The conditions were perfect when we sailed from Panama City to Port St. Joes and we made good time. So far our timing has been bang on for favorable sea conditions ... when sailing outside the waterway....and again, we had dolphins swimming with us much of the way.
It was too early to stop when we arrived at St Joes so we carried on via the Gulf County Canal and the GIWW. It was a very pleasant but long 10-hour day and we were glad to finally set the hook in Saul Creek just short of Apalachicola.
*yawn* I know this is boring but I'm doing this for me too so I have an account of this journey. Stay with me.....
The next day we motored through St George Sound, which is wide open but very shallow. There was no sailing as we had to stay in a very narrow buoyed channel The wind had picked up and the sea state was ugly. After 5 hours of pounding into short nasty waves (and much gnashing of teeth) we made it to this nice protected harbour and the quaint town of Carabelle.
We will stay here in Carabelle for a few days to wait for the next weather window to cross to Tarpon Springs, which will be 170 miles and another overnighter. I'm praying our luck continues for smooth seas. They say this stretch of ocean can be ugly in the wrong conditions. The Gulf is shallow here and is known for, what they call, "square waves". Some have said it's like sailing over 18-wheelers! Thursday looks to be our window with NE wind around 15 knots. We're anxiously looking forward to it....but more about that. ...next time.
The Moorings Marina Carabelle
It always looks like our mast won't fit under these bridges.
But of course it does.
There are many ruins along the waterway.
I love the fishing boats.
It's also amazing how many sunken and abandoned boats we've seen.
Stayin' with ya' Janice. :)
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