May 2014

May 1^st.  Explored Port St. Joe and Apalachicola with Melissa and Rachael (Taffy too).  I liked the junk at the “Tin Shed” in Apalachicola.  Lunch in Apalachicola then dinner at the marina.  Then the three of us went to the Haughty Heron to drink wine and listen to live music (Buddy Ham).  It was a hoot don’t chya know!

May 2^nd.  Up at 6AM eastern.  Motors started at 7AM, away from the dock at 7:20.  Missy and Rachael are driving the van to Baytowne where we will meet up.  They were not awake and slept in the van in the parking lot for a while.  Rain for the first few hours so I stayed at the lower helm.  It stopped raining by the time I got to Panama City.  Airforce Jets put on a show for me!  I took a picture of a drone coming back down via parachute!  Then there was some helicopters buzzing around.  The some Navy boats pulling a submersible something or another.  There was significant shoaling in the “Grand Canyon” from the storms on April 29^th.  The “Roger Wicker” had to tie up as he could not get through.  I met up with the dredge “Kelly L” heading over to open the channel up.  I had a great Dolphin show in Choctawhatchee Bay.  I pulled into Baytowne channel at 5:10.  Tied up at 5:40 with the girls waiting for me on the dock….it was kinda special to have them waiting for me.  2793.9 HRS.

May 3^rd.  Day at the resort.  Bike ride, paddle boards, and kayaking.  There was a 37’ Center cockpit Irwin next to us in the marina with a for sale sign on it so I called the broker and we took a look at it.  Not a liveaboard by our standards but a nice boat.  Sushi for dinner.  Very nice day.  Great location!

May 4^th.  Up at 5:10, motors started at 5:40.  Out of the slip at 5:55.  Two sleepy girls watched me leave as they headed for the van for more sleep.  Beautiful sunrise!  Dolphins greeted me in the channel.  I talked to Stan on “Folly” via VHS at 7:45.  He had been in the slip next to us in Port St. Joe and left a day ahead of us.  I passed Navarre Beach at 9:30…I would like to anchor out there some day.  I heard on the VHS the Coast Guard was going out to rescue “Stray Cat”.  Later “Tom B ox” called the USCG to report they were adrift in the Gulf.  The CG called Boat US for them and they tied off to an oil platform to wait for a tow.  Nice sunny Sunday afternoon so lots of traffic with a couple of tows.  Mobile Bay had a light chop of 2’ to the beam so Missy would not have like the ride.  I pulled into Dog River Marina at 7:10 PM with Missy just arriving after dropping Rachael off at the airport.  2806.8 HRS.

I am having Dog River Marina replace my fresh water tanks under the bunk in the aft cabin.  I hope to be back the end of the month to continue north.