(The blooger apologizes for the length of this post... lots to report)
We cast off our lines at Carrabelle Marina right on time and were underway by 3 pm Monday with our buddy boats Ten-Seven (42' Sea Ray) and Thunderbolt (40' trawler) . Going out for a cruise at the time we normally come in was very different as we experienced everything in reverse order. We saw a beautiful sunset as we launched, cruised in near complete darkness instead of daylight, neared the end of the journey at sunrise and docked in brilliant morning sunshine.
The trip took 21 hours dock to dock, about 14 hours of it on the Gulf. As predicted, the wind and waves were nice and made for a smooth ride on gentle 1 foot rollers (no one got sea sick). The boat hummed throughout the night as we took turns staring at the chart plotter and gauges The crew didn't sleep much but got a few winks here and there. We entered the Anclote River in pre-dawn darkness and soon heard a warning from the lead boat that they just saw a crab pot. Crab pots are a boating hazard. The cages rest on the bottom and are attached by line to small floating balls. If you hit one, the lines can get wrapped around your boat's shafts and props and can be a terrible mess. Once we spotted the first one we slowed to idle speed and spent the next 6 hours picking our way between row after row of pots. Slow going was even more challenging looking into bright sunshine for the sneaky little balls.
The Tarpon Springs City Marina is a real treat. It is located 3 miles up the Anclote River in a picturesque village that has a strong Greek heritage. Tarpon has a history of sponge production and fishing. Now it offers a ton charm with great Greek food and cute shops. This morning the crew is enjoying wonderful baklava and other pastries for breakfast from a local bakery.
We will spend 3 nights in the marina and then on to the next adventure!
"If it's going to happen... it's going to happen out there."
- Captain Ron
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