Return to Florida, close to the end of our Loop

Friday, November 18

 

Dog River Marina was a 'working marina', meaning that amenities were few and you could get your boat worked on, if needed.  Lots of looper boats were getting work done and Kerm did a lot of maintenance chores, too.  I did laundry, of course!  Also, we started our third log book, courtesy of the large West Marine store on premises.

The weather was pretty cold and rainy for a couple of days so we were ready to move on when things cleared up..

Choppy waters even in the marina

 

Working marina

11/18/11   Accompanied by Passport we departed  Dog River Marina at 8:30am in a brisk wind, headed for Pensacola or Perdido Bay.

Goodbye Dog River...(crumby showers)

By 9:21am  we cleared Mobile Bay.

I am happy to report the re-appearance of pelicans!!

Pelican in Flight

At noon we officially entered the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway which we will follow all the way to Carabelle, the jumping off spot where we will cross the Gulf to Hudson, Florida.

Passport ducked off early to experience LuLu's which is a marina/restaurante owned by Jimmy Buffet's sister.  We were too cheap and wanted to anchor out so we ended up at Ingram Bayou  after traveling 44.6 statute miles.  We anchored with two other boats, Kismet and 20Bucks.  Both are doing the loop and we have not encountered them before.  This anchorage was wonderful.  And we were visited by dolphins!!  I'm in heaven.

Kismet

20 Bucks in Ingram Bayou

Kismet in Ingram Bayou

Goodnight from Ingram Bayou

Saturday, November 19

We weighed anchor at 8:15am  in overcast skies that turned to rain later in the morning.  At 9:47am we entered Florida... Wow, we are back in Gatorland!!

By 12:30pm, we were headed down a narrow channel to Sabine Marina, just off mile marker 185.  After running aground 'softly' (in other words, lots of naughty language from the captain but no need to call TowBoat US) we docked at 12:45.  The captain requires that I add we were in the channel when running aground.

Doesn't look shallow to you, does it?

 We are out of the land of floating docks which are nice and easy to pull up to.  Now you have more fixed piers that are somewhat intimidating because  you have to 'lasso' pilings at the stern of the boat on both sides as well as handling the bow lines.  I would not recommend Sabine Marina because the wind was bad and the piers were rickety.  But Jerry, the marina guy, was nice.

The showers here were really bad but I was not in the mood anyway.  However, the band was pretty good and the crowd was having was good time.  I could hear them from the boat.

Warren wishing he could join the party up at the bar

Good night from Sabine Marina

Sunday, November 20

WARNING to those who gross out easily.  The following pictures are why I ended up in the Emergency Room at Gulf Shores hospital on Sunday morning ...Shingles turned into sores with secondary infection...ICKY.
But they gave me strong antibiotics ... and a second course of acyclovir.

                                                                                                                                                                    

YUCK

Call in 'House' for a diagnosis

Kerm took good care of me.  We hope to leave in the morning for Fort Walton Beach...there's a free dock there, we hear. 

Monday, November 21

We left Sabine Marina at 6:32 and believe it or not we ran aground again (very briefly).  Oh, the shame of it all!  

The Gulf Intercoastal Waterway in the early morning

At 8:05 we were delighted when a big dolphin came to us and played for more than 5 minutes in our bow wake.  He looked happy and I was thrilled.  Kerm took a good look, too, and that old Norwegian smiled a big old dolphin kind of smile. Great morning.

I took a long nap.

Started to see jelly fish all over the place about 1.5 hours later and I got a few pictures when we docked at the free dock in Fort Walton Beach. 

Was surprised to see Kenny Chesney putting up Christmas decorations in the City Park right by the marina.

Kerm went into town and bought me some get well flowers

Today we traveled 34.8 miles.

Good night from Fort Walton Beach

Tuesday, November 22

Departed Fort Walton Beach city docks early, at 5:55am.  We want to make it to Panama City which is 67 miles down the line and catch up with Passport.

Early morning on the waterway

I took a really long nap today and have very little to report.  Kerm kept us safely underway and clicked off the miles.  We  docked at Panama City Marina at 2:45 after traveling 67.3 miles.

I saw this Navy craft in Panama City Bay right before we turned in to the marina.

It was great to see John and Mary from Passport again and we also met Dean and Beth from Kismet, the boat we were anchored next to in Ingram Bayou a couple of nights ago.

Good night from Panama City