11/30-12/15/13 - On to the Keys!

On the 30th we sailed from Dunedin to Gulfport and met up with our Looper friends Mike and Hiromi

Loopers doing what they know best...docktails!

 The next day (12/1) we sailed to Sarasota.  We went to the Circus Museum and were amazed by all it had to offer.   They have all sorts of exhibits and costumes that tell the history of the modern circus.  One of the major parts of the museum is a "miniature" circus that takes the viewer from when the circus train comes into town and all the way through the show.  Fascinating.

Afterwards we went to the mansion that John and Mabel had built.  There is something fascinating about 'gilt era' mansions.

Later that day, our sailing friends from the New York City area, Mark and Linda Williamson joined us in Sarasota and sailed with us to Fort Meyers.

First stop wa at Venice where Loretta and Linda  discovered Fifi’s Consignment.  Great place for getting fashionable clothes on the cheap.
We then went to Boca Grande, and Sanibel Island, FL before getting to Fort Meyers, FL.  We dined at Joes Crab Shack which has every type of crab except stone crab which was in season.  Go figure.
Next day we took our friends to the airport and then went to the St. Petersburg Boat Show where we came across more looper friends and our boat broker.
On December 9th we arrived in Naples, FL.  WOW the houses along the water are over the top.  Guess this is where CEOs go to retire.

The next day we anchored off of Indian Key, FL.  During docktails we watched a stingray fly out of the water for about 6 ft.  Cool

We had hoped to go across Florida Bay the next day, but the weather was going to make the crossing too rough so we pulled into the Everglades park in Flamingo, FL and stayed there for 3 nights.  Talk about roughing it, No VHF, No Cell, No Wifi .  The marina while nice is poorly managed.  It also has a major shoaling problem that limits entry and exit to times when the tide is high.
On the 14th we left around noon and anchored off of Middle Cape, FL

We crossed Florida Bay on December on our way to Marathon on the Florida Keys. 

One of the hundreds and hundreds of crab pot markers we had to avoid while crossing the Florida Bay.

While the trip was shorter than the Big Bend jump (only 43 nautical miles), it was more stressful because of all of the stone crab pot markers we had to dodge.  Both of us had to keep an eye out.  (Later on we heard of some of our friends who got their props snared by these markers.  

The first sight of 7 Mile Bridge was a great relief.  We were now close to our destination.

Seven Mile Bridge

We arrived at The Boathouse Marina around 3pm and after tying up and shutting down the engine we broke out the champagne and celebrated.

11/23-29/13 - Dunedin

We stayed at Marker 1 marina in Dunedin, FL.  The stay was a great relief after travelling the Great Bend.  The slips were in great shape and the staff was very helpful.

Sunset at Marker 1 in Dunedin.  It was in Dunedin that we began to seriously discuss retiring to southwest Florida

 

That first evening we went to Hella’s in Tarpon Springs with Humbug, Journey and Kajen to help "Always 5O’clock" celebrate their finishing the Great Loop.  Great greek food. 

We rented a car for the week from Enterprise and went to St. Petersburg where we went to both the Dali museum and Chihouly gallery

We spent Thanksgiving in Odessa, FL at the winter home of some friends.  Dinner was prepared and shared with some othe "Loopers" who we have been travelling with, Mike & Hiromi, Pete & Carolyn.  (It was great to have a real kitchen to cook in.  We could not have done it in a ship's galley.)

 

 It was great even for the dogs.  Shaina made friends with a great dane and even a "biker" dog showed up.

 We departed on the 30th to continue our trip down to the Keys.

11/20-23/13 - "The Crossing"

At some point you need to go across the Big Bend part of Gulf near Florida.  There are basically two different paths or ways to cross.  One is to make a relatively short jump from Carabelle FL to Steinhatchee FL (between 73 to about 85 miles) and then leap frog down the west coast of Florida. While this is initially a short jump, the succeeding trips actually make this longer because you need to go out 5-10 miles before heading south.  (This is due to the shallowness of the Gulf of Mexico at this place.)
Then there is the more direct route from Carabelle to Tarpon Springs, FL.  This is about 175 miles.

When your boat travels at 8-10 miles per hour, this makes it into an 18-22 hour voyage.  One also has to factor in a weather window (only 3-5 good crossing days in November) and arriving at the right time of day to see crab pot markers when deciding what day and time to leave.
We arrvived in Carrabelle, FL on Nvvember 20th and stayed at CQuarters Marina.  There were about 10-12 other Loopers in town and on the 21st we had a "Captains Meeting" to share weather and route information.  We also had a wonderful pot luck dinner to celebrate our coming voyage.

We decided at the meeting to travel in a group of 4 boats

Humbug-One of our 'buddy' boats

and start our trip on the afternoon of the 22nd.
Loretta and I shared in running the boat in 3 hour shifts.  While it started off a bit windy with 1-2 foot seas, the wind and water settled down by the break of day.
Sunrise off the west coast was a welcome sight.

  The only problem we encountered was that Shaina got a little seasick.  Not bad for a small dog who does not like water.
While we planned to land in Tarpon Springs FL, we changed our minds and went to Dunedin, FL a little further down.

11/12-19/13 - Along the Panhandle

Nov. 12 We left Turner Marine and crossed Mobile Bay in good time to avoid a noreaster that came later that day.  We travelled along the Gulf Intra Coastal Waterway to Orange Beach, AL and stayed at The Wharf Complex for 2 days to wait the weather out.

Nov. 14 Off to Pensacola, FL.  It was blowy when we started and there was a light chop.  We stayed at the Sabine Marina and had had docktails at the Beach Bar

Nov. 15 Arrived at Fort Walton, FL This was the best free town dock ever

On November. 16 we went to Panama City, FL.  Had the best oysters at Gene’s Oyster Bar. Its cash only and the staff was very friendly and helpful 

We continued our trip on the18th and sailed to Port St. Joe, FL  There we met two other Looper boats,  Rick Shaw and Harmony

The next day (11/19) we made it to Appalachacola, FL.  We had to cross Lake Womico which was very shallow and we had to work our way across slowly.  But the trip was worth it when we were freeted by a small pod of dolphins.

This is epicenter of Gulf of Mexico oysters.  We had dinner next door at Boss’ Oysters. 

Mobile and Onward

We stayed at Turner Marina

 awhile to get some routine maintenance done on the boat (oil change, etc.). This was a fun place to stay. They have a pot luck dinner every Wednesday and a loaner car to use to get groceries, etc.  

We used this time to fly back to New York to see doctors, dentists, families and friends.  We even did a quick visit to midtown. 

10/30/13: Made it to Mobile

We finally made it to Mobile AL. We've travelled over 2,830 nautical miles (3,253 statute miles) which puts us a little more than half way around the Loop.
We are all done with meeting and passing barges and their towboats on confined rivers.  The weather and the water continue to warm and inviting. 
After a quick trip back up to New York, we will continue on around the Gulf and stop in the Florida Keys for the winter.

10/19 Tenn-Tom Waterway: "The Ditch"

After attending the AGLCA Rendezvous we headed back to the Grand Harbor Marina. We spent the night there and refueled and cleaned out the holding tank. 

Our next major destination will be Mobile AL.  To get there we need to take the Tenn-Tom waterway. This waterway was completed in 1983 and helped make doing the Great Loop much easier than using the Mississippi.  To create this, passage had to be cut to connect the Tennessee and Tombigbee Rivers. 

The passage that was cut is 12+ miles long with riprap sides. There are no places to anchor or tie up for the night.