Date: January 21, 2014
Day on the Cruise: 214
From: Water Street Hotel and Marina, Apalachicola, FL
To: The Moorings Marina, Carrabelle, FL
Statute Miles: 30.5 SM
Time: 3.5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 5,374.6 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are at the Moorings Marina on the River in Carrabelle, FL. For this we left the lovely place in Apalachicola? Oh My!
We awoke in Appalahicola this morning to hard rain and thunderstorms. There was a line moving across the area from the West. The wind forecast was still for high winds, so we caucused and decided to get gone from this fishing town while the gett'n was good. So, without having a chance to take in the sights of Apalachicola, we shoved off the dock at 9:30 heading East to Carrabelle, FL. Free at Last, Blue Moon, Sun Gypsy, and Perregrine.
After passing under the Highway 98 Bridge, we picked up Free at Last who had left about 15 minutes earlier than had we, and we struck a course due South down the channel. The wind was strong from the West, building speed as we progressed. The channel made a hard turn to the East, and we cruised "Before the Wind" which gave us a smooth ride. The sun came out as we crossed under the St. George Island Bridge, and it became a pretty, if not windy day. The temps were actually comfortable! Say What???
The channel to Carrabelle passes East Pass at Dog Island that we will take, hopefully tomorrow, when we head out across the Gulf. The Gulf passed the look test today.
We headed North out of the Sound into the River that takes you about a mile and a half to the Marinas at Carrabelle. Not much here, but a lot more boat activity than what we saw in Apalachicola. We had reservations at the Moorings Marina. This turned out to be the biggest marina that we saw in Carrabelle, and also at the farthest point back up the River. Free at Last led us to the Marina. We all needed to top off our fuel, so we started the dancing to get into the fuel dock. The Marina can refuel two boats at the same time. The wind was gusting from the West. It was very strong. There was a current in the river that was pushing us around. the wind was so strong that Free at Last could not make the tight turn to the fuel dock, so we had to back up to give him room to maneuver. He had a really hard time getting docked, then we let the wind push us into the dock. I hated this place already.
We topped off our fuel for the trip across tomorrow. Free at Last left the fuel dock and Sun Gypsy took his place. We had to wait for Free at Last to get into his slip before we departed the fuel dock because our slip was close to his and there was not sufficient maneuvering room for both boats. The slips are perpendicular to the river. The 25-30 kt wind was blowing right down the river, making it extremely difficult to back into the slips. It took Free at Last two tries to get into the slip.
Now my turn. Oh boy! I powered off the fuel dock up to my slip thinking that I would rotate off a piling and back in. That was a bad idea. No dice. The wind grabbed me like a kite and I could not turn. The wind blew me back down the River sideways because my boat acts like a big sail. I finally got it turned and came back up river. Same thing, and I could not back in. There were these very short, stubby finger piers that only stuck out about 12' from the shore. Steve from Free at last was on the pier directing me, but the wind would have none of it. On the third try, I just went bow-in, and got my boat into the slip. This turned out for the best, because if I had been able to back in, The docks are so high, we could not have gotten Maggie off the Boat. With the bow in, and the bow being much higher than the rear cockpit, we could get her off on the finger pier rather easily. However, the finger pier is only about 18'-2' wide, and it is like walking a steel beam to get to shore. I hate this place!
We got to this lovely place about 1:00 PM. After we got secured (Thank you Steve for your help), we walked a mile to the post office to mail some cards. Worth it? Not really. We did see the police station for Carrabelle, which is a phone booth. Everything is small here, including the marina slips. We also saw a very small park with some statues if soldiers. I took a picture of this Marine for Richard.
Grocery shopping at the IGA was next on the way back to the boat. The store was very nice. We had our backpacks, but not our bikes. It would have been very difficult to get bikes off our boat onto the sliver - like finger piers. We got a few things at IGA, loaded the back packs, and walked back to the boat like pack mules.
Next was a captain's meeting about the crossing tomorrow. We found three or four other looper boats already here when we arrived. These boats have homesteaded here because there have been no good days to cross. Some have been here before Christmas. OMG! They are like residents now. Everyone is pointing to tomorrow. Spirits are high! We will convene again at 8:30 in the morning to get the final word and we will leave in stages starting about 2:00 PM. I think Sun Gypsy and Blue Moon will leave about 4:00 PM. We will probably go East for a little bit to Buoy 26 then down the coast to either Cedar Key or Anclotte Key buoys then into Tarpon Springs. WE should be in Tarpon Springs by Lunch time on Thursday. Exciting!
Docktails were held in the community room at the marina. All Loopers and a couple of non loopers attended. It was a lot of fun seeing new folks that we haven't met. Some we had met before.
Back to the boat for an early night and a big day tomorrow. We are PUMPED! Let's get down to warmer weather in Central and South Florida!
Thanks for reading!
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| We are in Carrabelle, FL tonight |
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| The Moorings Marina in Caravelle |
We awoke in Appalahicola this morning to hard rain and thunderstorms. There was a line moving across the area from the West. The wind forecast was still for high winds, so we caucused and decided to get gone from this fishing town while the gett'n was good. So, without having a chance to take in the sights of Apalachicola, we shoved off the dock at 9:30 heading East to Carrabelle, FL. Free at Last, Blue Moon, Sun Gypsy, and Perregrine.
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| Beautiful Marsh Scene This Morning in Front of the Boat After the Storms Passed |
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| Leaving the Hotel and marina |
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| Our Hotel and Marina |
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| Up the Creek Raw Bar Where We ate Dinner last Night in Apalachicola |
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| Shrimp Boats in the Morning Light |
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| This is the old Rainbow Inn along the River where we stayed on our boat trip almost 25 years ago! Docks are all gone! |
After passing under the Highway 98 Bridge, we picked up Free at Last who had left about 15 minutes earlier than had we, and we struck a course due South down the channel. The wind was strong from the West, building speed as we progressed. The channel made a hard turn to the East, and we cruised "Before the Wind" which gave us a smooth ride. The sun came out as we crossed under the St. George Island Bridge, and it became a pretty, if not windy day. The temps were actually comfortable! Say What???
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| Approaching the Highway 98 Bridge Early this Morning! |
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| Leaving Apalachicola |
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| View Out Our Front Door This Morning |
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| Just Passed Under the Bridge Out to St. George's Island |
The channel to Carrabelle passes East Pass at Dog Island that we will take, hopefully tomorrow, when we head out across the Gulf. The Gulf passed the look test today.
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| Looking through East pass Out to the Gulf of Mexico |
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| We are flanking "Free at Last" in St George Sound |
We headed North out of the Sound into the River that takes you about a mile and a half to the Marinas at Carrabelle. Not much here, but a lot more boat activity than what we saw in Apalachicola. We had reservations at the Moorings Marina. This turned out to be the biggest marina that we saw in Carrabelle, and also at the farthest point back up the River. Free at Last led us to the Marina. We all needed to top off our fuel, so we started the dancing to get into the fuel dock. The Marina can refuel two boats at the same time. The wind was gusting from the West. It was very strong. There was a current in the river that was pushing us around. the wind was so strong that Free at Last could not make the tight turn to the fuel dock, so we had to back up to give him room to maneuver. He had a really hard time getting docked, then we let the wind push us into the dock. I hated this place already.
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| Waterfront in Carrabelle, FL |
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| Following "Free at Last" up the River to Carrabelle |
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| River Scene at Carrabelle |
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| Heading into The Moorings Marina |
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| The Moorings marina |
We topped off our fuel for the trip across tomorrow. Free at Last left the fuel dock and Sun Gypsy took his place. We had to wait for Free at Last to get into his slip before we departed the fuel dock because our slip was close to his and there was not sufficient maneuvering room for both boats. The slips are perpendicular to the river. The 25-30 kt wind was blowing right down the river, making it extremely difficult to back into the slips. It took Free at Last two tries to get into the slip.
Now my turn. Oh boy! I powered off the fuel dock up to my slip thinking that I would rotate off a piling and back in. That was a bad idea. No dice. The wind grabbed me like a kite and I could not turn. The wind blew me back down the River sideways because my boat acts like a big sail. I finally got it turned and came back up river. Same thing, and I could not back in. There were these very short, stubby finger piers that only stuck out about 12' from the shore. Steve from Free at last was on the pier directing me, but the wind would have none of it. On the third try, I just went bow-in, and got my boat into the slip. This turned out for the best, because if I had been able to back in, The docks are so high, we could not have gotten Maggie off the Boat. With the bow in, and the bow being much higher than the rear cockpit, we could get her off on the finger pier rather easily. However, the finger pier is only about 18'-2' wide, and it is like walking a steel beam to get to shore. I hate this place!
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| Screen Capture from my iPad showing Blue Moon's Track at the Fuel Dock and Slip. Notice all the curly quigly things showing effects of the wind. |
We got to this lovely place about 1:00 PM. After we got secured (Thank you Steve for your help), we walked a mile to the post office to mail some cards. Worth it? Not really. We did see the police station for Carrabelle, which is a phone booth. Everything is small here, including the marina slips. We also saw a very small park with some statues if soldiers. I took a picture of this Marine for Richard.
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| World's Smallest Police Station |
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| World's Smallest Police Station, Carrabelle, FL |
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| Patriotic Monument in Center City Carrabelle Showing a Marine. Hello Richard! |
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| Clock in Downtown Carrabelle |
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| Street Scene in Downtown Carrabelle |
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| Street Scene in Downtown Carrabelle |
Grocery shopping at the IGA was next on the way back to the boat. The store was very nice. We had our backpacks, but not our bikes. It would have been very difficult to get bikes off our boat onto the sliver - like finger piers. We got a few things at IGA, loaded the back packs, and walked back to the boat like pack mules.
Next was a captain's meeting about the crossing tomorrow. We found three or four other looper boats already here when we arrived. These boats have homesteaded here because there have been no good days to cross. Some have been here before Christmas. OMG! They are like residents now. Everyone is pointing to tomorrow. Spirits are high! We will convene again at 8:30 in the morning to get the final word and we will leave in stages starting about 2:00 PM. I think Sun Gypsy and Blue Moon will leave about 4:00 PM. We will probably go East for a little bit to Buoy 26 then down the coast to either Cedar Key or Anclotte Key buoys then into Tarpon Springs. WE should be in Tarpon Springs by Lunch time on Thursday. Exciting!
Docktails were held in the community room at the marina. All Loopers and a couple of non loopers attended. It was a lot of fun seeing new folks that we haven't met. Some we had met before.
Back to the boat for an early night and a big day tomorrow. We are PUMPED! Let's get down to warmer weather in Central and South Florida!
Thanks for reading!
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