Destin, FL to Carrabelle, FL

Total Miles Traveled 943

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Destin Harbor was a great safe place to watch the hurricane movement across south Florida.  We anchored here for eight days waiting for not one, but two hurricanes to die out before continuing across the panhandle.  This is the first time since we started our adventures in 2015 that an active hurricane has been in the region this late in the year.

 Best Mate anchored in the middle of the picture.

Veterans Day Air Show

As we were relaxing on the back deck, we didn't expect pirates!

On November 14^th, we weighed anchor and traveled 67 miles to Shell Island, this island separates the Gulf of Mexico and St Andrews Bay at Panama City Beach.

We kicked our sandals off and walked the beach for quite awhile, when we returned the tide had risen up the beach.  If we had been another half hour we may have lost them. 

With the wind shifting from the north, we moved to Pearl Bayou, only 10 miles and across East Bay from Panama City.  This is a protected anchorage from most winds and we anchor here almost every time we pass through the area.

An Air Force Base is near this anchorage, we get an awesome display of low flying jets.

Sunrise before departing.

We traveled 40 miles November 17^th to an oxbow anchorage near White City Florida.  On our way, we passed a Staten Island Ferry from New York.  At the time we couldn’t figure out why it would be so far from New York City.  As we traveled several miles east we passed a shipyard building two more ferries, I guess New York is retiring the current ferries or adding to the fleet.  We took the ferry across Hudson Bay to New York City during our Loop in 2016.

We watched three alligators while anchored in the oxbow for two days.   

Thats a little one to the left of the Blue Heron.

We are anchored miles from the nearest town which makes star gazing awesome.  The very small orange dot is Mars and the white dot is the International Space Station moving across the sky.

We shined a light around the shore to see if we could see a reflection of the red eyes of an alligator, no alligators but the creepy sound of wild hogs in the pitch black of night. 

Looper friends Inked Mermaid

And Lila Blue

After anchoring near White City a couple of days, we traveled 46 miles to Carrabelle, FL and rented a slip at the C-Quarters Marina. This is our last stop before the 180 mile crossing of the Gulf to Clearwater, FL.  We had planned to do an overnight crossing on the 21^st of November but the sea conditions changed making the crossing above our comfort level.  We have no schedule and if it isn’t fun, we don’t go.

Someone was very creative with the empties.

As of today, November 26^th it’s shaping up to be a smooth overnight crossing tomorrow afternoon and arriving at Clearwater around 11 a.m. on the 28^th.   

Happy Thanksgiving!!!