I debated about continuing to blog, but I did find out that some of our family and several friends actually read, enjoy, and use it to keep up with us. Since I did have requests for it - here I go again.
Our destination for now is Harbortown Marina in Ft. Pierce, FL. This is the location where we found "Conched Out Too", worked our butts off getting her ready last year, and met some of the greatest people we have ever known.
2/26 - We slipped the lines from home (Biloxi Small Craft Harbor) at 6:20am heading east. We had a long wonderful day of running and made it to Big Lagoon (Pensacola, FL area) around 6:00pm. We had a nice quiet night on the hook. Annette & Barney had a long, late night, frantically getting "Journey" cleaned-up, sorted out and stocked up.
2/27 - We got an early start, after Barney called to let us know they were headed our way. I do want to make note that there was a "day 1 incident" that Barney likes to discuss - ask him about it. We were in the Destin area and keeping a close look at the weather (a strong cold front was coming in). We were hoping for Panama City today, but the captains decided we needed to get tied to the pilings since winds of 30+ knots were predicted. We got settled in at Bluewater Marina in Niceville, FL. Great marina, restaurant, ships store and staff! The wind blew, it was cold and miserable--for days. There was even a forecast of snow for the area - that would have been just too much to handle. We were here until 3/1.
3/2 - Although it was COLD and windy (NW 15+ knots) we slipped the lines at 7:00am and headed out. Annette & I stayed inside our warm heated boats while the guys toughed it out on the bridges. Traveled through the Panama City area into East Bay and dropped the anchors in Lairds Bayou about 3:30pm. Nice, protected, but cold anchorage.
3/3-3/4 - Picked up the hooks at 8:30am headed for Apalatchicola. It was a clear, sunny and of course - COLD day! Had a great ride and tied up @ Scipio Creek Marina around 4:00pm. Since we were now waiting for a weather window for crossing the northern Gulf of Mexico, we killed some time hanging around the marina and walking around town for a couple of days.
3/5 - Untied @ 10:45am Dog Island bound (this is our jumping-off point for crossing the northeast gulf). Dropped the hooks at the west end of the island @ 2:15pm. The Beebe's picked us up, for a dinghy ride along the shore (our 1st afternoon of "dinkin & drinkin" -- finally moderate enough temps to hang around outside!!) Hoping for calm seas for our next passage.
3/6 - Bill & Barney were up early to evaluate weather and sea conditions. Decided it was a go, so we picked up the hooks at first light and headed out. What a great start - we had a beautiful sunrise over the gulf! The seas were 1 - 2 ft swells, with occasional 3's. We let "Journey" make the call on whether we would continue or go back and wait. It was a bit on the tough side for them, but a piece of cake compared to our 2005 horrible crossing - Annette didn't feel too good, but she sure didn't have the mess from her dumped refrigerator to clean up like last time. We sure do love our stabilizers!!! This is our 1st time cruising on the west coast of FL, at this time of year, and had no idea that it was like a mine field. The stone crab traps are everywhere and it makes for a very stressful passage. We arrived @ SeaHag Marina in Steinhatchie around 4:00pm. Barney arrived with a float and line wrapped on his wheel, but was fortunate enough that it didn't shut down his engine. He also found a diver to come out first thing in the morning to cut it loose. Although we have all of the equipment for Bill to do any diving needed for both boats, he deemed that it was not an emergency and that the water was waaaay toooo coldddd.
3/7 - Clear, beautiful, sunny day! Pulled out around 10:45am - our 2 trawlers and hundreds of little fishing boats were all headed out of the Steinhatchie River. It's obviously a great time for fishing here - all of the boats were lined up solid along both sides of the channel. We are finally on a course heading south, cruising through the minefields of crabpots. Destination for tonight is Cedar Key - anchored next to Atsena Otie Key.
3/8 - Headed on south to Anclote Key (just west of Tarpon Springs). Great ride and on the hook for 2:30pm. Dropped the dinghy in, picked up the Beebe's and headed to the island for a walk on the beach. Barefeet in the sand and Bill's favorite day of the year - Daylight Savings Time begins!!!!! Is life good - or what?
3/9 - Did a few chores and had a lazy morning. Picked up the hooks and headed to Clearwater Marina to reprovision and pick up Joe & Janet Miller (from Ocean Springs). They are going to cruise with us until we get to the east coast. This is their first cruise this far south and through the Okeechobee waterway. The stone crab season is still in full swing - crabpots everywhere!
3/10 - Got an early start, had a beautiful day and fantastic run on the gulf headed for the Venice Inlet. As were were coming into the inlet, Joe noticed that we were dragging a crab trap (not just a float and line, but the whole thing!). He managed to free it from the boat just as "Journey" was coming up on us. We're not sure how Barney missed it, but he did. Tied up at the Crow's Nest Marina and had a VERY crowded dinner on shore.
3/11 - Decided to run on the inside (ICW) for the trip to Ft. Myers. Nice cruising day, no crab pots! On the hook at Glover Bight/Tarpon Point around 3:30pm. Ready for eastbound run through the Caloosahtchie River and the trip to Lake Okeechobee.
3/12 - Got an early start, had good ride. I boarded "Journey" to help them with going through the locks. Joe & Janet did a great job on "Conched Out Too"- another 1st for them! Tied to the face docks at Moore Haven City Docks around 5:00pm.
3/13 - At first light we were ready for another lock and the trip across "Lake O". The weather could not have been any better! Lots of wildlife - alligators and birds of all kinds. We came into Stuart to one of our favorite places - Harbor Inn Marina & The Deck Restaurant. Had a great afternoon & night with Brooke, Aaron, Ruthie & Cindy.
3/14 - Had a rainy, misty morning leaving Stuart, but we arrived in the sunshine at Ft. Pierce! The gang at Harbortown had everything ready for us and were there to greet us and welcome us back. Joe & Janet didn't get any "unwind" time because, I had to get them to Vero Beach to pick up their rental car. We had a great time with them and look forward to future cruising with them. Needless to say, we had a great reunion with our "Harbortown Family".
To Date - 737 nautical miles for this trip
