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.