| CHAPTER 10 Carrabelle to Punta Gorda Page 1 |
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THE CROSSING!
On December 3, Golden Lily and crew, along with Highlander, Freedom's
Turn, Gulf Cart, and Baby Grand crossed the Gulf, an 80 mile trip
across to Steinhatchee, FL. The forecast was 2-4 waves,and they were
just that, however, there were 5 footers mixed in as well. It started
out 1-2 and started to build with white caps as we reached 20 miles
weather. By the time we reached the middle of our trip, the wind was
blowing over 30 MPH. At least the waves were off our bow and we
didn't roll from a beam sea. We didn't take much water on our
windshield and Golden Lily rode the waves perfectly.
Suddenly Freedom's Turn called in on the radio and announced, "Hey,
guys, I think it's getting a bit rough out here!" I'm glad we had our
buddy boats to talk to which made the time go by faster.
It was hard to move about on the boat, but Jim made it to the head. I
tried, but knew I'd be seasick if I went below, so I won't tell you about
how I used "the head"! We arrived at Steinhatchee in time to go up the
river to the marina with enough water and before it got dark. Crossing
the Gulf was an experience!
On December 3, Golden Lily and crew, along with Highlander, Freedom's
Turn, Gulf Cart, and Baby Grand crossed the Gulf, an 80 mile trip
across to Steinhatchee, FL. The forecast was 2-4 waves,and they were
just that, however, there were 5 footers mixed in as well. It started
out 1-2 and started to build with white caps as we reached 20 miles
weather. By the time we reached the middle of our trip, the wind was
blowing over 30 MPH. At least the waves were off our bow and we
didn't roll from a beam sea. We didn't take much water on our
windshield and Golden Lily rode the waves perfectly.
Suddenly Freedom's Turn called in on the radio and announced, "Hey,
guys, I think it's getting a bit rough out here!" I'm glad we had our
buddy boats to talk to which made the time go by faster.
It was hard to move about on the boat, but Jim made it to the head. I
tried, but knew I'd be seasick if I went below, so I won't tell you about
how I used "the head"! We arrived at Steinhatchee in time to go up the
river to the marina with enough water and before it got dark. Crossing
the Gulf was an experience!
| CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL PICTURES TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS. |
< The sunrise as we left Apalachicola Bay
The entrance to Steinhatchee>
The entrance to Steinhatchee>
DECEMBER 4 Day in Steinhatchee
At 0630 we had to make a decision on whether to leave or stay. The forecast was winds 10-15 from
the south east, then switching from the south but decreasing to 10 MPH. The office manager gave us
local advice that this would be similar to the ride we had yesterday and could build to 5-6 feet. Two
boats left at 0700, but Golden Lily, Highlander, and Baby Grand decided not to chance it. Turns out at
1400 after checking the weather, south of us the seas were 2 feet!!!! It's hard to tell in this very
protected river or to even trust NOAA. Sometimes local knowledge is best. After the time we had
yesterday, I think we all wanted a rest up day. It's hard to pass up a good weather window.
We did have a good day here. Highlander needed fuel, so he had to take the boat a mile up the river.
Jim got our propane tank filled, and we took the marina's golf cart to the grocery store right on the
local roads. We all met up at the Tiki bar for some looper social time, and the "Captains" had a
meeting to go over the route to Crystal River tomorrow.
At 0630 we had to make a decision on whether to leave or stay. The forecast was winds 10-15 from
the south east, then switching from the south but decreasing to 10 MPH. The office manager gave us
local advice that this would be similar to the ride we had yesterday and could build to 5-6 feet. Two
boats left at 0700, but Golden Lily, Highlander, and Baby Grand decided not to chance it. Turns out at
1400 after checking the weather, south of us the seas were 2 feet!!!! It's hard to tell in this very
protected river or to even trust NOAA. Sometimes local knowledge is best. After the time we had
yesterday, I think we all wanted a rest up day. It's hard to pass up a good weather window.
We did have a good day here. Highlander needed fuel, so he had to take the boat a mile up the river.
Jim got our propane tank filled, and we took the marina's golf cart to the grocery store right on the
local roads. We all met up at the Tiki bar for some looper social time, and the "Captains" had a
meeting to go over the route to Crystal River tomorrow.
< Here we are going shopping in
the golf cart!
Channel at Steinhatchee
looking west >
the golf cart!
Channel at Steinhatchee
looking west >
DECEMBER 5 A Second Day in Steinhatchee
The weather forecast has now changed, and a cold front is moving in from the northwest. We can see
the weather screen. It's now a huge front, but there is now a small craft caution out, and the seas a
projected to be 3-4 with winds 15-20 MPH. The unfortunate part is that it gets worse for the next 5
days where the seas will be 4-6 from where we are. Further south, the seas are 2 feet and bays
smooth. Oh well! We may be here for awhile! At least we have the golf cart and can drive around
locally, and we have our loopers friends along with us. I guess I can set up our Christmas tree which I
bought at Walmart to make things look more like Christmas. It's strange seeing palm trees!
The weather forecast has now changed, and a cold front is moving in from the northwest. We can see
the weather screen. It's now a huge front, but there is now a small craft caution out, and the seas a
projected to be 3-4 with winds 15-20 MPH. The unfortunate part is that it gets worse for the next 5
days where the seas will be 4-6 from where we are. Further south, the seas are 2 feet and bays
smooth. Oh well! We may be here for awhile! At least we have the golf cart and can drive around
locally, and we have our loopers friends along with us. I guess I can set up our Christmas tree which I
bought at Walmart to make things look more like Christmas. It's strange seeing palm trees!
< Our Sirius weather map as of 8:00 AM. The green is the front
moving to the southeast and over the water we would have
traveled today. If we could have pushed the boat faster, we
MIGHT have made it the 92 miles, but we decided not to take
the risk.
The sunrise this morning. Red skies...sailors take warning. I
wonder it that's true. We shall see! >
moving to the southeast and over the water we would have
traveled today. If we could have pushed the boat faster, we
MIGHT have made it the 92 miles, but we decided not to take
the risk.
The sunrise this morning. Red skies...sailors take warning. I
wonder it that's true. We shall see! >
DECEMBER 6
Our trip today was 92 miles and 12 hours - a very LONG day, and we came into Crystal River just at
dark at low tide and low water. The two boats in front of us gave us readings for the depth as we
entered the channel and river...the lowest was .8 feet. Before we came into the channel, Boat US
heard us on the radio, and told us we would only have 3 feet of water coming in. He suggested we anchor
until 8:00 PM and wait for high tide, or to north to an anchorage for the night. Of course, I freaked out
on this one! We waited 1 hour bobbing in front of the first channel marker until Baby Grand and
Highlander caught up. they let the way and gave readings at the buoys. We had enough water to get
through. The only good part was that the forecast was wrong again. The forecast was 2-4 foot waves,
and they were 1-2, and very pleasant and beautiful ride until we had to go 30 miles back into land to
get into the marina in very shallow water. Tomorrow is supposed to be 3-5, and not sure if we will go.
However, if we do stay, we will try to get a slip up the river 2 miles in a better location. This marina,
although closer to the Gulf, is very isolated and desolate, 7 miles from town. It would have been hard to
go those extra 2 miles in the dark, so at least we had a place to tie up.
DECEMBER 7 - Don't ask! We are still sitting in the mud at the marina.
DECEMBER 8 - We pushed Golden Lily out of the mud with the help of Charlie and Jeanette and 2 of
the workers at the marina, however, the outer channel that leads to the main channel in the river was
still shallow, and Highlander got stuck. By the time Boat US came, it was too late to get to Tarpon
Springs, so we headed up the river to Pete's Pier. At least we had water under us, only .4 inches at low
tide, but we floated.
DECEMBER 9 - We made it to Tarpon Springs. The seas were 2-3 swells and a pleasant ride, but with
many crab pots. Our eyes are tired from watching. We went out to dinner at a Greek restaurant with 4
other looper boats. The docks are not good here - 5 foot short and skinny finger piers and very hard to
get Lily off. We want to get to Clearwater tomorrow, only 25 miles along the coast, but weather is
moving in. We may be able to make it if we leave early, or we may have to find a slip across the way
where they have floating docks since the next 4 days the weather will be getting worse.
DECEMBER 10 - It was an extremely windy morning when we woke up, but 3 boats were leaving to go
south, so we decided it was best to get going because the finger docks were only 12 inches and the tide
so extreme, it was difficult for us as well as Lily to get on and off. The weather is going to be stormy
until Friday, and although the marina was very protected, it would have been a long 4 days with the dock
issue. The short open run we had to the intracoastal "protected" area which is still very choppy, was only
about 15 miles, and the entire trip 25. It's beautiful here in Clearwater, and the beach is across the
street, however, the wind coming from the southeast is rocking and rolling the boats terribly. I was able
to handle 4 and 5 foot seas on the Gulf crossing, but rolling tied up is a whole different feeling. I was
trying to clean up the inside of the boat, and feeling queasy. We hope the wind direction changes! We
had lunch at this cafe which is part of the marina, and I made the mistake, not thinking the boat would
roll so much, by having a Reuben sandwich...not good on my stomach right now. The one thing I find with
this trip is that you want to move on, but there is always something that challenges you: Lake Michigan
waves, current and locks and barges on the rivers, super waves on the Gulf, exposed to the wind marinas
in Florida with short finger piers, making it hard to tie up and get on and off. But we are running the air
conditioner and wearing shorts, so that's something good!
DECEMBER 11 - It was a terrible night for sleeping. I had to sleep on the couch since the bow was
rocking and popping up and down. The waves were 3 feet at the marina and the winds reached 30+ MPH.
It poured and finally cleared up by noon and winds lightened enough for us to drop the dinghy. It got
picked up by the dealer to get repaired. We watched the sunset at the beach, stopped at CVS, and now
back on the boat with the winds increasing, going up to 25+ tonight - very scary and uncomfortable. At
least they are from the south west with not much fetch, but still it's still bouncy.
Our trip today was 92 miles and 12 hours - a very LONG day, and we came into Crystal River just at
dark at low tide and low water. The two boats in front of us gave us readings for the depth as we
entered the channel and river...the lowest was .8 feet. Before we came into the channel, Boat US
heard us on the radio, and told us we would only have 3 feet of water coming in. He suggested we anchor
until 8:00 PM and wait for high tide, or to north to an anchorage for the night. Of course, I freaked out
on this one! We waited 1 hour bobbing in front of the first channel marker until Baby Grand and
Highlander caught up. they let the way and gave readings at the buoys. We had enough water to get
through. The only good part was that the forecast was wrong again. The forecast was 2-4 foot waves,
and they were 1-2, and very pleasant and beautiful ride until we had to go 30 miles back into land to
get into the marina in very shallow water. Tomorrow is supposed to be 3-5, and not sure if we will go.
However, if we do stay, we will try to get a slip up the river 2 miles in a better location. This marina,
although closer to the Gulf, is very isolated and desolate, 7 miles from town. It would have been hard to
go those extra 2 miles in the dark, so at least we had a place to tie up.
DECEMBER 7 - Don't ask! We are still sitting in the mud at the marina.
DECEMBER 8 - We pushed Golden Lily out of the mud with the help of Charlie and Jeanette and 2 of
the workers at the marina, however, the outer channel that leads to the main channel in the river was
still shallow, and Highlander got stuck. By the time Boat US came, it was too late to get to Tarpon
Springs, so we headed up the river to Pete's Pier. At least we had water under us, only .4 inches at low
tide, but we floated.
DECEMBER 9 - We made it to Tarpon Springs. The seas were 2-3 swells and a pleasant ride, but with
many crab pots. Our eyes are tired from watching. We went out to dinner at a Greek restaurant with 4
other looper boats. The docks are not good here - 5 foot short and skinny finger piers and very hard to
get Lily off. We want to get to Clearwater tomorrow, only 25 miles along the coast, but weather is
moving in. We may be able to make it if we leave early, or we may have to find a slip across the way
where they have floating docks since the next 4 days the weather will be getting worse.
DECEMBER 10 - It was an extremely windy morning when we woke up, but 3 boats were leaving to go
south, so we decided it was best to get going because the finger docks were only 12 inches and the tide
so extreme, it was difficult for us as well as Lily to get on and off. The weather is going to be stormy
until Friday, and although the marina was very protected, it would have been a long 4 days with the dock
issue. The short open run we had to the intracoastal "protected" area which is still very choppy, was only
about 15 miles, and the entire trip 25. It's beautiful here in Clearwater, and the beach is across the
street, however, the wind coming from the southeast is rocking and rolling the boats terribly. I was able
to handle 4 and 5 foot seas on the Gulf crossing, but rolling tied up is a whole different feeling. I was
trying to clean up the inside of the boat, and feeling queasy. We hope the wind direction changes! We
had lunch at this cafe which is part of the marina, and I made the mistake, not thinking the boat would
roll so much, by having a Reuben sandwich...not good on my stomach right now. The one thing I find with
this trip is that you want to move on, but there is always something that challenges you: Lake Michigan
waves, current and locks and barges on the rivers, super waves on the Gulf, exposed to the wind marinas
in Florida with short finger piers, making it hard to tie up and get on and off. But we are running the air
conditioner and wearing shorts, so that's something good!
DECEMBER 11 - It was a terrible night for sleeping. I had to sleep on the couch since the bow was
rocking and popping up and down. The waves were 3 feet at the marina and the winds reached 30+ MPH.
It poured and finally cleared up by noon and winds lightened enough for us to drop the dinghy. It got
picked up by the dealer to get repaired. We watched the sunset at the beach, stopped at CVS, and now
back on the boat with the winds increasing, going up to 25+ tonight - very scary and uncomfortable. At
least they are from the south west with not much fetch, but still it's still bouncy.
We passed these boats on our port side> |
Our weather screen this morning and in
the background dark clouds, water, and
rain.
the background dark clouds, water, and
rain.