her to take our car to Sadler's. worked great for both of us.

Jerry went on an all-day charter fishing boat.  Wasn't looking good for anyone in the morning but they moved a few times and finally everyone came home with a catch. 

He caught about 10 gray snapper.  Tasty! 

 

Moved to anchorage, Penthouse just around from the marina.  Nate rafted with us for 2 nights.  We moved to the Holiday Inn marina just 7 miles away to meet up with April, Craig and the girls.  Took everyone out Saturday morning as weather was turning cold and windy.  It was a fun trip, saw dolphins.  Brooklyn drove the boat and we all had a good time.

We celebrated Harper's first birthday a little early since we wouldn't be in Atlanta for the big event.  She was a little hesitant at first but got into the icing eventually.  Forget the cupcake, go for the sugar!

We left the Holiday Inn about noon, a few hours after the kids had taken off.  Cruised about 5 hours to an anchorage call Longboat Key.  There were 8 other boats and it was close quarters.  We were mostly out in the current so we weren't swinging with everyone else.  Not a bad place but we were ready to hit the water again. 

Last year we bypassed Cabbage Key.  Read and heard from others what a neat place it was to visit.  So we decided to do a night there.  They had power but no water and you couldn't leave your trash.  But they have a quaint restaurant and bar.  Also there are cabins and villas for rent.  We walked a trail but should have asked about walking the entire island.  Next year, maybe.  We did dinner in the restaurant, find out later we could have brought our own bottle of wine, damn.  Met a couple, Norm and Nancy on True Loev, traveling on a sailboat.  Struck up a conversation about our journey.  They have been traveling back and forth between the northeast and Florida for about 18 years.  We decided to meet for breakfast the next day so they could show us charts with great anchorages.  Really enjoyed our visit with them.

Sunrise from the dock at Cabbage Key

The morning brought fog.  We had breakfast then waited for it to burn off.  It was almost noon before I was comfortable enough to take off.  Didn't travel far, only 17 miles to an anchorage suggested by Norm.  Ding Darling is a wonderful area.  Dolphins and birds. 

 

Needed fuel.  Jerry had scoped out the cheapest around.  Ballard Oil was the best price and only a quick hop from our anchorage.  The guy there said he had been doing this for 35 years and in the past had as many as 30 employees.  Now it's just him.  He also used to fuel around 200 shrimp boats, now maybe 2.  A lot of the shrimp boats are now corporately owned and they have their own fuel.  Average cost to fill up a shrimp boat is around $20k using about $2k of fuel a night.  Hard to break even selling shrimp at those costs.

Leaving Ballard we headed for Naples to meet the people interested in buying our house.  They were in Naples for business.  It was great to finally meet them.  Stayed around Naples for a few days checking it out.  Went to the farmers market Sunday.  Biked around town.  Nice place but wouldn't want to live here.

Departed Naples City Dock 2/25.  Met up with at Nate and Jo Smokehouse Bay, only about 16 miles away.  Spent a couple of nights here.  Well protected and easy access to facilities like groceries and restaurants.  Had dinner on the boat both nights with Nate and Jo.  Good company! 

 Nate retrieved a couple of coconuts from the water.  And typical Guyer approach to a challenge, power tools were brought out.  Jerry used a saws all to cut them open.  Nate picked out the coconut meat.

The dinghy dock is by the Winn-Dixie.  Jerry and I went in to have lunch.  Needed to make copies of our tax stuff and get it mailed off.  found a great marine store at Rose's Marina.  Jerry picked up a couple of fillet knives.  While we were out and about, we found out later, the tide came in and our dinghy had been pushed up and under the dock.  Fortunately, a few other boaters saved it, getting in and pushing down on it.  We are so thankful they took care of it.  We thanked them later profusely.  What a disaster that would have been.

 

A sailboat anchored on the other side of this little cove was loaded with kids and dogs and cats. Mom, dad and 5 kids as well as dog and cat. They were on their to the Dry Tortugas. Fun group and the kids are extremely well behaved. Home schooling at it's finest.

Also met Tom and Ollie on Our Freedom and a couple, Art and Elise on a Great Harbour N37.  Art helped save our dinghy.

 Finally took off about 10 in the morning 2/27.  Another short day.  Only 11 miles to Tripod Key. It was quiet after the fishing boats left the area about dusk. 

Next day we are picking up the pace and want to get to Marathon.  Did a 52 mile day anchoring at Shark River.   Jerry threw out a line, trolling while underway.  No luck but once we got to Shark river, he caught 2 catfish and 2 Jacks.  Didn't keep any but felt good to finally get something on the line.  I liked this anchorage.  We saw Egrets on shore and the mosquitoes weren't bad.  Getting low on water, or so we thought.