A little later start today but it is only 30 miles over to Carrabelle. Another cold front has come through and it was 43 degrees this morning. It is certainly possible that we Northern Loopers are still bringing the cold fronts with us. The silver lining is that this pattern of showers, cold fronts, high winds, then high pressure and low winds is predictable and can lead to a weather window to cross the Gulf.
This was an easy journey today following the red and green buoys over to Carrabelle. Apalachicola Bay is a prime fishing area and here is a picture of a shrimp boat looking like an antebellum Miss with a hoop skirt. Oystering is big here and there were 30 small boats here all raking up the oyster treasure. We did see about 3 pods of dolphins this morning, but just as I would ready the camera, poof, they were gone. I am trying not to take it personally.
We passed Dog Island on our way to Carrabelle and had a chance to survey our route out to the Gulf. We went to the fuel dock at Moorings Marina and Buddy helped us in. He is so knowledgeable about the area and the right conditions to cross the Gulf. More Loopers are coming in this afternoon and we will meet up with them and discuss strategies. Buddy will meet with all of at 6:30am tomorrow and give us his recommendation.
Meanwhile, I got to do a less glamorous task of cleaning the bilge. We have had a lot of rain and did not put the cover on the windlass and had a little extra water in the bilge. The pump handles most of it, but not all, so that’s where I come in.
We did a quick walking tour around Carrabelle and one of its distinctions is having the “smallest police station”. It was fully functioning in the 1960’s and a credit to their lack of crime. However, vandals found it an easy target for illegal calls and one tourist even tried to load it in their truck. So much for progress.
This was an easy journey today following the red and green buoys over to Carrabelle. Apalachicola Bay is a prime fishing area and here is a picture of a shrimp boat looking like an antebellum Miss with a hoop skirt. Oystering is big here and there were 30 small boats here all raking up the oyster treasure. We did see about 3 pods of dolphins this morning, but just as I would ready the camera, poof, they were gone. I am trying not to take it personally.
We passed Dog Island on our way to Carrabelle and had a chance to survey our route out to the Gulf. We went to the fuel dock at Moorings Marina and Buddy helped us in. He is so knowledgeable about the area and the right conditions to cross the Gulf. More Loopers are coming in this afternoon and we will meet up with them and discuss strategies. Buddy will meet with all of at 6:30am tomorrow and give us his recommendation.
Meanwhile, I got to do a less glamorous task of cleaning the bilge. We have had a lot of rain and did not put the cover on the windlass and had a little extra water in the bilge. The pump handles most of it, but not all, so that’s where I come in.
We did a quick walking tour around Carrabelle and one of its distinctions is having the “smallest police station”. It was fully functioning in the 1960’s and a credit to their lack of crime. However, vandals found it an easy target for illegal calls and one tourist even tried to load it in their truck. So much for progress.
