Date: January 20, 2014
Day on the Cruise: 213
From: Panama City Marina, Panama City, FL
To: Water Street Hotel and Marina, Apalachicola, FL
Statute Miles: 62.0 SM
Time: 7.33 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 5,374.6 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are at a small Hotel and Marina in Apalachicola, FL. We are back in the Eastern Time Zone!
Not knowing what to expect in Apalachicola or Carrabelle, we got a pump out before we left Panama City. We are traveling today with "Sun Gypsy" and "Perregrine".
My son Ben and I had done this trip from Panama City to Apalachicola and return almost 25 years ago in a small boat with some good friends, so I will be interested to see what changes have occurred since then along the route.
The trip to Apalachicola started with about 20 miles of big water through East Bay. We passed the big paper mill in Panama City, which has a big wharf complex for sea-going ships and barges.
Next up was a big shipyard where they are currently building supply and service vessels for the oil rig industry. It was at this facility that one of these ships was launched on Friday as we arrived at Panama City.
The waterway turned into a canal after we left East Bay. Just before leaving the Bay, we were treated to a grand dolphin show, with dozens of the mammals swimming around the boat, jumping and rolling to the sides of our boat. Great fun seeing them!
The canal twisted and turned as it headed East toward Lake Wometco. Not much to see along the canal. The terrain was more swamp-like and marshy that was the canal between Sandestin and Panama City. There were several bayous that took off from the waterway. We could see floating shacks tied to the shore back in these bayous.
Lake Wometco is a five mile long body of water that is VERY shallow and has a straight channel across it. We stayed in the channel, and even then, we saw some places where there was less than 5 feet of water below the boat.
After crossing the Lake, we were in the Jefferson River for a short distance until we came to the confluence of the Apalachicola River. This river was flowing swiftly and was pushing a lot of water toward the Gulf of Mexico. The river is in flood stage upriver near Blountstown, FL. The current gave us a push of maybe 2-1/2 miles per hour as we headed to Apalachicola.
The approach to Apalachicola was not impressive. We first saw the big bridge that carries highway 98 across the River. The town consists of mainly 2 story buildings that present no skyline or signature to the town. A few shrimp boats along a dock provided scenic relief that reminded us that Apalachicola is very much a fishing village.
We made a hard turn to starboard into Scipio Creek and could see our destination ahead on the left. The Water Street Hotel and Marina is a very nice, newer facility that has nice hotels rooms on the water with slips right in front of the hotel building. The slips had floating docks that made it easier to get Maggie on and off the boat. As we turned off the River, there was a small fleet of Shrimp Boats docked in Scipio Creek. One was named "Miss Martha", and it made me think of our friend Martha Chapman from home. Hi Martha!!!
Sun Gypsy had already docked when we arrived, so they helped us tie up. Scipio Creek did not have much current or wind, so we backed Blue Moon into our slip. The Hotel is very nice. We were thrilled with the floating docks!
Dinner tonight was at a place recommended by Emeril LeGasse called Up the Creek Raw Bar. It was excellent. We ate with Sun Gypsy, Perregrine, and Free at Last, who had gotten to Apalachicola yesterday. Today was Rick and Leila's 46th anniversary. We all toasted them before dinner! The osters were excellent and there was plenty of horse radish!
Tomorrow is supposed to be very windy, with gusts to 30 mph. We have about 28 miles to travel to get to Carrabelle, so we will leave early to try to beat the wind on St. George Sound or Bay.
Wednesday still looks promising for the crossing of the Gulf to Tarpon Springs. Maybe we will only have to spend one night in Carrabelle!
Thanks for Reading!
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| Tonight we are in Appalachicola, FL |
 |
| Staying on Scipio Creek at the Water Street Hotel and Marina |
Not knowing what to expect in Apalachicola or Carrabelle, we got a pump out before we left Panama City. We are traveling today with "Sun Gypsy" and "Perregrine".
 |
| View Out the Front Door this Morning Heading into East Bay |
My son Ben and I had done this trip from Panama City to Apalachicola and return almost 25 years ago in a small boat with some good friends, so I will be interested to see what changes have occurred since then along the route.
The trip to Apalachicola started with about 20 miles of big water through East Bay. We passed the big paper mill in Panama City, which has a big wharf complex for sea-going ships and barges.
 |
| Big Paper Mill at Panama City....a Familiar Smell! |
 |
| Sea - Going Ships lined up at Docks at the Mill |
Next up was a big shipyard where they are currently building supply and service vessels for the oil rig industry. It was at this facility that one of these ships was launched on Friday as we arrived at Panama City.
 |
| Shipyard on East Bay at Panama City |
The waterway turned into a canal after we left East Bay. Just before leaving the Bay, we were treated to a grand dolphin show, with dozens of the mammals swimming around the boat, jumping and rolling to the sides of our boat. Great fun seeing them!
 |
| Leaving East Bay Heading to the Canal Section of the ICW |
The canal twisted and turned as it headed East toward Lake Wometco. Not much to see along the canal. The terrain was more swamp-like and marshy that was the canal between Sandestin and Panama City. There were several bayous that took off from the waterway. We could see floating shacks tied to the shore back in these bayous.
 |
| View Along the Canal |
 |
| View Along the Canal |
 |
| View Along the Canal |
Lake Wometco is a five mile long body of water that is VERY shallow and has a straight channel across it. We stayed in the channel, and even then, we saw some places where there was less than 5 feet of water below the boat.
 |
| Bridge Across the ICW at White City |
 |
| Heading into Lake Wometco |
After crossing the Lake, we were in the Jefferson River for a short distance until we came to the confluence of the Apalachicola River. This river was flowing swiftly and was pushing a lot of water toward the Gulf of Mexico. The river is in flood stage upriver near Blountstown, FL. The current gave us a push of maybe 2-1/2 miles per hour as we headed to Apalachicola.
 |
| Jefferson River with High Water from Upstream Flooding |
 |
| Where the Apalachicola River joins with the Jefferson River |
The approach to Apalachicola was not impressive. We first saw the big bridge that carries highway 98 across the River. The town consists of mainly 2 story buildings that present no skyline or signature to the town. A few shrimp boats along a dock provided scenic relief that reminded us that Apalachicola is very much a fishing village.
 |
| Old Railroad Bridge across the Apalachicola River coming into Apalachicola |
 |
| Highway 98 Bridge over the ICW at Apalachicola |
 |
| Turning off the River into Scipio Creek |
We made a hard turn to starboard into Scipio Creek and could see our destination ahead on the left. The Water Street Hotel and Marina is a very nice, newer facility that has nice hotels rooms on the water with slips right in front of the hotel building. The slips had floating docks that made it easier to get Maggie on and off the boat. As we turned off the River, there was a small fleet of Shrimp Boats docked in Scipio Creek. One was named "Miss Martha", and it made me think of our friend Martha Chapman from home. Hi Martha!!!
 |
| The "Miss Martha" |
Sun Gypsy had already docked when we arrived, so they helped us tie up. Scipio Creek did not have much current or wind, so we backed Blue Moon into our slip. The Hotel is very nice. We were thrilled with the floating docks!
 |
| Hotel and Marina |
Dinner tonight was at a place recommended by Emeril LeGasse called Up the Creek Raw Bar. It was excellent. We ate with Sun Gypsy, Perregrine, and Free at Last, who had gotten to Apalachicola yesterday. Today was Rick and Leila's 46th anniversary. We all toasted them before dinner! The osters were excellent and there was plenty of horse radish!
Tomorrow is supposed to be very windy, with gusts to 30 mph. We have about 28 miles to travel to get to Carrabelle, so we will leave early to try to beat the wind on St. George Sound or Bay.
Wednesday still looks promising for the crossing of the Gulf to Tarpon Springs. Maybe we will only have to spend one night in Carrabelle!
Thanks for Reading!
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