Mike and Patty's Great Loop Adventure 2018-2019

Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, Alabama to City Docks in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Day #134: Up at 4:45 A.M. it was overcast, rainy and 42 degrees. Engines were on at 5:45 A.M. With the help of Ray from "Houligan Again", "Parrot Bay" and "Bay Tripper" were away from the dock at 6:05 A.M. We arrived at The Wharf at 6:35 A.M. where we met up with "Island Girl" who took the lead of "Parrot Bay" and "Bay Tripper" since they are more familiar with this area. We crossed with tow boat "Miss Sammy Lee" at 7:50 A.M. At 8:05 A.M. we crossed into Florida there was a very nice sign welcoming us to Florida. At 9:30 A.M. we crossed Pensacola Bay with 1-2 foot waves on the port beam. We crossed with the "Gregory P. Frazier" at 10:05 A.M. At 11:40 A.M. crossed with "Jefferson". On the GCICW you must stay in the marked channel or your could have no water under boat. There are very narrow areas where if a tow if going through they will ask you to hold off until they navigate the very small channel. At 1:05 P.M. we were asked by the "Mobile" to hold and wait until he navigated the very narrow channel. At 1:30 P.M. we crossed with "Lady Terea" At 2:00 P.M. we were off of Fort Walton Beach following behind the towboat "Stephanie Kenelly". I'm sure that you are all thinking the same thing: wow they are still seeing tons of tows! - YUP that is what we are thinking as well. We thought that we would be done with the tows as well. At 2:30 P.M. we were secure at the free city dock in Fort Walton Beach. We thought that there was going to be electricity on the dock but there is no electricity. Bruce and Bev were very kind letting us hook up to them as they are running their generator. They were also very kind offering for us to stay with them on their boat but I think that we are going to be okay tonight. After getting settled at the dock I called registering all of our boats with City Hall. City Hall lets the Fort Walton Beach Police Department know that there are boats on the dock for the evening. I called cancelling our reservation at the Fort Walton Beach Yacht Basin as we decided to tie up to the free city dock. The group has also decided that tomorrow evening we are going to anchor as it will save us 2 hours tomorrow and 2 hours Friday morning of travel if we do not go to the marina, which is down a long channel that is several miles off the main route. It is one of the few marinas in Panama City not damaged by the hurricane. Today we traveled 68 miles (total miles for the trip 2042). At 4:30 P.M. Ken, Karen, Wayne, Bruce, Bev, Mike and I walked to KC's Sandbar and Grille for dinner. Back at the boat at 6:30 P.M. time for blogging and preparing for tomorrow mornings departure.

This is the plan that we have set up for now:

Thursday, November 15th: we are going to anchor in an anchorage near Panama City. There are a few good ones so we need to pick.

Friday, November 16th: Scipio Creek in Apalachicola, FL (they are full at this time but I need to call back Thursday afternoon -we are anticipating that loopers will be leaving heading to Carrabelle, FL)

Saturday, November 17th: We will leave Apalachicola, FL at about 1:00 P.M. heading toward Dog Island (this is where all of the other loopers will be heading) We will leave Dog Island around 3:00 P.M. Most loopers will go to Tarpon Springs, FL but we are going to head to Clearwater, FL which we are hearing is much easier to get into than Tarpon Springs (but it is about 20 miles further). We will be on the water for approximately 21 hours and 46 minutes.

Sunday, November 18th & Monday November 19th: Clearwater Municipal Marina to sleep! It sounds like we are going to be celebrating Thanksgiving with "Island Girl" and "Bay Tripper' in Sarasota 🦃

Ken from "Island Girl" got on the VHF radio letting us know that we are going to be seeing lots of these signs in Florida. He told us to get use to it.

Banana Bay at Perdido Key.

Our welcome to Florida!

"Island Girl" going through a very narrow area on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway. If you get out of the channel you will most likely run a ground.