December 13 and 14, 2012; Panama City to Carrabelle, FL

Thursday the 13th, Panama City, FL:
We couldn’t make up our minds if we were going to leave or not because the water was very low due to the wind and weather and we didn’t know if we could get out of the marina. So I went to the Post Office with Elvie about 09:30. When were done at the PO her car would not start; not even turn over. Anyway, we finally found out it needed a new starter. By the time we got back to the boat it was about 14:00 and we decided to go to the east side of Panama City and anchor out for the night.  We then could take advantage of the full day of day light on Friday. We left about 14:45 and went to the Lighthouse Marina and got about 400 gallons of diesel and then found out they did not have a pump-out so we left hoping to find one on the way tomorrow. After an hour at the gas dock we left for our anchorage and got there by 16:30 and were all settled in by 17:00 just as the sun set. 20 minutes later it was dark. We had a very quiet night and were in bed by 20:00 as we were getting up early in the morning.

CO's comments:  We anchored at Pearl Bayou and it was an excellant anchorage.  We found out about this anchorage from our friend Carl.

N30.10147
E85.61973

High tide on 12-12-2012; we had to step down to our 5 step ladder.

Low tide at Pirates Cove on 12-13-2012; there was no Island there when we arrived.

Keith at the helm on 12-14-2012

Friday the 14th, Carrabelle, FL: 
Got up by 05:30 and we were on our way by 06:15. We had a light drizzle all morning. It was only 48 degrees this morning and so cold I put on Susie’s winter jacket she gave me with down filling and a wind break plus long underwear. Couldn’t find a pump-out anywhere, not even Apalachicola. There was only one marina in town with a pump-out and it was out of order. That made up our minds to go all the way to Carrabelle for the night. A long day but we can sleep in and get ready for our crossing on Saturday and Sunday (hopefully).

We crossed Lake Wimico and it was very smooth. I was a little worried as 2 years ago when we crossed it was very wavy but all went good. When we went through Apalachicola we saw our first crab pods since the Tenn-Tom. Just out side of Apalachicola on the Bay we met a Tow that was a ground in the channel. We passed him on the two and only had about 1' of water under our props; very skinny water and we were glad to make the turn where the water got a little deeper. Guess the tow will have to wait for high tide. Apalachicola Bay and St. George Sound were just a little choppy but otherwise good. It was a very long day but we made it to Carrabelle. Keith had a good talk with Tom Conrad the other night and got some good advise from him.  We topped off with fuel and now we will wait for tomorrow to see if we can cross the gulf.

N29.85234
W84.66927

CO's comments:  The last time we were through Apalachicola I couldn't understand why any one would want to stay there.  This time, I still can't understand why any one would want to stay there.  Leaving there the last time the water was skinny and this time it was even skinner.

December 5, 2012, Back in Florida and on the boat

Since we left on November 11, 2012, we have traveled 5,292 miles by car in 24 days.  Boy, it is really good to be back on the boat.

We want to thank all our family and friends for putting up with us on our trip and saving us some motel expenses.  We stayed with our son Don and family and my sister Susie while in Wisconsin.  In Montana we stayed with Ed and Pam, our friends from Billings and our old neighbors, Travis and Roxy, had us out for a wonderful home cooked meal.  Our land is still the same only it is now covered with snow but the trees are still black.  We then went to Bozeman and stayed with Ronn, Keith's brother for 3 nights and Keith's sister Karen made us a delicious elk roast dinner one night.  When we returned to the boat yesterday, our friends  Roy and Elvie from Roy El, had dinner waiting for us.  We had a wonderful visit with family and friends but we are really glad to be back and 75 degree weather helps a lot.

Now we have a few things to fix on the boat and we are planning our gulf crossing.  We hope the weather holds for another week or so; time will tell.

CO's comments:  I forgot in one of my last comments to tell you that I had a first.  Just before the last bridge on the GIWW before entering the Lagoon to Pirates Cove Marina we came up behind a tow with 4 barges.  I asked him which side I should pass him on and that I would wait until he cleared the bridge.  He came back to me and said he would slow down so that I could pass him first before the bridge.  We have never before encountered a tow that would slow down just for us.

We got this picture from a friends Face book page.  This is what happens when you anchor for the night and don't check the tides; oops!

November 19, 2012, Wisconsin

Opening weekend of deer hunting was a good weekend.  Keith shot the biggest whitetail, our Grandson shot a buck, and there were a total of 5 deer taken to date.  I enjoyed 2 days with my sisters and nieces and then on Sunday, the 18th, I went out to the farm and helped cut up the deer. Monday morning it was good to sleep in as I am very sore from standing over the cutting tables for several hours.  Keith, Don and Jerry went out again to try for a few more deer.  Keith is trying to figure out how to mount a deer rack in the boat, we are still in discussions over that.

Derek and Gio; Derek shot the first deer of the season.

Gio (foreign exchange student staying at our son's for school year) with Keith's buck; his first experience observing hunting.

Assembly line in garage.  We were grinding the meat for hamburger.

CO's comments:  All-in-all it was a good hunt but no snow.  Thankfully the temperatures were not extremely cold.  I am ready to go back to the boat.

November 14, 2012, Wisconsin

We left Florida and 75 degrees on Saturday, November 10th and got to Wisconsin on Sunday the 11th to heavy rain and 30 degrees.  Boy what a difference.  It was 2 long days but we were glad we did it in 2 because we woke up to snow on Sunday morning and temperatures in the 20's.

Sun rise at Pirates Cove Marina on 11-10-2012.