| CHAPTER 9 Mobile Bay to Carrabelle Page 2 |
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NOVEMBER 27 - Thanksgiving Day!
Yesterday we caught up on laundry, and Jim picked up a rental car late in
the afternoon. We took a ride along the main street of Panama City
Beach and had dinner at a pizza restaurant. For Thanksgiving we had
dinner at the Marriott Hotel here at Bay Point. The price was right:
$18.95 each. Of course we had turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed
potatoes and gravy, but the added items on the buffet were
unbelievable...from salads, gigantic shrimp, soup, vegetables, and
desserts. We took a walk on the pier that extended out at least a
quarter mile to beautiful white beach. The day was in the 70's, not what
we are used to in New England for Thanksgiving!
Yesterday we caught up on laundry, and Jim picked up a rental car late in
the afternoon. We took a ride along the main street of Panama City
Beach and had dinner at a pizza restaurant. For Thanksgiving we had
dinner at the Marriott Hotel here at Bay Point. The price was right:
$18.95 each. Of course we had turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed
potatoes and gravy, but the added items on the buffet were
unbelievable...from salads, gigantic shrimp, soup, vegetables, and
desserts. We took a walk on the pier that extended out at least a
quarter mile to beautiful white beach. The day was in the 70's, not what
we are used to in New England for Thanksgiving!
| CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS. |
The Buffet Jim, Charlie, Jeannette, Barb Fountain view from our table. Outside the dining room
| Pictures taken just outside the dining room at the Marriott. |
| Scenes of our walk along the boardwalk: Hotel, white heron, and sandy white beach which overlooks the channel we traveled as we came into the bay. |
NOVEMBER 28
We are now in Port St. Joe, FL, 43 miles from Bay Point, Panama City. The forecast was 60% chance
of rain and thunderstorms today. It rained for 15 minutes early in the morning, and the skies at wake-
up were nasty looking, however, it never did rain and the sun came out. The front managed to stay well
north of us, and we were very lucky. Travel on the East Bay had a moderate chop, but within an hour,
the channel narrowed and then we were in the straight "cut" through the land. We had to take a right
turn into another canal to Port St. Joe Bay and the marina. This bay is VERY open, and I would not
want to be out on it in strong winds. I'm sure the waves could build to 6 feet or more very easily. The
fixed docks here are much lower than we are used to, and at high tide, our "doggie" ramp is very steep
for Lily. It's even hard for us to climb over the side of the boat. We may wind up trying to use her
K-9 grass mat which she does not like. There are also sand burrs all over the grass which stick in her
paws. The only place to walk her is on the stones in the parking lot. It is a nice marina, though, and we
had dinner at the oyster bar right at the dock. Their special was oysters on the half shell...2 dozen
for the price of 1, so we each had 24 oysters...YUM!!! We are eating very well on this trip!
Our bow thruster sheer pin broke again today as we left the dock. This is the 4th time it has happened
since we left on the trip. Our new sheer pins are much longer, so maybe the company realized the ones
they were sending weren't the right ones.
The highlight today was I finally got pictures of the dolphins swimming next to our boat. They spent
more time today swimming along with us and jumping out of the water to show off. I was lucky to have
timed it all right today and got into their swimming and jumping pattern.
We are now in Port St. Joe, FL, 43 miles from Bay Point, Panama City. The forecast was 60% chance
of rain and thunderstorms today. It rained for 15 minutes early in the morning, and the skies at wake-
up were nasty looking, however, it never did rain and the sun came out. The front managed to stay well
north of us, and we were very lucky. Travel on the East Bay had a moderate chop, but within an hour,
the channel narrowed and then we were in the straight "cut" through the land. We had to take a right
turn into another canal to Port St. Joe Bay and the marina. This bay is VERY open, and I would not
want to be out on it in strong winds. I'm sure the waves could build to 6 feet or more very easily. The
fixed docks here are much lower than we are used to, and at high tide, our "doggie" ramp is very steep
for Lily. It's even hard for us to climb over the side of the boat. We may wind up trying to use her
K-9 grass mat which she does not like. There are also sand burrs all over the grass which stick in her
paws. The only place to walk her is on the stones in the parking lot. It is a nice marina, though, and we
had dinner at the oyster bar right at the dock. Their special was oysters on the half shell...2 dozen
for the price of 1, so we each had 24 oysters...YUM!!! We are eating very well on this trip!
Our bow thruster sheer pin broke again today as we left the dock. This is the 4th time it has happened
since we left on the trip. Our new sheer pins are much longer, so maybe the company realized the ones
they were sending weren't the right ones.
The highlight today was I finally got pictures of the dolphins swimming next to our boat. They spent
more time today swimming along with us and jumping out of the water to show off. I was lucky to have
timed it all right today and got into their swimming and jumping pattern.
| Here are the dolphins swimming next to our boat. They are amazing! |
NOVEMBER 29
The wind was supposed to pick up to 20+ MPH, so we decided to beat the rain forecast and leave Port
St. Joe. Although the marina was in a well protected man-made harbor, the fetch on this extremely
large bay could push waves inside and roll, as we did last night. Good thing Jim changed the sheer pin
last night, so all we and Highlander had to do was pick up some fuel and pump out. We finally got
underway around 1130. All the travel was in the canal except for a small bay which turned out to be a
little choppy, but windy. The channel was VERY narrow with not water to speak of if you went on the
other side of any of the buoys.
We arrived at Scipio Creek Marina in the pouring rain and docked right in front of the restaurant. We
are tied right on the creek, but it is much more sheltered than the marina from yesterday. Jeannette
and Charlie came over for dinner. I had made this new dish (I should remember not to try new dinners
when company comes), and it was just ok, but needed more flavor. It sounded good: bite size chicken,
mozzarella cheese, Stove Top dressing mixed with tomatoes/garlic/basil, all layers and baked.
Jeannette brought over mousse desserts.
DECEMBER 2 - We are in Carrabelle!
Yesterday, Dec. 1, turned out to be a sunny but very windy day, and not a good day to even be on the
protected waters, so we stayed tied up at Scipio's. We all walked into town, had lunch at a Mexican
restaurant, and visited the cute shops downtown. It rained and the wind picked up during the evening.
Golden Lily, Highlander, and Freedom's Turn had dinner at Papa Joe's Restaurant right next to our
boats at the marina. We had more fresh oysters!
Today, Dec. 2, was the day to leave. We shoved off at 1130 and found the Apalachicola Bay to have a
very light chop. The water is very shallow, so we had to be very careful to follow the narrow and windy
channel. We arrived at The Moorings Marina in Carrabelle around 1500. Jim walked to the post office
to pick up our mail. Our heat sensor part that Wanderin' L & M had for us was delivered by over night
mail from Bay Point. We all went to Pirates Restaurant for dinner...the fourth boat joined us...Gulf
Cart, folks we had met back in Pebble Isle. We are all heading for Steinhatchee but when is the
question! We are having a meeting tomorrow morning at 0630 with Buddy from The Moorings who is
supposed to give very helpful advise about Gulf crossings. So far the forecast is now 2-4 feet waves,
and of course that means some will be higher. The rest of the week they go to 3-5, but Saturday
1-2. We will see in the morning!
The wind was supposed to pick up to 20+ MPH, so we decided to beat the rain forecast and leave Port
St. Joe. Although the marina was in a well protected man-made harbor, the fetch on this extremely
large bay could push waves inside and roll, as we did last night. Good thing Jim changed the sheer pin
last night, so all we and Highlander had to do was pick up some fuel and pump out. We finally got
underway around 1130. All the travel was in the canal except for a small bay which turned out to be a
little choppy, but windy. The channel was VERY narrow with not water to speak of if you went on the
other side of any of the buoys.
We arrived at Scipio Creek Marina in the pouring rain and docked right in front of the restaurant. We
are tied right on the creek, but it is much more sheltered than the marina from yesterday. Jeannette
and Charlie came over for dinner. I had made this new dish (I should remember not to try new dinners
when company comes), and it was just ok, but needed more flavor. It sounded good: bite size chicken,
mozzarella cheese, Stove Top dressing mixed with tomatoes/garlic/basil, all layers and baked.
Jeannette brought over mousse desserts.
DECEMBER 2 - We are in Carrabelle!
Yesterday, Dec. 1, turned out to be a sunny but very windy day, and not a good day to even be on the
protected waters, so we stayed tied up at Scipio's. We all walked into town, had lunch at a Mexican
restaurant, and visited the cute shops downtown. It rained and the wind picked up during the evening.
Golden Lily, Highlander, and Freedom's Turn had dinner at Papa Joe's Restaurant right next to our
boats at the marina. We had more fresh oysters!
Today, Dec. 2, was the day to leave. We shoved off at 1130 and found the Apalachicola Bay to have a
very light chop. The water is very shallow, so we had to be very careful to follow the narrow and windy
channel. We arrived at The Moorings Marina in Carrabelle around 1500. Jim walked to the post office
to pick up our mail. Our heat sensor part that Wanderin' L & M had for us was delivered by over night
mail from Bay Point. We all went to Pirates Restaurant for dinner...the fourth boat joined us...Gulf
Cart, folks we had met back in Pebble Isle. We are all heading for Steinhatchee but when is the
question! We are having a meeting tomorrow morning at 0630 with Buddy from The Moorings who is
supposed to give very helpful advise about Gulf crossings. So far the forecast is now 2-4 feet waves,
and of course that means some will be higher. The rest of the week they go to 3-5, but Saturday
1-2. We will see in the morning!
DECEMBER 3 THE BIG CROSSING!
We crossed the Gulf of Mexico today, 80 miles from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee.
We crossed the Gulf of Mexico today, 80 miles from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee.