We found a marina near friends in Panama City so we were able to leave the boat for six weeks and get flights home. It was wonderful to see family for Christmas despite the “northern weather” Brrrrrr.
After a long travel day it was great to be back even though we each had chores to do to get the boat ready to get moving again. All in all, the boat was in great shape. We went back to our anchorage in Panama City, provisioned, and got our temporary Florida registration (Sojourners Permit) at the DMV. We left in the morning after a farewell beach bonfire night with Steve and Lori.
We traveled to Apalachicola via the “Impenetrable Florida swamp”, a fitting name for the waterway as every so often you would see where someone tried to settle, got their old dozer stuck and the land was reclaimed by mother nature. We saw a lot of hurricane damage with miles of trees cut off at the same height from the winds. Not to give this section a bad rap, it was beautiful.
We also had an interesting securite but once this research vessel plowed past us at 20mph we understood why he let us know he was coming through.
We are now buddy boating with a Ranger Tug, Amy Marie – incredibly – from Santa Rosa!! It was a long day but beautiful flat water and sunshine. We stayed at a wall near a park and a quick walk to the small town of Apalachicola. Another place where the vibe is low key and folks drive (lifted) golf carts, if we decide to resettle from crazy CA, those items are mandatory.
We only stayed one night because a three day gale force system was moving in and we needed to prepare for the gulf crossing. Apalachicola, you are a wonderful town.
It was a shorter run the next day to Carrabelle so we had coffee and walked around town a bit before leaving midday.
We are now at the Moorings of Carrabelle awaiting a weather crossing. This is a major milestone in the trip and there is much discussion about whether to take the Big Bend route which takes several days or jump straight across the Gulf which requires an overnight passage. A weather window means wind strength and direction that creates smaller waves.
For those of us that follow us on the “Where we are right now?” tab – we will be out of range for NEBO until we get close to shore again.