Clearwater, FL to Iuka, MS

Total Miles Traveled 2839.2

When arriving at our anchorage at Clearwater Beach, FL on April 7^th, our plan was to stay a day or two then cross the Gulf of Mexico when the weather settled, we ended up staying at Clearwater Beach for 28 days.  Several consecutive cold fronts moved across the Gulf causing wave heights to exceed our safe cruising guidelines……..if it’s not fun, we don’t go.

We had a great time during our stay though; our friends Mike and Jan on “Trust Me” only stayed a couple of nights then continued north anchoring around the panhandle of Florida as weather permitted.   Our friends Randy and Sherri on “Priorities” arrived a few days later and we explored the area with our dingy and were still able to visit the Clearwater Beach Marina and a few stores and restaurants (take out only) during the virus shutdown.

“Priorities”

After several days on the hook, we moved to the Clearwater Beach Marina to pump out our holding tank and pick up a few groceries.  We stayed a week, and then returned to our anchorage.

Frenchy’s is a popular dockside restaurant but during the virus shutdown inside dining was closed.  They placed numbers along the dock where you tie up.  To place an order, you call them and provide the dock number next to your boat.  They take your order and credit card number and a few minutes later, someone arrives with your food and drink.  We visited here several times during our stay…..awesome fresh seafood sandwiches.   

We also had access to a public dock a few miles from our boat, from there we could walk to a Publix grocery store for supplies.

Nice Boat Name

On May 1^st, we weighed anchor and cruised 14 miles to an anchorage near Tarpon Springs, FL.  At sunrise on May 2^nd we started one leg of our crossing to Cedar Key, FL, 73 miles.

At sunrise on May 3^rd, we continued on our second leg of our crossing from Cedar Key to Dog Island, near Carrabelle, FL, 116 miles.

Priorities leaving Cedar Key channel.

Carrabelle Florida is one of our favorite stops; it’s an “old Florida” coastal town with very low fuel prices.  On May 4^th we topped off our fuel tanks at $1.45 a gallon, and then continued on to an Anchorage at Panama City, 91 miles.

During this time of year the chances of spring flooding can delay our travels north, we were held up at Mobile, AL 18 days last year waiting on the river to crest from heavy rain.   Since crossing the Gulf we decided to keep moving with improving river conditions and pass through our first lock at Coffeeville, AL. 

On June 5^th we anchored near Navarre, FL and were treated to an unusual sight.  There is a heavy military presence in the panhandle of Florida and we see all types of aircraft when passing through here.  During this anchorage we happen to be across the bay from a rescue training exercise.  An Osprey is a tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing, and short takeoff and landing capabilities.  You can see the rescue victim being hoisted to the aircraft.

May 6^th we continued to another of our favorite anchorages, Pirates Cove.  Although the virus has shutdown most of the country, some businesses have made adjustments to remain open.

We stopped at a marina near Orange Beach for a pump out, this cement structure was inside of the face dock.

On May 7^th we decided to make another long day of it and cross Mobile Bay and into the Alabama River.  We anchored at the Tensas River junction, 92.6 miles, and then anchored at Three Rivers junction on May 8^th, then through our first lock at Coffeeville on May 9^th.  River current flows are much less between the locks.  We had very good conditions all the way up.

Mobile Bay, the birds are looking for fish in our wake.  The bay was muddy from the previous flooding along the northern rivers.

After anchoring at Bashi Creek, we arrived at Demopolis, Al on May 10^th and stayed at the marina through the 12^th.  Finally a chance to wash all of the salt off the boat!  We have been traveling with “Priorities” since Clearwater but they decided to keep moving to Columbus, MS where we’ll meet again going north. 

On May 15^th we were anchored near Columbus, MS and met “Priorities” as they were leaving the Columbus Marina.  We passed through the next six locks together and arrived at Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina on May 16^th. 

We’re staying at Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina until June 14^th catching up on oil and filter changes, maintenance, mail, and ordering needed supplies.

Our son Brian and grandkids Britini and Eyan drove down for a visit during the Memorial Day weekend.  We had a great time anchoring out and fishing.  We’re looking forward to spending a lot of time with our family when we return to Green Turtle Bay in a few weeks.

With the water temperature around 75 degrees, I opted for my wet suit to check out any growth on my bow thruster.

One of our projects while here, was installing a new motor for our dinghy.  Although the 15 hp Johnson we had ran great, it was a two cycle motor, not fuel efficient, and smelling 2 cycle exhaust was not pleasant.  Tohatsu, which makes most of the outboard motors under 20 hp for other brands, had a promotional offer thru May 31.  We purchased a 15hp, fuel injected, electric start outboard, with a five year warranty and free shipping to the Marina.  We sold the old motor on the local Craigslist a few days after listing it.

With the old motor removed, we were able to turn the dinghy over on the dock and remove the previous owners boat name from the bottom.  It was painted on pretty thick, plus the bottom hadn't been waxed since we've owned the boat.

We plan to arrive at Green Turtle Bay Marina around the third week in June.

Fort Myers, FL to Clearwater, FL

Total Miles Traveled 1883.2

Unfortunately we have had to postpone our adventure to the Chesapeake Bay area until next year.  The decision to hold up at Fort Myers for a couple of weeks shed more light on the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that it was probably going to get worse before getting any better. 

We enjoyed our stay at our friends dock, about 11 miles from downtown Fort Myers.  We had power and water at the dock and about a mile from a grocery, CVS, and a Dollar General.  I rode the bike in once to pick up a couple of things but our friends David and Barbara took us to the grocery and a farmers market before we left, okay now we have to reset the fourteen day quarantine clock. During our stay we waxed on the boat, changed the oil and filter on the generator, and watched the gators swim about the boat looking for a handout.....or a hand.

Moni turned this wine bottle into a decorative water bottle.

We were also amazed at the fishing skills of the local marine life.  I can’t believe they can catch a fish this size, but also swallow it whole!  It will catch the fish, keep shaking it, dipping it in and out of the water, then with one quick jerk, gets the fish straight in line with its neck, then gulp….okay maybe a couple of gulps to get it all the way down.

We departed Fort Myers on Friday April 3^rd and cruised 48 miles to Punta Blanca Island.  We normally travel on weekdays to avoid the weekend congestion of boaters but during social distancing and many businesses being closed, we didn’t see much difference. 

Our friends Mike and Jan on m/v Trust Me left Key West and caught up with us at our anchorage.  They had a battery charger fail and I have a spare, so they were going to use our spare until their new one could be shipped to Mobile.  We were going to raft up together but as they were pulling alongside of us a Florida marine patrol boat followed them in and informed us that the social distancing rules in Florida required boats to be anchored at least 50 feet apart?????  The rules also say no more than 10 people on board, so we can’t raft up and stay on our boats but a pontoon can have 10 people on board?  Oh well, it’s a new experience for everyone.  The officer said we could exchange the needed part, but would have to anchor apart.

We had some unexpected entertainment while anchored here; we had five Manatees swimming around our boats all afternoon.  We have only seen two here during previous anchorages so this was a real treat.

Back Stroke?

 They liked my anchor chain and bridle for some reason.

Moni caught a couple of Puffer Fish?  When she caught them they were the size of a catfish but when we took them off the hook, wow!

We weighed anchor April 6^th and cruised 53 miles to Sarasota.  We had to pass through eight bridges but only two of them had to open for us.  We anchored close to the Ringling Bridge and Mike and Jan continued on to visit family near Gulfport, FL.

On April 7^th we cruised 57 miles to an anchorage at Clearwater Beach, FL. This is a well-protected anchorage and with possible scattered thunderstorms predicted for the next week or so, this will be a good place to wait for a Gulf crossing opportunity.  We were treated to a “Pink Moon” the second evening we were anchored.

Tadaaa!

Mike and Jan arrived from their visit at Gulfport yesterday, looks like we’re complying with the 50 foot rule.  Now, if we go to the Clearwater Beach Marina, we can be in a slip next to each other without being 50 feet apart. J

It looks like we may be here a couple of weeks, waiting on calm waters in the Gulf before we can move north.  Our preference is to cross in three days instead of a 22 hour overnight crossing.