Oct 2

Anchorage off Destin to sand bar grounding to Anchorage off Panama City beach in West Bay 56 miles and at least 100 to 300 cuss words.


Anchorage was a little rough last night lots of bouncing and rolling.  After a night like that have to be careful opening carbonated drinks.


A quick breakfast but a slow lift of the anchor Dianne’s tablet would stay on for more than 3 minutes.  Took me a time to plot my course too.  Finally figured out that the problem was the current WiFi connection was not stable and that was messing with the tablet navigation system.  The fix was easy shut off the hot spot.  All good.  


So when we left the sun glare was right in my eyes even with sun glasses and visor I could see well.  Followed charts for and found some markers.  When I saw markers in a what appeared to  the channel i was looking for I felt good.  Then we grounded out in 3 feet of water then the wind and current took me to 2 feet.  Not good!!


Spent the next 2 5 hours pulling and moving anchors and winches around the boat till finally I dragged the boat off the sand bar i was stuck on.  To add insult to injury just as I was free and up to my chest in water a pontoon boat pulled by and asked how I was doing!   Pretty stupid question as he had parked outside for 30 minutes while I snuggled along.   I felt like saying something smart ass but only said better now that the boat was floating again.  


Nothing damaged except my pride and ego.  At least we got free without damage just some cussing and rope pulling.  


After we got free it was too late to make the marina in Panama City so we selected an anchor spot for free.  The only marina part way wanted 125 dollars to stop in which is insane.  So here we are!


The scenery was great the inter-coastal was particularly nice with high banks lined with pine trees.  


Saw:

  • 6 dolphins
  • 2 statues one of a lion and one of giraffe standing beside a pine tree
  • 1 barge
  • 4 moving boats after grounding.  
  • About 20 boats on the sand bar edges by the time we got off.  I think they were laughing at me.  Somehow no one waded over to help pull even though it would have been easy to do.
  • Tons of little fish swimming around me while I played with the anchor

Well time to cook dinner 

Talk soon stay safe and happy.







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