As planned I arrived in Indiantown Wednesday and met up with David and Laura, who had arrived from NS on Tuesday. We’ve been getting organized and gathering supplies. The plan is to depart here on Saturday, head for Fort Lauderdale, and watch for a weather window to cross over to Bimini.
I’m excited. It’s nice to connect with old friends, and Laura has food organized for our month in the islands. Another old friend from NS is visiting for a few days in early March. Should be fun.
I’m anchored here for the night.
I haven’t written as I slowed down after getting down from Crystal River. Spent a couple of days in Clearwater Beach, rented a car and visited my uncle, picked up some groceries, and explored the area. I like it. There were smallcraft warnings and the weather was cool, so maybe that kept everyone off the water. Today was a bit of a zoo on the ICW coming down here from Clearwater.
Now I’m headed for Lake Okeechobee. I did that trip 5 years ago on Escapade and enjoyed that segment. The current plan is to be in Indiantown late Wednesday to meet David and Laura.
I’m anchored here in King’s Bay. Tomorrow it’s down to Tarpon Springs to rejoin the Gulf ICW.
The weather has been perfect for traveling. Calm and clear. Tuesday was a straight shot from Carabelle to Steinhatchee, and yesterday I came here. Tomorrow will be another nice day before a system comes through on Sunday.
I took my kayak in to the springs this morning and saw lots of manatees, but didn’t take any pictures. When I returned later in the afternoon they were gone. So no pics this visit. I do have pics of a coal barge going in to the power plant.
There are about 20 loopers here waiting for a weather window to get across the open waters between here and Tarpon Springs. Many are leaving tomorrow, including me.
I like it here. Good anchorage and a few shops and restaurants. I finally met Ted and Sarah from Manatee after five years of occasional spottings.
I’m heading to Steinhatchee from here, leaving early in the morning. It’s about 70 miles straight across. There will be a few of us.
I didn’t quite make it here yesterday. Around dusk it got quite foggy on the cut section. I stopped and anchored in an oxbow, then continued on down to here this morning. Went in to town for lunch.
Tomorrow I’ll noodle over to Carrabelle. There are about a dozen loopers gathering to head across the Big Bend. Looks like decent weather early next week.
In other news, I’ve turned on my satellite tracking. Keep up with me for the next few months here.
I filled up yesterday near Destin, and realized that I had filled up exactly three months ago in Chicago.
For that three month period I’ve been aboard 7 of 13 weeks.
Total fuel: 306 gallons, 1,155 l
Engine hours: 241
Distance traveled: 1,854 miles, 2,985 km
I usually track furnace hours, but had a glitch with the hour meter after leaving Memphis. It was at 80 hours then, and I’d estimate 40 hours since. That would be 55 gallons. So 250 gallons for the engine.
Here’s to cruising slow downstream!
I’ve been slugging through the sounds against moderate easterly winds. No big deal, but a long way from anything interesting, and generally adverse currents. Ah well. Today I got to go through a ~20 mile cut straight through the swamp to connect two sounds. It’s nice to be close to shore again.
I’m anchored here, sheltered from SE wind. Tomorrow I’ll probably get to Apachicola and stop for a spell.
I’ve been chugging east the last couple of days. Today I stopped for the night here at Fort Walton Beach. Went ashore for a meal out and some groceries.
It’s very quiet around here. Their busy season is summer time, when people come for the beaches.
The cold broke a couple of days ago, and it’s now rainy for the next few days¹q. I’ve got 2-3 days of travel left on the GICW, then will be watching for decent weather to cut across the Big Bend area.
Need to get fuel tomorrow. I haven’t topped up since leaving Memphis. That’ll probably be a new record distance on a tank.
I’m out of the rivers and bayous and into the Gulf. Tonight I’m anchored here.
Yesterday I left Houma and headed east to the Boomtown Casino just south of the Harvey Lock. I anchored in the basin next door with the buffet in mind, but it’s no longer offered, so I stayed on the boat.
Today it was a smooth trip up through the Harvey Lock, down the river past downtown New Orleans, and down through the Industrial Lock and west out of Louisiana and into Mississippi.
Wind is NE about 15 knots and there is a wind chill warning with overnight lows below freezing. Comfy inside.
I arrived at the town dock last night after dark. I’m feeling pretty comfortable around the commercial traffic, and there’s not much else on or in the water.
Today is a lay day, and I may stay tomorrow as well. I need to lay in groceries. I’m not in any rush now.
I like the trip east on the GICW from here to the panhandle. It’ll be relaxed travel for the next while.
Lots of interesting boats and machines around here.
Boating Adventures 