january 29th 30th 31th Days 301,202,203

The 29th and 30th we did the tourist thing. It was nice to have warm weather and to see people on the street and stores open. We did all the shops and had Greek food. I tried char-broiled octopus but not really thrilled with it, Lin had a great Greek pasta veggie salad which she loved.
We went to a farmers market on Sunday which was nice and had music that was good. There was also music at the shops on the sponge docks. This town is a Greek town where the main business is sponge diving and sponge processing. We did see some Manatees in the Spring Bayou.Today the 31st we headed out of Tarpon Springs headed to Gulfport Marina in Boca Ciega Bay. What a beautiful day it was. We stayed on the GIWW and saw some beautiful EXPENSIVE homes and neighborhoods with boats and docks. As we passed thru Clearwater Bay we realized there are still some people who have money either thiers or family money and like to show it off.
As we pulled into the bay one engine started to hesitate eventually shutting down. After a few quick fixes and tries we decided to head to the marina on one engine. Weather and wind was with us and we got secured at the dock without problems. I did some more guess what could be the problem as Lin talked to the BIG GUY upstairs, my guess is the talk did more than my mechanical tries did but the next turn of the key she fired up. With both engines running we went to our dockage site. Tomorrow I will change the filters and do some more searching for problems, but as of now evertning is good. Well we do have to find out why the water pump keeps coming on another problem another day for now it is sit backhave a cocktail and enjoy the weather and the day. Safe at Gulfport Municiple Marina.

Lin & Rich
Gulfport Munical Marina
Boca Ciega Bay, Florida

January 27th & 28th Days 199 & 200

Weather finally gave us a break and we headed out of Sea Hag Marina Steinhatchee River at 8am with Cedar Key as our destination. The Gulf was calm for awhile but then the rollers came in. They toss you around pretty good and you do a lot of steering to keep on course. The sun was shinning and I was even able to go topless. Dodging the crab traps was even harder with the glare of the sun off the water, but we missed them all. We pulled into Cedar Key at 3pm after 7 hours and 61.2 miles. We dropped anchor in the bay and the 4 of us dingied over to town. Only a few shops were left open as the economy took its toll. Came back the boats and barbecued up some steaks and veggies. Great day.
Today the 28th Lin and I Said our good byes to Dan and Donna who stayed there to meet Dan's Boss and friend Ed. We pulled out at 8am on a beautiful Morning. Gulf was pretty calm no white caps but the constant rolls and crab traps. The sun was shinning and we felt real bad for all you who have cold and snow as we sat in shirt sleeves. But were sure glad to finally get some nice Sunshine State weather, didn't even have to run the heat tonight. Going to be in the 70's this weekend. Well we got into Tarpon Springs City Marina at 4:30 after 8.5 hours and 76.4 miles. What a nice place, right now we think we hear a steel band outside somewhere. Our beam is 14.9 and we had to fit between two posts at 15. We are in bow first and have to get off the bow but we are here and looks like there is a lot to see here. Supposed to be a spring where the manatees are and it is only about a mile away. Well time to take a shower and head over to this Greek town known for good food and sponges.

Lin & Rich
Tarpon Springs City Marina
Tarpon Springs

January 26th Day 198

Last night and today the wind did some blowing. We had some heavy gusts that woke us up around 4am. Today was on and off strong wind and the river water here in Steinhatchee was rough. We walked to a fish store and got some great shrimp and smoked Mullet dip.
Looks like we may head out to Cedar Key tomorrow if the weather stays good. It is 50 to 60 miles to the anchorage. We were going to try Crystal Springs but that was 90 miles. If the weather holds out Lin and I will head to Tarpon Springs on Friday. Dan and Donna are staying at Cedar Key to spend time with Dan's Boss.

Lin & Rich
Sea Hag Marina
Steinhatchee River Florida

January 25th Day 197

Today is a wet and dreary day. Had some heavy rain with some thunder and lightning thrown in.
It is in the high 50's and last night was in the 50's, maybe we are going to have some warmer weather. Today I did some chart and GPS work and found out it is some 100 plus miles to Tarpon Springs so we will anchor with Dan and Donna at Cedar Key (44miles) and then head to Tarpon Springs. Looks like we will be here at the Sea Hag till Friday waiting for weather and then Saturday looks good so we will head to Tarpon Springs. It is a Greek setting which is suppose to have great food and shops. Last night we had a great dinner at Fiddler's where I had potato wrapped shrimp(great) and soft shell crabs for the first time. Looks like tomorrow and Thursday may not be much better weather than today.

Lin & Rich
Sea Hag Marina
Steinhatchee, Florida

January 22nd, 23rd, 24th Days 194,195&196

On the 22nd Lin And I walked up to the Carrabelle WWII museum. It was in the old school which was closed due to consolidation and lack of children. It was very interesting and gave us a needed walk and some time off the boat. We decided to make the cross on the 23rd. Up at 6am and got things ready to go. By 7am it was getting light so off we went out into the Gulf. The first 2 hours were not to bad but as we made the turn and lost sight of land the wind and waves picked up. Not as bad a Lake Michigan but it was running a close second. More than once we got spray on the fly bridge but the pulpit never went under. It was the first time since I got out of the Navy were I could not see land for so long and for Linda it was the first time ever. On Lake Michigan we had a short time out of land sight but not like this. On a trip like this you just hope and pray that everything stays running. The last two hours this calmed down just in time for us to watch for crab trap buoys. There had to be hundreds of them to dodge. We traveled 82.4 miles in 9.5 hours and arrived at Sea Hag Marina at 4:30 and high tide. Today we took our usual walk and found a liquor store. two convenient store. Ace Hardware and two restaurants. Looks like we will be here another day or two due to weather. Winds 30 knots tomorrow with water spouts, and Wednesday may not be better. Dan & Donna are going to Cedar Key to anchor and meet Dan's boss for a few days. If the weather is good we may bypass Cedar Key and head to Tarpon Springs if it is makeable in daylight, have to check the charts.
We under stand it was a little cold up home today, this morning it was 29 but now we are in shorts and it is 70 degrees and sunny

Lin & Rich
Sea Hag Marina, Steinhatchee River
Steinhatchee, Flaoida

January 20th & 21st Days 192 & 193

Yesterday we left Scipio Creek Marina and headed to Carrabelle. It was sunny when we started but got over cast as we traveled. We crossed the Apalachicola Bay and passed St George Island. This is where the GIWW ends and does not start again until we reach Tarpon Springs area. We went up the Carrabelle Chanel and took a dock at C-Quarters Marina. The tide was on its way out and with the current it was a little tricky putting a 15' beam into a 17' hole. after our second try we were in. With a full moon the tide is strong and about 3'. We traveled 30 miles yesterday in 4 hours to date we logged 3,443 miles. Today it is cold and rainy. The locals love the rain as they are in a drought this year, glad someone enjoys this weather and that it is helping them. The weather does not look good for the next week but as we all know you wake up in the morning and then decide what the day will bring. We will probably take in the town today as it is suppose to have some small shops. We will be glad when we get across the Gulf and can make our way to Tarpon Springs.

Lin & Rich
GoofinOff
Q-Quarters Marina
Carrabelle, Florida

January 18th & 19th Days 190 & 191

Yesterday the 18th we traveled from Port St Joe Marina to Scipico Marina on the Scipico Creek.
This leg took us 32.2 miles on the inter coastal and across Lake Wimico which was wide but very shallow outside the channel. The trip was great for the first 27 or so miles with lots of wildlife and some camps. Some of these camps looked like they could house someone from Deliverance. some places we waited to see a boat come out of a creek toward us, only kidding. Some of the camps look like they had not been used in years. Also along the way we found out what people do with unusable boats, run them ashore and use them as a camp or just let them rot there. About three or four miles from the Creek the fog rolled in and we could not see much past our bow. With the radar on and our GPS we made our way very slowly looking for debris and other boats. It was like looking in the mirror all steamed up after a shower. We saw a bridge on the GPS and radar but could not see it. After we made it thru we looked at the paper charts and decided we had gone past the creek, we turned around back through the bridge and found the creek after talking to the marina. UP THE CREEK we went with out much visibility. Needless to say since I am writing this we made it in safely. Dan and Donna left their anchorage and were also headed to Apalachicola to meet with us. We called them and warned them of the fog. As they got close we could see them across an island before the creek, called them on the radio to let them know and they could also see us. Fog got thicker as they approached the creek, as they came down the creek we could not see them till they were almost on top of us. They made it in safe.
Later we walked up in town for dinner, Apalachicola is known for its oysters so that is what Dan & I got while Lin & Donna got something else. Oysters were great.
Today we will walk up in town to see the shops and whatever. We hope tomorrow will bring bright sunny skies so we can venture over to Carrabelle where we will make our crossing when weather permits.

Lin & Rich
Scipio Creek Marina
Apalachicola, Florida

January 16th & 17th Days 188 & 189

What a great day the 16th was. We were out of the Panama City Marina at 8:50 for our 46 mile run to Port St. Joe. We crossed East Bay where again we saw many dolphins eating and playing as I have said probably too many times for you guys, they are amazing to watch. After East Bay we went into Wetappo Creek which meanders through cuts and swamps. Along the way we saw Bald Eagles, Osprey, and Golden Eagles. The sun was shinning and warm. It was the first time we felt warm enough to open up the fly bridge window, even got so warm I was in a T shirt and shorts. We took the Gulf County Canal to St Joseph bay and took a dock at Port St. Joe Marina. Real nice marina which delivers a news paper to your boat each morning. Today is the 17th and it is overcast and rainy. We decided to stay here till the weather improves. We have two more stops before we have to cross the Gulf when good weather allows. Not sure what tomorrow will bring weather wise before we decide if we are going to move or stay. We caught up on laundry this morning and will head into town this afternoon.

Lin & Rich
Port St. Joe Marina
St. Joseph Bay, Fl.

January 14th & 15th Days 186 &187

Got up early on the 14th and got the boat and us ready to head out across the Choctawhatchee Bay. The bay was pretty calm and the sun was great. The bay was about twenty miles and took us thru a bomb disposal area, at least that is what the chart indicated. While traversing this area with danger area signs on our GPS we hear this LOUD explosion, we looked to shore to see a huge black column of smoke. Talk about making the heart beat after a quite cruise across a calm bay. Saw many Dolphins on our way, they are beautiful and playful. Once across the bay we reentered the GIWW cut taking us to West Bay. The cut was real nice with plenty of wildlife. Went thru West Bay then into East Bay. In East Bay we saw many dolphins some jumping together completely out of the water others surfing our wake and even one jumping as high as our bow deck as we went along. We traveled 64 miles in 7 hours and took a dock in Panama City. Today the 15th we rested and went to town. Not much here to see in Panama so tomorrow we will head out towards Port St Joe about 40 miles East of here. For all you snowed in people up home it was 59 and sunny here today.

Lin & Rich
Panama City, Florida

January 13th Day 185

Another hang out day in Destin. we are relaxing after our three hour bus and shopping adventure at Walmarts yesterday. One good point of the trip was we got the cocktail hour supplies and some other needed supplies. We will get things ready to leave Destin tomorrow and head to Panama City some 60 miles East of here. Day light and weather are big factors in our travel destinations now. Gets dark between 4:30 and 5:00 so we want to be secure by that time. These cold nights are keeping us from anchoring out unless it is a last resort. Would have to run the genny most of the night to stay warm. Weather looks like it might get warmer at night as the weekend comes, but will wait and see.
Time to do the tourist thing in 50 degree weather and we thought Florida is warm.

Lin & Rich
Destin, Florida
North Panhandle

January 11th & 12th Days 183 & 184

Morning from the sunshine state, actually it is really sunny this morning. It was 33 degrees at 6am and now at 10:30 it is sunny and 51 degrees.
Yesterday we left Pensacola at 11am under cloudy skies, and 10 mph winds. Traveled 5 miles across the bay to the GIWW (gulf coast intercostal water way). Once on the GIWW the waves calmed down even though the wind did not. We traveled 48.8 miles and pulled into the Destin Harbor off the GIWW. Pretty hairy getting in but all went well. Destin harbor is off the Choctawhatchee Bay (not sure who made up these names) and we are in the Harborwalk Marina. This morning at 6am it was 33 degrees and now at 10:30 it is 52 degrees and sunny. We feel for our friends in Troy who are getting a snow storm as I write SORRY we are missing it. Today we will visit some of the shops and hit the grocery store. Seems to be a lot of nice shops in the area which were all closed after we got settled here. Not sure how long we will stay all depends on the weather as the bay we have to cross is about and the next stop for us is about 30 miles. The gulf has been rough and the GIWW ends in Carrabelle where we have to decide to cross the gulf or go around the Big Bend. Time and weather will tell.

Lin & Rich
Goofin Off
Harborwalk Marina
Destin Florida

January 10th 2011 Day 182

Morning to all. We are still in Pensacola but plan on heading to Destin Florida in the morning. Since the 6th we have gotten things ready on the boat to start traveling again, have worked both the engines and generator and all is well. We went to a great fish market on friday the 5th, got some great sea food and salmon. Saturday we went to the local flea market(did not see any fleas) got some grapefruit which was outstanding and some fresh veggies. Went to the Florida State Museum which was nice and visited historic Pensacola. It is nice during the daytime but gets a little cold at night. Once around the bend we will be heading south down the west coast and hope the weather gets warmer, upside is we don't have snow.

Lin & Rich
Restarting our adventure
Pensacola, Florida

January 6,2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
We are back in Pensacola. We arrived here on the 4th at 11:40pm, grabbed a cab and headed to the marina. As we walked down our dock our back light was on and our heat was running. Dan and Donna made sure our return to the boat was going to be perfect. We put our bags on the boat, made a cocktail and headed to their boat. It was good seeing and talking to them till 1:30 and found out what went on while we were home. On the 5th we unpacked and got readjusted to boat life. Had a nice dinner with Dan and Donna at a restaurant on the pier. This morning Dan & Donna left the marina and headed west to New Orleans. It was tough on us to see them pull out of the marina and head out into the gulf ICW. There is not a doubt in our minds that we will meet again on the west coast on our way to the Keys. If not WE KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE.
Today we got our repaired props back and did some more work on the boat. It is good to be back aboard.
Our trip home was great we got to see the girls and their families especially the grandchildren. We spent Christmas morning at Shelly's then headed to Tracey's house in Pa., it was great spending the holiday with both their families. We spent time with friends, did some celebrating at parties, and went thru a 12" snow storm. It was cold but we got used to it after awhile actually Florida was not much warmer when we left.

Did we mention it was 60 degrees today?

Lin & Rich
Goofin Off (in)
Pensacola Florida