Would you believe, dolphins swimming at the bow and Blue Angels over head? This was Sleeping Bear in Pensacola Bay! We actually spotted the first dolphin entering the inter-coastal waterway just off of Mobile Bay. The weather continues to be in our favor as we move through Florida’s Panhandle. Today (Tuesday) we will stay in Apalachicola as a cold front passes through, kicking up wind, waves and rain. This is first day that weather was the reason for putting in, or staying in port since Lake Michigan. Not Bad!!
The plan is to make it to Carrabelle, Florida before crossing the Gulf for Clearwater. At present the forecast does not indicate that weather will be favorable for a crossing through at least Friday. We will be ready, but need to be sure that wind and waves are correct for a comfortable crossing. The Gulf is fairly shallow. We expect to be in less than 20 feet of water 30 miles off of shore. The voyage is 180 miles, or about 20 hours at hull speed. Wave heights of up to 4 feet on the bow are no problem for Sleeping Bear. However, much over 2 feet on the beam makes for some uncomfortable yawing. The idea forecast condition is for waves of less than 2 feet and winds less than 10 knots for at least 24 hours. We will wait.
There are a couple of folks who have spent a lot of time studying the weather patterns in the Gulf. They share their insight freely with anyone who has sense enough to listen. Tom Conrad, posts daily predictions on the AGLCA daily news letter. His “musings” have assisted Loopers across the Gulf for years. The daily updates have a standard disclaimer that is intended to keep the lawyers from doing lazy looping circles over Tom’s head. It reads, “Disclaimer: The preceding information must be taken as only what I would personally do with my own vessel, a 28-foot, open cockpit, sailboat. It must not be a substitute for your own observations and your own research of the situation. Even after considering all available information, including what I offer here, captains must make their own decisions based on the capability of their vessel, the seasoning of their crew and their own abilities as captain, realizing safety must never be compromised.”
The second source is Buddy at the Moorings in Carrabelle. According to a captain that has crossed the Gulf about 90 times, “don’t leave unless Buddy says it will be okay.”So the Moorings at Carrabelle it is!
The trip through the panhandle has been a mix of some obviously man made channels, natural rivers and a couple of large bays and inland lakes. Let’s make no mistake; while there is a lot of ground underwater in Florida, much of it is not very deep. Channel markers are comingled with inter coastal markers. The markers are numbered but the numbering system, changes between rivers and bays. As we made the turn up the Creek toward the chosen marina in Apalachicola, all three of us missed the very small red/green channel marker. Turning 50 feet too soon resulted in that scary sensation when the bottom of the boat slows as it rubs along a river bed. Years of driving through snowy road conditions kicked in as I kept her going, plowing our way into the channel. Making it through without an embarrassing call to Tow US was far more luck than skill. There was no damage as we made to deeper water. One can only imagine that bottom is pretty soft and that propellers helped clear the way.
We have seen Dolphins, Manatee, Eagle, Vulture, Pelican, Osprey, but no Alligator, yet! The white sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle are spectacular. Along the way we stopped at a Marina in Pensacola, anchored a night in Choctawhatchee bay, and atayed in marinas in Panama City and again in Apalachicola. Since Fairhope, there have been ample Marinas with nearby shopping and restaurants. This is a change from the Tenn-Tom where the options were limited. I picked up a set of Florida Charts in Pensacola after having difficulty finding the correct marina. The Cruising Guide, while helpful is not a good navigational aide. Electronic charts are not enough either.
Perry was along for the ride from Fairhope to Apalachicola. In a scenario not unlike “Trains, Planes and Automobiles” there were no rental cars in Apalachicola. There would be none in Carrabelle. He had to hire a limo to take him from Apalachicola to the Panama City Greyhound station. He will ride a bus to Mobile, from which he will take a taxi or shuttle to his car in Fairhope. The Logistics of getting people on and off the boat can be most challenging. We enjoyed Perry’s company. And, he will have a memory or two about this segment of the trip.
This morning’s push into the Apalachicola Bay was met with some unpredicted 20 to 25 MPH winds and 2 foot seas in the bay. We had seen some heavy winds on Monday, but have not seen much of any wave action since the turbulence of the Mississippi. This was a bit of a wake-up call and will help in the preparation for the trip into the Gulf. We have reservations at the Moorings and hope to meet Buddy later today.
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