Getting Ready for Christmas - Loop Trip - Days 21 - 28

So Day 21 turned out to be just what we had hoped for and we departed for Destin. The morning was sunny and cool as in 41 degrees, but the wind had finally died down to about 15 mph.  Now that's still a bit windy, but so much better than the rain and 25 mph wind that had been the last few days!  The trip over to Destin was pretty smooth.  We only saw a few other boats along the way and those were mostly tows with barges and one other looper.  Our biggest event of the day was the first encounter with a sport fisher.  I had heard a lot about these guys who believe that the world and the waterway revolves around them.  Polite folks slow down when passing so as not to rock other boats like a roller coaster ride with their wake - not these guys!  They roared past us without backing down at all - and had the gall to wave!!  At least nothing got broken.  In Destin. we found our slip which was behind Harbor Docks restaurant.  Nothing fancy and no frills, but near the center of everything.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/911773

The gang's all here!!

An amazing sunset

Adding our dollar

Here it is

Just a few or the millions on the walls and ceilings

The next three days were spent in Destin.  We got to visit with Michelle and Cam
 at their condo on the beach.  The sunsets were beyond amazing and had some strange effects that were not expected. Our friends suggested dinner at McGuires which is basically a very cool, large Irish pub that serves one of the best steaks that you will ever taste!  The place is covered with dollar bills - the estimate is $1.2 M to $1.4M!!  Of course, we added one to the collection.  Our next outing, which was on our anniversary, took us back to their condo for drinks and another sunset before heading to Miller's Ale House for pitchers of mojitos and racks of ribs!  Dining our way through Destin and we barely made a dent in the choices.

Destin harbor

Cam giving instructions

My JackFrost created by Cam and his ice machine!

Another Destin sunset

Look what Michelle wrote for us!

On Day 26, we left Destin for the trip over to Panama City.  It was another sunny and fairly warm day with very little wind.  We had two large bays to cross which were connected by a fairly narrow, dredged channel.  Not much to see through here, but when we got to West Bay approaching Panama City, the dolphins came out to play!  It was the first time we had seen them jumping in our wake.  It is just so crazy cool to watch these big mammals swimming with you!  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/914097

Panama City Marina slip

Muy Wayne O's for lunch

Panama City Beach

So now we are heading to Atlanta for the Holidays and Brittany's birthday.  The boat is set up in a slip a Panama City Marina and we will return on December 28 to pick up the trip.  So for now, Merry Christmas to all.  Best wishes for a wonderful and magical day.

Loop Trip - Days 12 - 20

Days 12, 13 and 14 were the last three on the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway.  We attempted departure from Demopolis early on November 30, but it was very foggy so we waited at the marina for it to clear.  At about 8:30, things were looking better so we headed out for the three miles downstream to Demopolis lock and headed on toward the Bay.  Interesting fact, look at the lock picture tagged about the flood of 1979.  The water level was 57' above flood stage.  So this dam and the next one, Coffeeville, were both totally underwater!!  I can't even imagine that.  So we went through the lock and moved on until we ran into a thick fog bank.  The next six miles were totally IFR,   We went on radar, AIS and the chart plotter at about 6 knots.  It finally broke up and we made it to an anchorage at Bashi Creek and were joined by Breeze, another looper from Chicago.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/904568

Bashi Creek

On December 1, we left our anchorage a little before 8:00 hoping for a nice day, but all we got was clouds and drizzle.  Our last lock was about 10 miles below the anchorage and we went through with Breeze and Gypsy Lee, a looper from Massachusetts.  This was our longest day so far as we traveled 84 mikes to another anchorage called Three Rivers.  This was a most interesting spot as we had to go down a narrow channel for almost 1/2 mile to an open area where we stopped.  Breeze arrived here about an hour behind us.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/904615

So the last day on the waterway started much like day 12, we got up to try for an early start and there was fog.  Hoping for the best, we inched our way back down the channel to the river and pulled out into the channel totally blind.  The fog was so thick you couldn't see 30' in front of the boat so we crossed the channel and re-anchored outside a marker and waited.  Fortunately, the fog began to lift in about 45 minutes and we were able to get back underway.  It was another long day as we traveled about 80 miles to reach Mobile Bay.  Lots of interesting things to see in Mobile ship channel.  Be sure to look at all the pictures.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/905738

Boats in the Dog River parade

Day 15 was the long leg across Mobile Bay to get to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICWW).  Weather was finally clear and sunny without fog!!  Winds were really light today so the ride across was very smooth.  We passed a gigantic freighter, fishing boats and got to see a lot of dolphin - so cool! The first stop on the GICWW was at Homeport Marina and Lulu's restaurant.  Now Lulu is Jimmy Buffet's sister and this location is quite the place to visit.  I had my Cheesburger in Paradise and Regina did the local shrimp.  We met a couple here who is touring the USA in their RV while towing motorcycles for local travel. A grand time was had by all with Buffet music playing in the background!!  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/909771

Lulu's has it all - indoor and outdoor fun

Day 16 took us from Lulu's to Pensacola Beach which included some GICWW and several large bays.  It was sunny and fairly warm, but the wind started to blow pretty strong directly from the east so we were headed straight into it which made for some waves on the bow.  There were no dolphin to be seen today, but we were concentrating on finding markers.  The wind roughed up the water and we were taking an occasional spray over the bow.  Yes, I did want that glass windshield with wipers for a reason.  We finally got Pensacola in sight and began hunting for the marina entry.  All of the landmarks were in plain sight, but they didn't match the verbal instructions.  It turned out to be a sort of water mirage and we located the channel into the marina and got tied up with assistance as the wind was now blowing at about 16 mph.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/909772

Pensacola Beach Marina

So now we have spent days 17, 18, 19 and 20 at Pensacola Beach Marina.  The idea was to stay for maybe three days, but the front that was coming in on Monday has not moved out.  There has been heavy rain showers, thunderstorms and high winds every day.  My buddy Tom, his wife and two daughters live here so we have gotten to visit with them, dine at some great places, view a fabulous sunset and visit downtown Pensacola.  What a really cool city!!  Tom tells me the place was a dump not all that many years ago and has been resurrected into a beautiful place.  Amazing houses, both large and small, shops, restaurants, parks, Christmas lights and even a marina right downtown.  

Peg Leg's is a Pensacola Beach tradition

Entry to The Bridge

Sunset from The Bridge deck

Three layer key lime pie at Flounders!!!

So hopefully tomorrow will be the day we head for Destin.  Weather is forecast to be sunny!!  The wind may not have died down completely but should be much less than the last few days.  Wish us luck - at least it's not snowing like it is in Atlanta!!