Burnt Store Marina, Punta Gorda,FL

The sun was just coming up when we were going under the Clearwater bridge headed into the Gulf of Mexico.

We're having coffee on Monday as we leave Clearwater!

We left Clearwater at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, December 8th and arrived at Burnt Store Marina at about 2:00 p.m. Bob and I had left here May 5th and it was a great feeling to be back here again.






















I will have one more post after I have compiled all our information.

Clearwater, FL

Saturday, December 6th we were all up at 5:30 to get ready for our crossing. We needed to leave as soon as we could see the buoys to leave the marina. At 7:00 it was light enough and we left along with 2 other boats that were also making the trip. We decided to take the longer route closer to shore because the harbor master suggested the seas might be calmer. The seas were about 2-3 ft. and the wind at 8 to 10 knots. When we were out of East Pass and cruising about 17.9 knots the water was coming over the flybridge and a good time to move the pilothouse for the rest of the trip.















You can never have too many pairs of eyes watching!!!







We arrived in Clearwater, FL at 4:15, a little over 9 hours after traveling about 180 miles. The time seemed to fly by as we're pretty good at entertaining ourselves while cruising!

We stayed in Clearwater on Sunday also due to the windy weather. Bob and I are anxious to get back to Burnt Store marina but we still need to have low seas to travel from here out in the gulf to home!

Apalachicola & Carrabelle, FL

Wednesday, Dec. 3rd Bob and I left Panama City about 7:30 central time or 8:30 eastern time. We changed time zones today. This must be a sign we're getting close to home!! The temperature was 39 degrees and it was windy and cold. Most of today was in a sheltered part of the river and a lot of it was very shallow. We arrived in Apalachicola, FL about 3:00 and tied up to the dock right in front of the restaurant. When people are eating they look right out at our boat!





We didn't have far to walk to eat tonight!!!











Sunrise in Apalachicola







Carrabelle is our last stop on the panhandle of Florida. We left Apalachicola about 9:00 on Thursday and now we are in open water in the Gulf of Mexico but it is well marked. We were at "The Moorings at Carrabelle" marina by 1:00, having traveled only about 35 miles. This time we are tied up to the dock right by their office. It sure is nice not having to walk very far to places. The IGA grocery store was right across the street. There weren't any restaurants close by so the marina provides a service to provide a ride to and from any place you want to go.


Friday morning Bob went to a meeting at 6:30 a.m. that the harbor master schedules to give information to boaters waiting to do "the crossing". The crossing is the trip from Carrabelle to some city along the west coast of Florida-usually about 180 miles. This takes place across the Gulf of Mexico and for most boaters should be done in only good weather!!! We are going to Clearwater. Saturday looks like a good day and John & Joanie will be back by Friday afternoon to go with us across.

Panama City, FL

Bob, John, Joanie and I left Sandestin on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd for Panama City, FL. We didn't leave until about 8:30 because we only had 50 miles to go today. Most of the trip was on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway so it was on protected water. The weather was cold and windy, so again we were in the pilothouse most of the way. We were there by 1:00 so Joanie and I had a lot of time to go to the airport and get their rental car. They left us here to go to Orlando and meet Joanie's son and family at Disney World.






Our wake when just cruising slow and easy!











Joanie is watching the lines when fueling in Panama City.