INA at the Moorings Marina in Carrabelle, Florida.
One kitten, a middle-aged alpha cat, and a 70 pound dog resulted in many "Mexican standoffs" but no actual wars.
When we had been here a little less than two weeks without decent opportunities to cross the gulf, we decided to leave the boat, rent a car, and drive home for the holidays. That next day we heard a weather window had opened and several boats made a safe crossing but we were already on our way back to Memphis.
Guest blogger Adi: " I could tell when the "carry case" came out that something was up. Before I knew it I found myself in the backseat of what Captain Mike called "a piece of sh...", (a Chrysler 200). I was told I was on the way to meet my "sister" McEwan and "brother Henry" ... Oh brother. "
"I was amazingly calm and cooperative on the 12 hour ride. I wonder if these people know what a great cat I am."
The Admiral enjoying the ride.
Admiral Adi: "Well...here we are at my Memphis home. This and my yacht are better than my digs at the Eastpoint Humane Society ANY day."
Adi playing with one of her Christmas toys
Adi resting her eyes
Even though we wish we could have gotten the gulf crossing behind us, we certainly do not regret being in Memphis for Christmas. Megan had the house decorated beautifully for the holidays and had a delicious dinner ready for us when we walked in the door...walked in, heavy laden with cat paraphernalia. It's a lot like having a toddler again!
One kitten, a middle-aged alpha cat, and a 70 pound dog resulted in many "Mexican standoffs" but no actual wars.
Adi hiding out
Megan's cat Mc Ewan, ready for dinner. Believe it or not she sits at the table for every meal. She gets set there as soon as she hears a meal being prepared and waits for everyone to sit down, then sits with us while we eat. This will seem adorable to some, and gross to others.
Megan's dog Henry. He tries to be nice to the cats, but they whack at him and he runs.
We enjoyed seeing friends and getting some work done around the house, but were glad to get back to the boat on December 30th, with great hopes of finally crossing the gulf before too long.
Mike and other captains meeting to look over charts and computer models in order to decide when to try to cross the gulf.
While waiting in Carrabelle we have actually had a very nice time, meeting new people, all of them nice, fun, and interesting. We've enjoyed dinners and lunches out at some excellent restaurants. There is a free breakfast at the marina where we get together and tell cruising stories and exchange ideas about the crossing.
January 15, 2014, still in Carrabelle.
Lot's of people turned out for the big event on a clear cool day.
The Moorings Marina had a great "Chart Room" where we gathered with other loopers almost every evening. This is Mike with Jan.
Loopers meeting in the Chart Room for "docktails" and some "docktales"
The Mooring Marina provided a free breakfast every morning. Most of us would gather there to enjoy coffee and continental breakfast and discuss computer models about the weather on the gulf. Everyone had different approaches and their favorite web sites, but most agreed most of the time that the weather was too rough for crossing. Here is Mike with Lisa, our outstanding breakfast hostess.
We enjoyed many good meals at local restaurants. A bunch of us gathered several times at The Fisherman's Wife.
More good times at the Chart Room. This time we are sharing pot luck. After dinner some of the guys played pool.
Saturday, January 25th. Our good friends Bob and Lou came to see us from their home in Tallahassee. They treated us to lunch in Apalachicola at The Owl - great sea food! Then took us on a drive to St. George Island where we walked along the beach.
Bob, Mike, and Lou
Our boat, taken one evening from the Chart Room.
Morning meeting at breakfast. Computer models, local experts, and all captains agree that finally the gulf is calming down, and tomorrow looks like the beginning of a weather window.
Sunday, January 26, 2014. Yes!!!!!! We are finally leaving Carrabelle!!!
Morning came, and discussion at breakfast confirmed the weather would permit a crossing. We prepared the boat, and stashed stuff away to prevent it from flying around in rough water. Finally...at 10:00 am the curse of Carrabelle was broken (we had been there seven weeks, but actually if we had to be stranded somewhere Carrabelle was a great place to be. The marina was good, with helpful staff, the cost was reasonable, and we enjoyed good food, free breakfast, shopping within walking distance, and some fun sights, like a house made of bottles and an excellent WWII museum.
Mike pulled up the fenders. They had protected the side of the boat from the dock at Carrabelle so long we were afraid they wouldn't come back up (not really...that would never happen)
This is Dave. We had him come along to help us on the crossing.
Mike fixing the fenders
Adi hunkered down
Sunrise on the gulf.
Finally, Monday, January 27th, after 23 hours on the gulf, we arrived at Clearwater Pass and entered Clearwater Bay.
The fog began to thicken
Mike prepared the fenders for arrival at Clearwater Municipal Marina.
Buildings at Clearwater partially in view above the fog.
Entering Clearwater Bay
Our crossing of the gulf was excellent but it is good to be on our way again!
Here we are on the dock at Clearwater Marina. It has rained most of the time so far, but we are enjoying long walks, good food, and good friends.
Mike, pelicans, and our boat in the background.
Our traveling buddy Larry, getting ready to leave Clearwater Marina.
Blogger Adi: "This is one of my favorite spots to sit. I watch pelicans and other birds. The captain and first mate laugh at me because I duck when a big one flies close to my boat window. Why is that funny? It can be kind of scary.
Well today is Saturday, January 18, 2014 and yes we are still in Carrabelle with the weather for the next 5 days not looking good. However, today was not all bad because we went to the 2014 Apalachicola Oyster Festival. The big event had music, crafts, pets for adoption (we have been down that road) and the best of all oysters, shrimp and crab from the local waters fixed a bunch of different ways. All was washed down with beer and wine and really good!
Lot's of people turned out for the big event on a clear cool day.
Shucking oysters.
Grilling oysters.
Smoked oysters.
The best oyster stew. Lots of oysters and artichoke hearts.
Not sure what the Fire Department was cooking or burning up but they may need their own services.
Everyone liked the food.
Fellow loopers John and Diane.
Some local art.
Here we are in front of the Dixie Theater.
No Lois the gray one is not going back to the boat with us.
Sunday, January 26, 2014. Yes!!!!!! We are finally leaving Carrabelle!!!
Morning came, and discussion at breakfast confirmed the weather would permit a crossing. We prepared the boat, and stashed stuff away to prevent it from flying around in rough water. Finally...at 10:00 am the curse of Carrabelle was broken (we had been there seven weeks, but actually if we had to be stranded somewhere Carrabelle was a great place to be. The marina was good, with helpful staff, the cost was reasonable, and we enjoyed good food, free breakfast, shopping within walking distance, and some fun sights, like a house made of bottles and an excellent WWII museum.
We were one of five boats in our group leaving Carrabelle. 12 boats overall left that day.
The water, as we entered the gulf, was rougher than expected, with about three foot rollers on our beam. Adi got seasick once, then spent several hours curled up behind pillows and blankets on the sofa. When she finally emerged she was fine, and spent the rest of the trip with good sea legs, walking steadily and comfortably around the cabin. She has proven herself to be an excellent boat kitty!
Sun setting on the gulf
We took turns in the pilot house. One of my turns came around 3:00 am. Dave was sleeping in the pilot house and Mike on the sofa in the salon. We began to get 3 to 4 foot seas on the bow and I could see the glow of spray crashing over the bow. Mike said he heard me saying
"yee haw!!!" as I drove the boat through the waves. To say the least, I was having a BLAST!!
It is quite an experience to be at sea at night. The sky and the water blend together into inky blackness. The only light we could see, besides the glow of our dim red lights and navigation charts on the computer, were the stars....so many stars. I tend to forget how the night sky looks without the intrusion of city lights.
Mike prepared the fenders for arrival at Clearwater Municipal Marina.
Buildings at Clearwater partially in view above the fog.
Entering Clearwater Bay
Our crossing of the gulf was excellent but it is good to be on our way again!
Larry's wife Jan and their dog Cloe.
Blogger Adi: "This is one of my favorite spots to sit. I watch pelicans and other birds. The captain and first mate laugh at me because I duck when a big one flies close to my boat window. Why is that funny? It can be kind of scary.
Blogger Adi: "Ah... to be home from the sea! The first mate says I'm getting fat and lazy. Why would she say that?
