We didn't have far to go but it felt like forever because of the rough conditions. We left at 8:30 to wait for the winds to die down a little, but it didn't help. The winds were 21 knots and the waves were 2-3 feet every 3 seconds crossing Apalachicola Bay. At first they were on the beam and we couldn't wait to turn into them. There were actually small craft warnings for the bay. 😳 After 5 hours and 32 NM we finally made it to our destination of The Moorings at Carabelle. We were initially told to go into slip K but our bow thruster was not working to starboard and with the wind and a large boat in the slip to port we ended up going in slip M. Again, fixed docks. UGH, we had to use the ladder. Hal hooked up a line as a handrail for me because of my balance issues. The slip was on the opposite side of the marina so it was about a10 minute walk to the office and a 5 minute walk to the bathrooms and laundry. There was only one washer and one dryer which was not good since there were so many loopers at this marina. I got my laundry done that first day. I can't wait for us to get the new washer/dryer for the boat. The problem is we need to order it to a place we know we will be for a few days and that it will arrive when it says it will arrive.
Thanksgiving dinner.
Mary's sister Joan and her significant other, Bob, came to stay with Mary and Chris. The first night we went to dinner at Fathom's with them, David and Lynn from Knot Fast, and James and Mike who were on Spinning Dreams. There were many other loopers there also.
Each night at the marina at 5:00 there is a captain's meeting to discuss crossing the Gulf of Mexico. There are different groups, fast boats going daylight, boats going overnight and people like us going to Rim Route.
The restaurant we had Thanksgiving dinner.
Thursday a pot luck was organized for Thanksgiving but we had already made reservations at a local country club for a buffet. Bob shuttled us to the restaurant in two car loads. The place was beautiful in a nice community. The dinner was delicious and we enjoyed prime rib along with the traditional Thanksgiving fare.
On Friday, Brenda and I walked into town to see what was around. We stopped in the first store and bought a few things. I asked the proprietors if there was a fish market and they told us about one a little farther up the road. Brenda and I discussed we were in boats in the marina and it would be a far walk back. The shop owner offered to drive us to the fish market after we were done exploring the town. There were a few stores we went into including a furniture store. When we stopped in there the store owner had just received an order or donuts. We asked about a donut shop but was told it was in a different town. The shop owner ended up giving us each a donut. I have to say that was one of the best donuts I have ever had!
The elephant I made for Sydney.
In the afternoon, Hal and I walked into town to mail the elephant that I had made for Sydney. We stopped Carabelle Junction, a little soda shop and had a delicious lunch with Mary and Chris. On the way back we stopped in the IGA for some provisioning. It was a small store and had NO SNAPPLE! Hal is running out.
Lunch with Mary and Chris.
Saturday, I walked back to IGA for food for a Chanukah dinner that I planned for Monday night at Steinhatchee. I also got some fried chicken and Korean food for dinner that night.
We left around 14:30 to go to Dog Island for an anchorage closer to the Gulf to get a head start on the crossing the next day. We were concerned about running out of daylight due to the length of the trip. It was a beautiful anchorage right next to the inlet. What a difference the weather makes. We could never have stayed here on Wednesday. There were 10 boats all together who were anchored out ready for the next day. We were all headed to Steinhatchee but traveled at different speeds so we met them at the marina.
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