Steinhatche to Tarpon Springs to Burnt Store

We left Steinhatche on November 11 at 6 AM (still dark) and made the run to Tarpon Springs. Started out beautifully with not much sea or wind but that changed after a couple hours. So for about 5-6 hours, we bounced around a bit-Bob steered from the bridge, I navigated from below. We had moved the GPS and computer down in the event the weather got worse. But, we made it to Tarpon Springs just at dark. Marina office was closed and we couldn't find our assigned slip so we just took an empty one. Naturally, when we were all tied down, the people from the next boat came back and told us we were in the wrong slip ! It was okay though, we stayed put until morning and then moved.
Sorry, no pictures as one of the people on board dropped the camera overboard. Even though Bob retrieved it, it was full of salt water. The card was salvaged and hopefully those pictures will be okay.
Since Monday was a holiday, we played tourist and went to the sponge museum and saw the movie on that industry. It was started in the early 1900's when some Greeks discovered that the Gulf of Mexico had large sponge beds which rivaled that of their home country. As a result, more Greeks immigrated to the area. Today, they supply sponges to retailers and wholesalers. Naturally, we bought some sponges since we are now experts on the subject.
Tarpon Springs is a town with lots of Greek music and food. Just walking down the street you could smell all the food. We had gyros (huge) and had to buy a sampler of their desserts which are rich with honey and nuts.
We left Tarpon Springs late morning after getting our temporary Florida registration. We planned to anchor near St. Petersburg which we did....Relaxing in the cockpit, that's when the camera went over as we were trying to do the timer thing..
Anyway, we are anxious to get to Burnt Store Marina. Tonight we'll anchor in Cape Haze, and make the last leg to our Florida home. This close, we're like horses running home to the barn. Should be there in the morning on the 15th. Yippee !!!
My next post will be when the pictures are salvaged and then when we leave again sometime in February.

Appalachicola Bay to Carrabelle

After passing through Lake Wimico, we soon reached Appalachicola and since it was still early in the day, we continued on to Carrabelle--about 30 miles. The first picture is of Appalachicola and we didn't think we'd be missing too much by by-passing this town.

As we got out into Appalachicola Bay, we were again greeted by dolphins....They swam along side the stern of the boat for miles ! Later in the bay, they were at the bow of the boat--4 and 5 at a time swimming just ahead. I got out on the bow and sang to them. They're supposed to like women's voices.

I liked this picture of the blow so included it here.

These guys were harvesting clams out in Appalachicola Bay.

Arriving in Carrabelle, we collected our mail and got a good report for crossing to Steinhatche which we'll do tomorrow. We'll leave before dawn for this 85 mile trip so that we can arrive in the daylight. That'll be on November 10, our 103 rd day of this trip. If all goes well, we'll leave the next day for Tarpon Springs (120 miles !) and be there 2 days so we can collect our Florida sojourner permit. From there we should be in Burnt Store Marina by the end of the week ! We're looking forward to taking looooong showers without having to worry about water !

To Lake Wimico

Leaving our anchorage on this leg, there would be little to no residences. As is was, it was several hours before we saw any signs of life...we were happy to see this shimper....there must be some other people around!

The real estate market is affected all over---the For Sale sign on this dock was barely readable !

The reflection was especially good on this picture, I thought
I would describe this section of the waterway as rugged and desolate. But the driftwood on the sides of it was pretty, if you were looking for some.....

I just liked this picture I took of the driftwood, but with the wake of the boat, it had an interesting effect.


Further down the waterway, this place was also for sale...the amenities looked interesting...

We didn't see many people moving...I think on the whole 6 hours or so, we saw one sailboat and 2 fishing boats as we neared Lake Wimico. Not much wildlife either.

Here is the White City harbor...not much action there either !

The waterway with a whole flock of swallows....I take back my earlier view of not much wildlife.

Finally, we reach Lake Wimico...very shallow and NO residences anywhere on the very big shoreline. A couple of fishing boats though.

Not too much farther to Appalachicola....!

Pensacola to Panama City

We left the Ft. Walton Yacht Basin on November 8 when the winds had subsided, but it was a brisk 40 degree in the morning ! We headed for an anchorage east of Panama City. Despite the chill in the air, it was nice to see the sandy beaches.

It was not uncommon to see abandoned boats as remnants of the recent hurricanes....



Here was a different kind of topography in the waterway.

Even the big boats did not escape being affected by the hurricane.

This one was way on shore and quite distant to the waterway.

In Panama City harbor there were different kinds of boats..ocean liners and this red one which appeared to be a cable laying boat. Cable was being wound from the dock on to the boat.

There were many of these raceboats apparantly testing out the equipment. The Blue Angels were practicing for their show out of Pensacola and we saw a lot of them practicing too but didn't get any pictures of them !

When we finally got to our anchorage, these dolphins greeted us and played around the boat while we were anchoring. We had seen several earlier in the day too...According the to locals, they are supposed to bring good luck to sailors.

Pensacola

We cross the border into Florida !
The Pensacola Lighthouse. We anchored in Sabine Bay...this water tower above the condos...
And palm trees...aahh

Mobile Bay

Getting to Mobile Bay, there was a dramatic change in scenery. From woods and remoteness, we now were seeing different ships. The sixth picture is of downtown Mobile with the city dock.

This goose was walking next to the dock where our boat was in Mobile.

The boat is a remnant of Hurricane Katrina...the owner said the water in the marina was 21 feet above normal....

After a couple days in Dog River Marina where we tended to laundry, oil change, grocery shopping, catching up on our mail, etc., we headed for Fairhope across the bay. This a pretty town with no high rises, lots of green space, quaint shops, which we explored in the marina courtesy car. The car was something else-sometimes, it would not turn off, another time the ignition just kept turning. But it did run....These pictures are the Mobile skyline as we were crossing the bay and sunset from Fairhope.

Other Mobile Bay sights were the dolphins...one of which jumped really high....of course most of the pictures were of where the dolphins WERE.....
We left Mobile Bay on November 5 and the scenery was now homes, beaches, marinas.....Just east of Mobile Bay is Lulu's Restaurant which is now said to be more upscale since moving to this new location. Lulu is Jimmy Buffett's sister.