MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

At 11:30 a.m. today we cruised into our beautiful Longboat Key Moorings and officially completed the Great Loop.  Yes, there were years in between start to finish but we covered all the miles so that's that!

It's kind of a bittersweet feeling to be here after all the planning and effort it took to get here; it feels unreal.  Like tomorrow morning we should get up and do 40-50 more miles.  Nope, we are just going to chill for awhile and enjoy this beautiful 80 degree weather.
We have our bikes and golf clubs so we are good to go.  There is a brand new Publix about 1/2 mile away and plenty of restaurants to dinghy to in Sarasota, just across the bay.

On the way in this morning the dolphins were very playful and we spotted some white pelicans.

 

 

 

 

 

Dave is busy washing the salt off of Blue Moon, adjusting the lines for the tides and talking to our new dock-mates.  We are going home in a few days for a month and then back at it mid-January.   Enjoy your holidays dear friends and family.  Over and out for now.

 

 

 



 

 

Here Comes the Sun

Monday, December 2, 2013

Yesterday morning Blue Moon was fueled up, pumped out and ready to go.  We had to hang around until noon to time our gulf crossing to get into Tarpon Springs without tangling up in crab pots in the dark.  While we were waiting we took a last bike ride around town and caught up on never ending boat chores.  At low tide I looked out and spotted this eagle on the shore.

 

 I took this a good sign of things to come.

 

 

Noon finally came and we set off with our buddy boat, Untide, Warren and Monica.  It was a near perfect day with winds of maybe 4 mph.  Soon as we got into the channel our dolphin buddies came to play.

 

 

I was quite proud of this photo.  They stayed with us for quite awhile.

 

We approached the East Pass about two hours later that put us into the Gulf of Mexico.  I was so relieved to see that it was pretty much flat.  Earlier in the day we had filed our float plan with the Browns and Karen had sent me some "hang in there girl, you can do this" type of  emails to reassure me.  Thanks Karen! 

 

We were pretty pumped up and on a sugar high from some excellent cookies that Monica had given us before we left.  Eventually the sun set and it was pretty spectacular.

 

 

 

 

I looked for the green flash but again, not this time.

 

Boating in the dark is like boating blind.  You can see the front of the bow in the glow of the navigation lights but that's it.  It was a very clear night and the stars put on a real show.  We settled in and kept our eyes set on the radar and we were very lucky that there was just a gentle rock of the boat in the near perfect crossing wave condition.

 

We took turns at watch and trying to nap.  The Captain can fall asleep on demand but I'm not so lucky.  I maybe got 2 hours of broken sleep all night.  The sleeping with one eye open style. 

 

There were 6 of us in our little gulf floatilla and it was comforting to hear the banter back and forth on the VHF radio between us and to look out and see their lights in the black of the night.  I kept the tv on to help keep us awake.  After a bit it was pretty clear that this crossing that I was so worried about was going to be a piece of cake. 

 

Still, I was very happy when the sun came up. 

 

Not spectacular but very welcoming.

 

Soon the shoreline appeared in front of us and before long we navigated through the narrow channel into Tarpon Springs to the Turtle Cove Marina.  They tried to stuff us into a too narrow dock.  Blue Moon is quite wide so they moved us to a larger dock.  3 other looper boats joined us here and we were all quite tired and happy when we met on land to congratulate ourselves.  Later we all went out for dinner together at a wonderful Greek restaurant.   It seems we have landed in Greece here as it has a rather large Greek community.  They fish and harvest sponges and prepare wonderful food. I visited the little chachkee shops while Dave did some boat chores.

 

Now its Tuesday morning and when I woke up I felt really great that the dreaded crossing is behind us, incident free and now I can relax!  We might leave this morning and head to Clearwater which is only 11 miles south of here.  We are only about 47 miles from crossing our wake in Longboat Key and completing the Great Loop.  Then we can switch out our white AGLCA flag for a gold one which signifies completion of the loop.  We are still a long way from Pt. Breeze and still undecided about whether to leave the boat down south for a season or two but will have to figure that out pretty soon.

 

Last winter we had this map made to celebrate our big adventure. It is a wood carving of the route we took and some of the special places we stopped. Someday when all this is over we will take it out of the boat and hang it in our home to have a nice memory of the big trip.

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



Dark Side of the Moon

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Today is the day I have been dreading for some time.  The overnight Gulf crossing.  We've been waiting out the weather here in Apalachicola and according to all sources, today is the day to go.

Dave has been busy getting the boat as ready as one can but he said the most important detail was to prepare me:

.

 

Smart ass!

 

There are at least a dozen of us making the crossing which gives me that comforting false sense of security that I need!  Our new Kiwi (New Zealanders) friends, Monica and Warren, are making the crossing with us.  We have enjoyed getting to know them the last few days. 

 

We will shove off around noon so we can arrive in Tarpon Springs around 10:00 a.m at high tide.  It will also let us pick our way thru the hundreds of crab pots that will start to appear about 25-30 miles offshore with the sun in our eyes.  You don't want to tangle up in a crab pot and get your props all bungled up.



We filed our float plan with John and Karen and they will notify the Coast Guard, Navy, Homeland Security and the Pentagon if they don't hear from us tomorrow morning!

Talk to you all then.

Funky Town

Thanksgiving
November 28, 2013

Apalachicola is a little funky gem.  It's really growing on us.  It's like all the old Florida fantasies you had before you actually went to Florida and those ideals were dashed by touristy, fabricated, fake glitzy cities.

It's frozen in time here; about 1948 I'd say.  Shrimping and oysters are the big deal  and it's charming without being manicured.  Way laid back but not red neck and just a touch of sophistication thrown in with the cafes and artsy shops.  There are many deep south landmark homes being renovated and they are doing a great job in preserving the old south feel. 

After we face-timed the grandkids today we took a little bike ride around town.

Shrimp boats

 

How do they keep those nets untangled?

 

 

Picking cotton.

 

 

Great nautical junk store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing net Christmas tree.

There is a waterfront festival here starting tomorrow and Santa is arriving by shrimp boat.

 

Oyster restaurants everywhere.

 

 

Not quite as interesting as the rice museum in Pawleys'  Island was.

 

We made a traditional turkey dinner on the boat and then I wrote down things I am thankful for.  I filled up three pages and could have kept going.  We miss everyone at home and hope you all had a wonderful, peaceful day.

 

 



Riding the Storm Out

Tuesday, November 26, 2103

After checking and re-checking the dismal weather forecast yesterday we made the decision to leave Panama City and get to Apalachicola before we got stuck in Panama City and screwed up our quest to get to the leaving point of Carrabelle for the impending Gulf  crossing.  The bad thing was Steve's plane wasn't leaving for home until today from Panama City.  So we abandoned our child and left!  We knew this might happen when he decided to come visit us but we hoped it wouldn't come to that!  Sorry Steve!  The good news is that he got out of  town just fine this morning and beat the big bad storm that is wreaking havoc with Thanksgiving travel; especially up the East coast. 

We arrived in Apalachicola near dark and tried to find the so-called marina.  It's really not a marina but a wall to tie up to in front of shrimp boats.  At least there is power and water.  This little town is border line quaint and not-so-quaint.  There is a shrimp processing plant next to us but also a cute little bistro where we had breakfast.  Soon as the weather breaks we are going to ride our bikes around town and look for a good dinner place.  Supposedly this where the good oysters are.  Too bad for us we haven't learned to appreciate oysters.  Might try them.  Maybe if I don't look at them?

The night was pretty roly poly but Dave had secured the boat with two spring lines and all the fenders we have.  This morning the winds were really fierce and this is what we saw out our  window.

Mean looking white caps.

 

 

Shrimp boats

 

So, with the continuing lousy weather report it looks like it might be Thanksgiving in Apalachicola this year.  Hopefully some other loopers are around; we just have not had a chance to find them yet.  The Browns were thinking of joining us on the boat for Thanksgiving but they are better off going 4 wheelin' in West Virginia  again this year.  Will miss doing that.  It's become a tradition with us!

 

It's only 18 miles to Carrabelle but with such high winds that could be two hours of hell.  So we will just ride the storm out here.  They are predicting up to a foot of snow at home in the next few days.  Hope they are wrong.  Stay safe everyone.

 

Ramble On

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Despite 20 plus m.p.h. winds we headed out into the choppy Cosawachee Bay onto Panama City this morning.  Roughest water since Lake Michigan.  After an hour or so of the rough stuff we entered a tranquil canal with pretty scenery and spotted our first bald eagle in awhile.  Yesterday we spent the day walking around the Sandestin  Baytowne Marina Complex.  Huge condo/marina village  with many restaurants, a white sand beach, golf, ice skating rink!, shops, etc. etc.  We had a Mexican lunch and enjoyed our time there. 

 

There were many tree houses.

 

 

The sand is like white sugar and squeaks when you walk on it.

 

 

So now we are docked at Panama City Marina.  We had a tricky docking situation with the wind not in our favor and the dockhand did an exceptional job assisting us in.  I am thrilled when there is a competent person to throw a line to when we arrive somewhere. 

 

Dave and Steve are watching football on the boat.  Such a luxury.  Most places are closed in the city, which is in walking distance so we will just chill on the boat until tomorrow.  It's pretty raw outside anyway.  We will stay here until Tuesday morning when Steve flies home and we will continue on to Apalachicola.   Seems there is no rush to get to Carabelle, where will do the big Gulf crossing to Tarpon Springs because there is a big bad weather event going on and there are 11 footers out in the Gulf.  No thank you.  We will WAIT until it is right to go.  So, looks like Thanksgiving on the boat.  I bought the stuff to make a traditional dinner and it will be kind of fun doing it up on the boat.  Two years ago we went 4 wheelin' in WVA with the Browns for Thanksgiving and stayed in a little cabin with only a  microwave.    Karen and I manage to turn out a complete Thanksgiving meal. We cooked a turkey in a trash can over the fire.  Look it up on u-tube.  It was great!  At least I have a convection oven on the boat so we won't have to resort to such drastic measures this time!

 

But, I am rambling on so over and out for now.

 

All Along the Watchtower

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Thursday the welders and the direct tv installer wrapped up their work and we left Dog River about 1:30.  It is pretty cool to have tv on the boat and the welders did a great job on the rails.  The crews work at  a slow southern pace and that was making the Captain a bit edgy but they got the work done and we were outa' there.  Mobile Bay was kind to us even though it was a gray day again.  We hustled to the next marina where Jimmy Buffet's sister has a place called Lulu's.

Along the way we saw oil rigs and fishing boats.

 

 

Such a precarious ecological pairing.

 

Not sure what this is?

 

We arrived a bit after dark which is always an adventure but we were fine and had a nice dinner at Lulu's (the typical, overblown touristy thing again) and watched the final episode of Breaking Bad.  

Blue Moon left at daybreak because we were excited to get to Pensacola where Steve was due to come aboard.  Along the way we left Alabama and entered Florida waters!  YAAAY!

 

 

White sand, shoals and tides.

 

 The Palafox Marina in Pensacola let us tie up for a few hours and wait for him.  We took the time to wash the salt water off the boat.  Ugh, salt water again.

Steve arrived and we took off for an anchorage for the night.  It was only a few miles away and in a cove surrounded by houses and condos.  A real urban anchorage.  Some homeowner's do not appreciate boats anchoring out in front of their house.  There have been issues in Florida where boats moor outside out expensive houses for weeks on end.  They get chased out.  I mean, where do they dump their holding tanks!  Yuck.

Dave and I like it when a boat moors out in front of our cottage.  No one has abused the priviledge so far and just stay a day or two.

Steve and Dave took the dinghy ashore and had a beer at a restaurant and I stayed aboard and enjoyed the quiet and actually read a little.  If anyone knows my Dave you know he gets antsy when I stick my face in a book so I have to sneak and read!  Ah, my type A honey :)

This morning we left our anchorage and carefully picked our way through shoals back out to the main channel.  It was still low tide and a bit of an obstacle course. 

Once we hit the main channel we were entertained by 3 dolphins playing in our wake.  Steve and Dave got some great video.  Check out Facebook to see it.  I don't know how to add video to this blog.  We are not sure why they do it but sure love having them tag along and jump for us.

We passed this big watchtower.

 

Maybe a restaurant up top but not sure.

 

 

So now we are heading for Destin and a big marina complex with shops and bars.  It's still a gray day out but we are so happy that Steve is here with us!

 

 

USS ALABAMA

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

We are still at Dog River Marina in Mobile while they are working on the boat today.  Hopefully things will get wrapped up and we can be on our way tomorrow.  There is beautiful boating weather going on the last couple days and we are stuck here.  So yesterday we made the best of it and rented a car and drove to a sweet little town across the bay, Fairhope, Alabama.  Just adorable and very upscale.  Lots of shops and cafes and I got my boutique fix and actually did a little Christmas shopping.  Later we went to visit the USS Alabama war ship that served in World War II.  It was my perfect day!  Shopping and WWII history.  Thanks Dave!

Dave thought he was so funny when he said he was taking his battleship to see a battleship so I pointed these guns at him. 

This ship served briefly in the North Atlantic where the Nazis wreaked havoc on supply ships making the run to Britain.  Later it served in the Pacific.  I wonder if my Uncle Pete was on this ship?  He served in the Pacific and I still have some souveniers that he gave to my Granny.  Little priced possessions from a horrible time. 

We tried the flight simulator and also went inside a submarine.  Can't imagine being inside that sub for months on end with all the smoking and body odor going on.  Not wonderful conditions BUT they got the job done.

Great news today!  Steve is coming to join the journey for a few days.  He will jump aboard in Pensacola and disembark in Panama City.  He has always wanted to see the Florida Panhandle so what better way?  We are thrilled that he is coming.  I am hoping he can coach his Dad on the seemingly difficult skill of fishing!  Also, Steve is a wonderful chef so that will give me a break!

Grandma talk alert:
Last night we received a little video from Lili singing her Thanksgiving song.  So cute!  She is getting so big.  I was shopping for her and Carmen recently and got all teary eyed in the store because they are growing into little girls sizes (6) now.  Another sign of how quick the time flies with children.  I recently read a book to Carmen called "If I could keep you little".
If only.

Goin' Mobile

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Yesterday we left our quiet little anchorage on the river and headed to Mobile, Alabama.  Another huge milestone for us on this trip.  I will miss the tranquility of the rivers and the no worry about big waves for sure.  Kentucky Lake and the trip to Chattanooga were awesome.

Entering Mobile Bay, the landscape reminded me of industrial south Chicago shipyards.

 

 

 

 

 

Once outside the shipyards the bay opened up and it's been awhile since we've been in big water.  It took  a minute to acclimate ourselves to reading the chart.  It is very shallow outside the channel so no screw ups allowed here.

 

So, Blue Moon is in salt water and tides.  Have to pay attention to tide charts again.  While in France last fall we saw what they do about the tides there.  They don't worry about it!

 

 

 

 

We saw a Forrest Gump fishing boat.  First of many I'm sure.

 

 

Now we are at an arm pit of a marina on the Dog River.  It ain't pretty but this is where the marine welder and the satellite tv installer likes to work so here we are until Tuesday at least.

 

I needed absolutely nothing from the store but I took the courtesy car for awhile to where else?  Walmart.  Southern Alabama Walmart!  Now there's a real experience.

 

Dave is doing little repair/maintenance things on the boat and I'm actually going to read some later.

 

Nothing exciting going on but nice to be where it's 70 degrees again.  We have the Florida panhandle coming up after this and I'm looking forward to that.  Not so much looking forward to the long night crossing that must be done in a few days from Carabelle  to Tarpon Springs.  More about that when the time comes.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



Ode to Billie Joe

Friday, Nov. 15, 2013

Leaving the snow behind us, we headed back to Demopolis, Alabama on Tuesday and our 18 hour drive went well.  Once back I washed down the boat while Dave made the 2 hour round trip to Meridian, Mississippi airport to return the rental car.  Wednesday morning we woke up to slippery frost on the boat.

6 boats left for lock #77 of this magical mystery tour.  Our goal for the day being Bobby's Fish Camp, about 80 miles south.  It turned out to be a day of heavy tow traffic as you can see on this photo of the chart plotter.  At one point there were 5 tows/barges maneuvering the sharp bend of the TomBigee in our path.

 

Those little triangles are tows/barges.

 

 

 It gets a bit tense when we have to pass between one coming and one going!

 

 

 

Blue Moon arrived at Bobby's Fish Camp just before dark.  Captain Dave, the legendary docking master that he is, parallel parked the boat between two other boats with only inches to spare.  Bobby's Fish Camp is a legend among loopers and the only marina between Demopolis and Mobile (about 216 miles) so it's the only game in town.  It's a few notches up the scale as compared to Hoppie's on the Mississippi and totally charming in a deep Alabama hillbilly, no frills, kinda' way.

 

 

 

 

 

It's in Choctaw County where Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Talahatchee Bridge!

 

 

Flip Flop Tree

 

 

 

 

 

Donna, the proprietor, made us a wonderful catfish dinner.  Dave was asking her how they catch the catfish and she said they use commercial rearing ponds or noodling!  She said she prefers noodlin'.  She was proud to show us that she still has all her fingers!

 

 

 

After some key lime pie we went back to the boat and got out the night scope to look for gators.  It didn't take long to spot one.  Add gators to the list of critters on this trip!

 

This morning we woke up to a gray rainy day but no fog so we got an early start to THE LAST LOCK! 

 

 

Happy me!

 

  

 This  last leg of river travel before Mobile Bay meandered from Bobby's Fish Camp. 

 

 

 

We are now in a very secluded anchorage where the Alabama River meets the TomBigbee River.  A steady but relatively warm rain has continued and the forest around the river is dead silent, soaked and ready to swallow Blue Moon for the night.  Both bow and stern anchors are mud set in nearly 20' feet of water so we're not going anywhere and should have a restful night.

 

Tomorrow the last of our river travel and beginning of tides, salt water and hopefully sunshine.

 

 





 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a difference a day makes.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Thursday, Halloween night, we stayed in a marina that was  back off the main channel.  After a very long day of nasty weather and wind and me whining about how much I am tired of locks, we had to weave through a flooded forest as you can see in the pictures.

 a

 

 

It was pretty creepy and I was thinking it was the perfect setting for a Halloween movie  on Halloween night.  The unsuspecting tired boaters, it's near dark, no where else to go and they come upon a ramshackle psycho like marina in a swamp.  Freddy Krueger did not show up however; it was a little mom and pop marina.  My favorite kind.  It was a bit of a chore tieing up as the wind was still howling and pushing us away from the dock.  Blue Moon was secure and I was happy to be attached to a dock and cleats as the wind continued to blow all night.

 

A glorious, sunny, wind free morning greeted us.  With 3 locks to get through I was already dreading the day.  BUT sometimes you get lucky.   For as lousy as the day was before, this day was a stroll through the park. We arrived at lock #1 with a green light and doors open.  That's unheard of!  Sunshine, green lights and NO barges make for a good day.  The rest of the day went very well and the scenery was gorgeous too.  I took the helm for about  2 hours while Dave did some waxing.  We anchored in a little cove with four other boats.  Looopers of course.  I love to have company when anchoring out.  It was kind of funny because on shore it looked like the cast of Duck Dynasty was camping out.  They made sure we could hear their country and western music.  But hey, we are in Alabama after all. 

 

 

 

 

One Alabama negative.  They still allow smoking in bars and restaurants. That's not too surprising but get with it Alabama!!

 

It was WWII  movie night on the boat.  Dave patiently watched "The Silver Fleet" with me.  A 1943 European propaganda film set during the occupation of Holland.  The owner of a ship yard pretends to be a Nazi collaborator but is actually working for the resistance.  (I SO would have been a member of the resistance!) He sabotages 2 submarines he has been ordered to build for them.  It is rousing and patriotic and black and white.  I love this stuff.  Thanks honey for indulging me.

 

I've said many times I like to anchor with other boats but what I don't like is when their boat becomes unattached during the night and touches my boat!  A Sundancer near us did just that.  He was free floating and touched us and another boat.  He woke up and secured his boat.  No damage done.  First time that has ever happened.  You are at the mercy of the skills, or lack of, of other boaters out here.

 

All five of us boats locked through the one lock of the day.  Saturday's destination was Demopolis, Alabama.  On the way we saw many wild hog hunters on the shore.  One group had a big ugly pig on the shore but I couldn't get a good picture.  We also passed these beautiful chalk cliffs.  Gorgeous colors.  The White Cliffs of Epes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made it to Demopolis Alabama where Blue Moon is going to stay  while we go home for a week. This time a 19 hour drive.   When we get back the next chapter of the trip is the journey to Mobile Bay and then  our homeport in Longbpoat Key.  Once we get to Longboat Key we will officially cross our wake and to me that counts as completing the Great Loop.  True, we did it in segments and  many years apart but so what!! I am ordering the gold ALGCA flag today that signifies completion of the loop.

 

We did the big trip into Walmart yesterday.  You can't imagine what a big deal that is!  We had dinner at the little restaurant nearby; they picked us up.  Fried green tomatoes were on the menu.  I love the south.

 

So today will be spent just chillin' at the marina.  We can always clean and wax something and then do it again.  Tomorrow a couple who live here on their boat are taking us into Meridian, Mississippi, about 60 miles away, where we can get our rental car and head home.  Miss my little Carmen so much it hurts!