Punta Blanca Island to Carrabelle, FL

Total Miles Traveled 2407.2

Wow, I was thinking I need to update the blog when we arrive at Carrabelle…..it’s been a couple of weeks, then when I looked at my last post realized it’s been one month ago today!  I know it’s hard to believe but time goes so fast, we’ve even had people ask if we ever get bored, we just don’t have time to.  Whether were anchored, or at a marina, we are always busy doing something. 

We anchored at Punta Blanca Island March 4^th and stayed for seven days, this is by far one of our favorite places on the Gulf Coast.  We took care of a few maintenance items and organized, then reorganized some of our storage areas.  Of course we also took time to watch Mother Nature whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Just when you think you’re in your own little world, miles from the nearest person, something snaps you back to reality.  We were enjoying our quite little anchorage when we heard a rumble in the distance, getting closer and closer, then just above the tree line a helicopter appeared, then descended into the trees.  We’re not sure of its purpose, but ten minutes later it took off again disappearing over the island.

Another great breakfast on the boat.

We left Punta Blanca Island March 11 cutting across Tampa Bay with favorable seas.  This is a major shipping channel and we have only seen ships a couple of times while crossing.  We made it across the channel this time just before a ship passed under the Skyway Bridge.

We continued on to an anchorage at Bird Key, near Sarasota, and then on March 12^th we traveled to an anchorage at Redington Shores.  On March 14^th we made the short trip to Gulfport, FL city marina for a two week stay while visiting family on the Florida east coast.  We really enjoyed seeing everyone and had a great visit.  There is one thing we don’t miss as full time cruisers, the traffic.  It didn’t matter what time of day we traveled Interstate 4, we could rarely drive the speed limit, or use the cruise control, stop, go, slow down, speed up………..I’m very comfortable cruising 8 mph on the waterways.

We left Gulfport on March 28^th and anchored near Clearwater FL, then continued on to an anchorage at Anclote Key March 29th. 

Passing Three Rookers Island on our way to Anclote Key.

The Anclote Keys lighthouse stands 102 feet high and was originally built in 1887 and then automated in 1952.  The Coast Guard deactivated it in 1984 and it was turned over to the state of Florida.  Anclote Key is now a state park and the lighthouse was restored in 2003.  The light can be seen for about 20 miles.

On March 30^th we started our Gulf crossing to Cedar Keys, about 70 miles.   The anchorage is located in a very shallow area and is exposed to the open waters of the Gulf.  We have to time this crossing to have favorable weather conditions to get from Anclote Key, to Cedar Keys, then to Steinhatchee.  Steinhatchee has a marina located about 5 miles inland providing protection from unfavorable sea conditions.

Anchored at Cedar Key looking through the channel markers to the Gulf.

We arrived at Steinhatchee on March 31^st, a 60 mile cruise to the Sea Hag Marina.  We stayed here until March 3^rd as a weather front moved through stirring up the Gulf.

On March 3^rd, we arrived at Carrabelle Fl, this was our longest part of the crossing at 84 miles.  Every time we cruise this route we see spotted dolphins, they act different than the other dolphins we have seen in the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean.  They are high energy dolphins, swimming in every direction around the boat, jumping high out of the water and darting from side to side.  I actually picked them up on our radar a couple of years ago jumping out of the water.  Six or eight of them traveled with us for about 15 minutes during this crossing.

We met these loopers at Carrabelle; they started at Ft. Pierce Florida last year.  They left early the next day so I didn’t get a chance to talk to them very long, I think they said they were from the Netherlands.  A very unique boat, that he referred to as a ship.

m/v Broadsword

We are back in the protected waters of the Intracoastal Waterway so timing the wind and waves won’t be as much of an issue.  We still have several open bodies of water to cross, but nothing like the Gulf.  The last word we heard was the waterways are open from Mobile to Demopolis but the area of the Aberdeen lock will be closed for at least another three weeks.  That shouldn't pose a problem as we won’t be in that area until mid-May.