Carabelle and the Gulf Crossing

We had delightful weather and conditions for our 8 hour cruise from Port St Joe to Carrabelle.

 

 

 

 

The scenery reminded us so much of cruising on the upper Tenn-Tom Waterway.

 

 

 

 

 

After passing under the Apalachicola Bridge, we were greeted by four shrimp boats bringing home their catch!

 

 

 

 

 

This is a view the Captain OFTEN has of his First Mate . . . . . . .

 

 

 

. . . . . . . because she's ALWAYS taking pictures of her friends, the dolphins!

 

 

 

 

 After a smooth crossing in Apalachicola Bay, we head up the Carrabelle River.

 

 

 

 

Carrabelle is a small fishing village in the Florida Panhandle that is the jumping-off point for the Gulf crossing.

We had an "interesting" time getting Spiritus into C-Quarters Marina.

The tide was still coming in, running perpendicular to her assigned slip.

Soon after our arrival we enjoyed "docktails" with fellow Loopers at The Moorings Marina.

Much of the talk was about the next day's plan to cross the Gulf.

The crew of Spiritus sitting at the same table they sat at two years ago when planning "the crossing".

 

 Sunset on the Carrabelle River.

 

 

 

 

 At the local IGA grocery store, a stock boy put forth a lot of effort in building this display out of soda cartons.

 

 

 

 

 The waterfront porch of C-Quarters Marina has many handmade rocking chairs, as well as this swing. 

Many hours can be spent sitting and enjoying the river view and "mastering the moment"! 

 

 

 

 

Spiritus took the lead when entering the Gulf and was soon joined by 13 other Looper trawlers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 The water clarity was pristine in the Gulf, as this picture of "hitchhikers" proves!

About 5 hours after sundown, I walked out to the bow, shined a spotlight into the water, and there were STILL dolphin riding in the bow wake!

Miles and miles out into the Gulf, with no land in sight, the First Mate poses in this beautiful sunset.

 



 In this picture, the moon has just completed coming fully above the horizon.

Before this shot, it was DARK out there!

 

 

 

 



 

After a long night through the darkness, the crew moved up to the flybridge with their coffee to watch the sunrise.

 

 

 

 

As we got within 20 miles of shore, "the enemy" started showing up!

Out of our flotilla of 14 trawlers, only one got tangled up in a crab pot line.

They made it to the marina on their own power, but a diver later removed the line.

 

 

The first of many drawbridges to come, the Dunedin/Honeymoon Island Bridge opens up for Spiritus.

 

 

Spiritus makes her way to her slip at Marker 1 Marina in Dunedin, Florida.

 

 

 

 

The marina staff knows how to make you feel "at home"!

A toast to a successful Gulf crossing and another better-than-average day!