Apalachicola a Tourist Day

The day started off gray and windy but brightened considerably though the day.  We are in Apalachicola, Florida. The  Captain and First Mate decided not to pursue the gulf crossing due to a less than favorable forecast.  Therefore, we decided to see the town which was actually very interesting, and authentic.  There were quite a few excellent stores with high quality, unique merchandise.  Also the town had a very nice waterfront area with working shrimp and oyster boats.  Through various times in history this was a huge center for cotton shipping, sponge harvesting and shipping, lumber and the oyster industry.  It was a very significant port, and later, a crucial crossroads for the railroads.  During the Civil War it was occupied  by both the Union and Confederate sides at various times.  We also visited a good maritime museum that showed the history of the river and the gulf.  People are very friendly, and we were stopped on the street by people who told us about the history of the town and welcomed us to the area.....  "How y'all doin' and where y'all from?"

We had lunch at the Hole in the Wall restaurant, where we had more excellent local oysters.  And of course, we topped it off at an old fashioned ice cream parlor, where you order one dip, but really get two.  

After exhausting ourselves shopping we headed back to the marina where we had to move Reunion to raft up next to another trawler as they are expecting more boats and tens of thousands of people this weekend, due to their annual Seafood Festival.  Our trawler neighbors (M/V Bodacious) are trying to complete the Great Loop which they started in 2010.  But they started in San Diego, which means they came through the Panama Canal!  That is a lot of miles at 8 mph.  Tonight we ate on the boat with a delicious steak dinner grilled out, and watched the shrimping boats cruise past at sunset.  A very good and interesting day!

Orman House

Vietnam Memorial 

Doug and a Shrimper

Downtown Park on the River

Lunch Stop

The hat display includes a Wisconsin and Packer

Oysters on the half shell

Marine collectibles

Marker buoys

A shrimper heading out to the Gulf

Hard work for good food

Pirates Cove Marina to Apalachicola

A 60 plus mile day against the tide most of the day, beautiful travel day with highs in the mid to upper 80's very unusual for this time of year. We came back inland from the Gulf to St. Andrews Bay and then to the Wetappo River, through a canal to Lake Wimico and finally to the Apalachicola River. Not much boat traffic today, lots of pretty scenery, a surprise shipbuilding company tucked way up the bay 20 miles from Panama City in the country, a good location I think. Tonight the low is expected to be in the mid 70's with due points a few degrees below the low temperature, very unusual for this time of year. Tonight we went to the Owl Cafe, Doug and Carol had the Black Grouper and it was very good a bit sweeter than regular grouper they thought.

The hidden boatworks

Building crane ships like the Goliath

The Wetappo River Entrance

Home along the River

Doug and Dennis on the fly bridge

Doug providing navigation instructions

A cedar swamp

First siting of Apalachicola

Across the river from our mooring

Tonight's restaurant

US 331 Bridge Anchorage to Pirates Cove Marina

We departed the anchorage about 7:30 heading mostly southeast to the cypress swamp canal that links the Chochtawatchee Bay with West Bay, St Andrews Bay and Panama City. This route took us through the Grand Canyon of Florida an area where the canal banks exceed 30 feet pretty high for Florida. Once into West Bay we saw several dolphin playing and a few swam in our bow wave. We stopped at St Andrews Marina for fuel and then on to Pirates Cove Marina close to the Biltmore Beach. This afternoon we walked on the beach with clear skies and 85+ degree temperatures. We went to Schooners for a libation and some supper and watched the sun set. Because of the time change and because we are still in the Central Time Zone the sun set about 5:00, we finished our supper and drinks and were amazed to return to the boat by 6:15, I thought it was bedtime. All in all a beautiful day on the water and a great walk on the beach. 

The Cypress Swamp

Grand Canyon

Some Rock and some Sand

Trees and vegetation

Lots of Layers

Lots of Sand

Exiting the Canal

Dolphin Look close

Swimming in the Bow Wave

Just breaking water

Lots of Birds

Panama City Harbor

A new Crane Ship heading out for sea trials

Pirates Cove Marina, lots of room today

The Beach

Enjoying a libation!

Sunset at 5:00

Palafox Marina to US 331 Bridge Anchorage

Last night the rain and wind started hard about 3 am and we all woke up.  The boat rocked so hard that the rum locker even slid out of its normal spot, and we cannot tolerate that!  In any case the wind finally abated after an hour or so and we all got a little more shut eye before the early light woke us up (time change).  We shoved off about 8:15am in a slight drizzle, but it soon got much nicer and turned into a beautiful, and very calm, day.   We needed it - after much rain over the weekend, and a dreadful Packer loss on Sunday night.

This was a great day traveling and the kind of day you dream about, on those days when you are not lucky enough to be on the water.

We made 67 miles and anchored out in a very nice quiet anchorage on the east side of a causeway.  Carol whipped up a gourmet  BBQ dinner.   A really good day....... by Doug Timmel

Military Radar Dome on the barrier island

House on the barrier island

Highrise on the mainland

Local Marina

Cloud formations all day

Doug continues to complain about the stress of this trip, hmmm!

Another successful day!!

Pensacola

Lots of rain last night and all day today, a good day to be indoors. This morning we worshiped via podcast at our home church in Racine, Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church, the podcast and bulletin is available online and we enjoy hearing and participating in the service. We spent the balance of the day at the National Naval Aviation Museum a favorite when we are in the panhandle. The museum has over 1000 planes and currently has about 80 full reconditioned planes on display that covers the entire history of flight. Some of the new exhibits include a 4D adventure with the Blue Angels. Tonight we are watching the Packer Bronco game, not going very well so far.

Pensacola is the home of the Blue Angels

Restaurant from Cubi Point officers club in the Philippines

Air Squadrons stationed in the Philippines

Dennis tries a cockpit

Doug does his Nixon impersonation

Great displays of aircraft