Great Progress in 2022

Closing 2022, thought I would recap some of our journey. We left in October and traveled down many rivers including Cumberland, Tennessee, Black Warrior, Tom Bigbee, Mobile River, and Apalachicola, all connected by 13 locks. We covered 1,200 statute miles (sm) in 17 travel days. We averaged 70 sm per travel day, going at an average speed of 10 mph. Along the way, we stayed in 15 marinas and 2 anchorages on the TennTom. After Mobile Bay, we crossed the additional bays of Perido, Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, Apalachicola Bay, and finally the Gulf of Mexico. We left at 10 a.m. from Apalachicola and traveled thru St.George Sound and waited at Dog Island for other boats to join us in crossing the Gulf overnite. Our trip had fairly calm waters and a bright full moon sky. After 180 sm from Dog Island, we arrived in Clearwater, Florida about 10 a.m., a bit exhaused and exhilarted that the longest travel day was behind us. Being home in Kentucky has been a wonderful reprieve from the trip and we are ready in 2023, to travel around the Florida Coast.

Just Business Ma'am

David and I looked at each other at 7 AM and realized...it might be a good idea to go get our car from Panama City Beach marina. Ignorance is bliss.. I forgot it was 6 hours one way by car... With that said, we rented a car and drove back. We retrieved our car and came back to Longboat Key, 12 hours later we were back in our boat with our car in the parking lot. There are alot of moving pieces and playing it by ear in this journey. I am grateful that we are flexible and taking each challenge one day at a time. Did I mention that Point South Marina in Panama City contacted us that our car was in the way of a tree removal?

Point South has the best Sunsets!

Moving on to Longboat Key

After David took care of business with the Clearwater Marina Dockmaster, he headed straight to the master stateroom and COLLAPSED! He hoped to take a snappy nap, but after 2 hours, he informed me he was not going anywhere else for the rest of the day. Considering we started our trip at 10 AM at Apalachicola, then traveled to Dog Island, we proceeded to start the journey across the Gulf- we logged 200 miles and our engines ran for 24 hours solid! No wonder he was exhausted! The next morning, as we were leaving the Clearwater docks, a friendly looper reminded us that there were alot of smaller bridges on our next path! David and I quickly learned that the suggested route on the ICW and the residential areas (no wakes) and traffic with lots of tiny bridges may not be the most time productive. We quickly learned how to estimate our clearance and the tides with the bridges, but really, the bridges are a nuisance!

We decided it would be more time efficient to go "outside" of the ICW and into the Gulf. We were about 25 miles off the coast and it felt so FREE! Open water and fewer crab pots! Around the Don Cesar, I noticed the shift in the water color. It was as if the redness of the famous hotel was bleeding into the Gulf. We started coughing... UGH! It was the RED TIDE! If you are curious.. it is an algae that tends to cause respiratory issues and cause alot of fish to die... We were so excited as we approached our final destination (for the next few months) of Longboat Key. The slip has a beautiful view of the water and mangroves and is very peaceful.

More pictures to follow, but the birds love it here!

Between a Sunset and a Sunrise

We arrived Wednesday afternoon near Dog Island just off of Carabelle so we could meet up with other Gulf Crossers. Around 3:30, boats started their way out to the large expanse of open water. David opted to be the lead boat, which helps set the pace and scouts for obstacles. After a thrilling long visit of a family of dolphins, the sun started setting on our Starboard while the moon began rising on our Port side..

/>

Fingers Crossed

Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30 am, We were ready to go with our fingers crossed and lucklily our engines purred like well fed kittens! The main obstacle of the day was a 3 hour pesky dense fog. The picture is of when the fog finally burned off as we entered a narrow portion of the ICW that parallels Mexico Beach. That area still had visible damage from Hurricane Michael'19 with trees down and several ghost boats.

We ended our travels in Apalachicola, which was a place I am glad we visited! As part of Florida's Forgotten Coast, it is Old FL like none other! One of the oldest settlements, it is rich in history and having a real economic revival with fun shops and resturants. We docked the boat at the old Ice House which was an open venue now used for weddings and walked around the quaint town.

Upon rising Wednesday morning, we were sitting in quite the heavy fog bank. The thick mist was going no where... like a slow rain! So we enjoyed a few more sites of the lovely Apalachicola and waited. Finally around 11 AM, we were free to depart and headed to St. George's Bay. It was a wonderful day ,bright skies, smooth waters and lots of friendly dolphin visitors! Our day will continue thru the nite as we now sit and wait around Dog Island for some other loopers to join in our crossing! We expect to travel all nite long!!!

Back to the Voyage!

David was very ready to get back in action and finish what we started, our trip along the Florida Gulf Coast, so he left November 28th. He took our spare car, loaded with more supplies and things that were "needed" (because when your not on your boat, you constantly shop for it!) He made it in record time and spent the next day doing projects,like changing the Racor Fuel Filters (not easy to do!) After his boat fix, he drove to Naples and spent the next few days with his Louisville Tennis group. It was the perfect guys trip for him, playing tennis, pickleball and boating, needless to say he had a blast! David then picked me up in Tampa and we drove back to the boat,a very long day of traveling for the both of us. We left Rugby at home with his favorite sitter to have one less thing to worry about while out at sea! Bright early on Monday morning, we headed out into the St. Michaels Bay. The tactometers were busy operating and fluctuating, showing that the engines were struggling to go above 1500 RPMs. So we anchored and called our home mechanic, Zip, for some advice. Zip and David concluded that the DIY Fuel filter change had to be the cause as it is easy to introduce air into the lines. While we were floating, a couple of AGLCA boats who passed offered advise and help. One good Samaritan offered to tie up to us and demonstrate how he bleeds his Tug's engine fuel lines. The support we get from the AGLCA members is invaluable! After 3 hours, we idled back to the marina and with great luck, were able to have a Catapillar Marine Mechanic come and diagnose the problem. We were blessed with the best case scenario! We had not been out in open water long, we were near big marine cities and we had our car! Believe me, I took advantage of the time and drove to Rosemary Beach and counted my blessings! Our family went there several times when the kids were young and it is still as beautiful now as it was 20 years ago! The mechanic was very helpful, even though, his repair was the exact thing David had tried earlier! We celebrated with a 5pm Dinner at Capt. Anderson's!Oh, that buttery shrimp was a treat indeed!

Returning home

We made a good decision and left Voyager at the Point South Marina in Panama City and rented a car for our drive home on November 13th. The weather forecast, especially from Eddie's Wag, had slim to no great days for crossing the Gulf. Honestly, after 3 weeks on the boat, it was time to come home! I wanted to prep for Thanksgiving and having our three adult kids home for the next week. I probably went to all my favorite grocery stores, like a kid at Christmas! David went back into his office and spent time on charts and boating sites as if we were still on the water. David kept in touch with several of boats that were still committed to traveling and he had some validation from many who said their crossing was very rough and high waves. It was a very special Thanksgiving as I appreciated every bit of being in my home and being so thankful to have our family all together! I think the rest and family time did us good, especially Rugby who enjoyed having his family and his favorite snuggle spots again.