The Gulf Crossing

The Moorings of Carrabelle marina at 4:45am

December 2.   As I type this, we are in the final throes of the Gulf crossing. Given the fact that I can type is proof positive that this trip was far more gentle than either of us had imagined...so far, anyway! 

We spent much of yesterday motion-proofing the cabin interior and decks; Clay showed up at dinner with a 3/4" rope of considerable length, intending to hog-tie the table and chairs together. Oh my! (I balked at this; he grinned and shied away; but I noted this morning that, in fact, the table and chairs are hog-tied; that's a bit overboard, don't you think!)

The channel leading out of Carrabelle at 5am

Various impressions have struck me as we've journeyed across the 170+ miles of the Gulf crossing...there's a lotta watta out there! Too, having no cell coverage, we opted to turn on the 60's XM radio station.  Hooray for the likes of the Beach Boys and the Mamas and Papas entertaining us because playing I SPY gets a little old after awhile (it's enthralling to spot a few dolphins, a duck, a seagull,  a boat, a sea turtle (?); I'm sure John Lersch or Bob Mustell would correct me on the ident of the fowl!).

First light!  About 10 miles out.

I had time to start--and finish--a dishcloth! Thanks, Cathy Taylor, for resurrecting my knitting skills; they've been put to good use! Betty Asquith, this one's for you as you're the one who was so concerned having me out in the wide open water! Thanks for your concern!

Sunrise, a pretty pink on the horizon.

Clay's body decided to stage a reenactment of his Thanksgiving malady last night. As such and knowing this was our weather window for crossing, I got a crash course in boat driving--more explicitly, auto piloting. He'd done his homework and had set the route on the GPS Chart Plotter, making my job relatively easy (the auto pilot follows the track). But, I must say I've spent far more time at the helm than I ever intended. As I said, I WILL be on that Dec 13th flight home!

Showing our flags in the warm, sun

Sunny, mostly clear skies.

Our plan was to get up by 4 a.m. and start the prep for departure this morning from Carabelle. Done deal! We beat the clock alarm by 10 minutes. I won't say we awakened to a cloudless sky; in fact, it was quite dark at 3:50 a.m., too dark to see clouds or no clouds, and stayed that way till dawn's early light about 6:30'ish. What an experience to have nothing else to do but watch the auto pilot and the dawn breaking! Not cloudless sky, but pretty darn good conditions for crossing today. We've had to hold tight to handrails as we walk about the boat; but the pitching and tossing hasn't happened.

First Mate taking a cat nap--yes the Capt. was at the helm.

I told Clay midway thru this cruise that I'm more valuable to this crossing than I thought I'd be (I'd offered for him to recruit another first mate in lieu of me but he declined); conversely, he has been less valuable than I thought he'd be. I've dubbed us Captain Sal and Sleeping Beauty. He's certainly caught up on his sleep from lack thereof the past night or so. Admittedly, I did take a brief nap mid-morning; 3:50 a.m. is early, even for me!

After reading this draft to him, I asked, "OK?" He said, "NO, I'd get more graphic! I've had 14 hours of hell." I'm sure he means his health and not the boat trip! We're now into crab pots, so I'd better sign off and help spot them...I SPY again, or kinda like hunting Easter eggs that are NOT a treasure to find, but rather to avoid!

Pirate ship on the marine way for repairs at Tarpon Spings

Post Script: We arrived at Turtle Cove Marina, Tarpon Springs, FL around 3:30 p.m. and reported in to both Float Plan designees, Walter and John Pitney. FYI, it is wise and prudent to file a float plan for journeys such as ours today with responsible parties; thanks, guys, for being responsible and for being our parties/friends! As we arrived within distance of land and thus cell phone towers, Clay dialed up...my sister Sus for me to report in...it's a twin thing (and after almost 35 years, he knows it. Thanks, Clay!) We now find ourselves docked at the transient dock slips with a number of other Loopers. It would be another reunion, but we're all pretty pooped right now. Thankful for leftover shrimp creole!

Signing off and thanking you for kind thoughts and well wishes as we made this stretch of our journey today. Stress and adventure involved. Stress (Sal/female) and adventure (Clay/male).