Monday, November 22, 2010

Under way watching the sun rise
on Choctawhatchee Bay

Mile 234, Mid Bay Bridge crossing
Choctawhatchee Bay

GIWW narrows-Looks just like
we are back on the river

N30 08.632
W85 43.671

We got to Panama City, Bay Point Marina, yesterday about 14:00.  We had a long day ahead so we were on our way by 05:55.  It was a beautiful morning; 55 degrees and clear.  The first 30 miles or so we spent on the Choctawhatchee Bay which is another huge body of water; we had a light chop and it went good.  Then the next 20 miles we went through the narrow man-made GIWW to West Bay, a much smaller bay and calm.  I am getting better at driving a straight line.  Keith sets up way points and all we have to do is follow the line.  When it is calm it is easy but when it gets wavy it is a little harder to go straight.  This is good practice for when we cross the gulf.  After West Bay we entered St. Andrews Sound and then into Bay Point Marina.  We put 70 miles on for the day.

Today we were busy getting caught up on things.  It is about 75 degress and sunny.  Connie, you would love it here. This is a beautiful marina but it a long ways from town and there is no public transportation and the marina does not have a courtesy car.  Our friends, Roy and Elvie, have friends that live here and they came and picked us up and chauffeured us to the grocery store, liquor store, and West Marine.  Very nice people.  Hopefully we can do the same for some other boaters someday.  Now we are good on supplies until after we cross the gulf. 

There are several other loopers here too.  Two boats are leaving today to try and cross the gulf on Wednesday.  They are faster boats, about 26 mph, and can make the trip in daylight.  Another boat is leaving because of transportation, or lack thereof, and going to Port St. Joe where the marina is close to public transportation and is also in walking distance to many places.  The rest of us are staying until after Thanksgiving and then hopefully we will find a good window to cross the gulf by early next week.

CO's comments:  It is important to always have a backup system.  A Looper had his GPS chart plotter quit when entering St. Andrews Sound.  They did not have a backup GPS and had to rely on paper charts and their compass.  Once they lost their chart plotter, they also lost their depth sounder and radar because it all goes through one unit. Now they cannot leave until their chart plotter is repaired and due to the holiday they will be one week behind schedule.