Trip to Apalachicola

[Steve]

We are at Homeport Marina (Lulu's) Sunday Mar. 24, planning to head to Bahia Mar tomorrow for a few days then on Eastward again. Will meet up with family near Panama City Easter week, then head east again to Apalach then back to Louisiana for end of May. If any other members will be in the area let me know maybe we can meet up.

 

[Last Tango]

Be safe brother. Thanks again for the reunion. See you on the water I hope

 

[Star0210]

I’m so happy ya’ll are getting to cruise again.
We are planning to fly back to Tarpon Springs on Thursday. Looking at the weather we may not leave there to cross until I think maybe Monday.

 

[kartracer]

GREAT !!!! So glad you and Marsha are out on the water again. HAVE A GREAT TIME

 

[Steve]

Today very windy so we decided to stay put at Lulu's, looks like Tuesday will be the same.
It is supposed to slack off a bit Wednesday so we'll try for that. Oh well, this is not a bad spot to be!

 

[latravcha]

Hope ya'll enjoy the trip.
Cant wait to see the blog updates.

 

[McGillicuddy]

Steve, It’s blowing like stink here in Biloxi. Will die down after the front passes I guess. Hope to be outta here by this weekend also. But it’s a shipyard so who knows.

 

[DLP]

Yes we have coastal flood warnings here due to the SE winds. Been blowing hard here for 3 days and storms coming in Thursday starting Wednesday. The weekend is looking a lot better. Be safe

 

[Steve]

Thank folks I will update hopefully from palafox marina in Pensacola. Bahia Mar is full. We like both so will try Bahia on the return leg in May. I’m finding wi fi very poor where we have stopped so far, worse than I remember from a few years ago.
Mcgillicuddy, where are you heading next?

 

[dimer2]

Have a great cruise Steve!

 

[McGillicuddy]

Steve, My plan is SW Florida. Question is whether to wait out a direct to Tampa Bay from Biloxi weather window or run Intracoastal towards Apalachicola and duck out when weather permits from where ever I’m at.

 

[cardude01]

McGillicuddy,

As a former sailor, how does your new boat boat compare stability-wise to your former sailboat? I remember coming across from Clearwater to Panama City before I had any sail stabilization and boy was I sick of the rolling! It calmed down the last few hours before we reached Panama City and my mate suggested we keep going to Biloxi, but I couldn’t make myself do it.

Anyway, your comment triggered my rolling memories and just wanted to share. Have a great trip!

 

[McGillicuddy]

I made the trip several times in sailboats. Two in particular stand out. One in my 32’ Bombay Clipper pilothouse sloop and once in a Morgan 39’ center cockpit ketch. Both were in the days before internet and both were in the first week of December. Both had decent forecasts that didn’t hold up and even with shortened sail the boats were very lively. Crew was very uncomfortable. Both these trips caused me to head immediately north to Panama City and complete the trip on the ICW. Not a lot of fun.
I have made two trips trans Gulf on Scot Free. One was beautiful and calm and was 49 hours. The other was mostly good but did have a rough patch in the middle where I was rolling pretty good. Lasted about 12 hours. Wished I had stabilizers.
I also did a Houston-New Orleans trip offshore that was delightful on Scot Free. That one was in May.

 

[Steve]

We arrived Palafox Marina in Pensacola Wed afternoon not a bad trip from Lulus
Last night the wind really picked up an the bay is rough. It is predicted to slack off tonight and Friday if so we'll head up to Bluewater Bay Marina on Rocky Bayou near Niceville. The Chocktawhatchee can get choppy so we'll keep an eye out for that.

 

[kartracer]

Hope everything is going great !!!!!

 

[swampu]

Dang man I missed you, we left last Monday for Orange beach, we just got back Friday night, we went from cotton Bayou to biloxi river in about 14 hours

 

[Steve]

Dang man I missed you, we left last Monday for Orange beach, we just got back Friday night, we went from cotton Bayou to biloxi river in about 14 hours

Sounds like it went well, we are near Niceville fl now if we stop in Biloxi on the way back from Apalachicola, I'll let you know.
Steve

 

[Steve]

We had a great stay at Bluewater Bay marina where we met forum member Swen and Mrs. they cruised with us in their beautiful 34 Mainship, returned to BWB Thursday. It was a fine day on the water, good weather with lots of Dolphin putting on a show at the boats. We are now at St. Andrews Marina in P.C. festivities here tomorrow, Blessing of the Fleet, fish fry, and "burning of the socks??"
We plan to leave for Apalachicola Monday or Tuesday weather permitting.

 

[Steve]

We are at St Andrews today, the Blessing of the Fleet and other festivities were downsized due to 20- 25 mph wind with higer gusts all day. A strong front is supposed to pass through about 3 A M and to be very rainy all day Sunday. So well see how the winds are Monday if not good we'll be off to Apalachicola Tuesday, no problem, if you have to be delayed somewhere St Andrews Marina is a good place with good restaurants and a grocery store not far. Our friends Rich G. and his brother Jim have been by to visit and give us a lift as needed.

 

[Choices]

We just joined TF.

We wintered in Madisonville at Marina Del Ray, then left in March headed East.

Currently in Little Harbor in Ruskin, leaving Thursday toward the keys.

Love to follow, lead, whatever with other boats.

Looks like we just missed all of y'all somehow.

Mike & Claire

 

[kartracer]

Choices
What slip did you have in Del Ray, we are in 38 River. Enjoy your trip and if you come back to Del Ray lets us know. We have boaters shrimp night at Morton's on Thur.

 

[Steve]

We spent several days at St Andrews Marina then headed on to Apalachicola. We stayed at Scipio Creek Marina which is under new management they are doing lots of work there the restaurant is no open yet ships store quite well stocked, l think it wi) turn out well. Friends from Bradenton drove up we had a good visit.
On Thursday made the trip up the ICW to Gulf County Canal down to Port St Joe where we are now, Tuesday we plan to head back to Louisiana, slowly, as usual. We have to be home first part of May for a weeek or so, so wherever we are at that time we'll leave the boat rent a car and drive home. After a week or so at home we'll drive back to the boat and carry on our trip.

 

[kartracer]

Glad to see it is all working out !!!!!!

 

[kartracer]

How's it going,,,, have not heard from you all in a while.

 

[Steve]

We had planned to leave the boat in Gulfport then drive home to return after a week or so and carry on westward. But we decided to just carry on back to Houma in the boat. So, today we made the trip from GPT to Seabrook Marina in N. O. Tomorrow we will battle the locks and the swollen Mississippi River and hopefully arrive back in Houma Tuesday evening if not Wed.

 

[DLP]

We had planned to leave the boat in Gulfport then drive home to return after a week or so and carry on westward. But we decided to just carry on back to Houma in the boat. So, today we made the trip from GPT to Seabrook Marina in N. O. Tomorrow we will battle the locks and the swollen Mississippi River and hopefully arrive back in Houma Tuesday evening if not Wed.

Steve why not anchor out in the lake and watch the Tickfaw 200 this weekend?
Glad you have made it back and hope you enjoyed the trip

 

[kartracer]

Darrell
Please check your PM

 

[Steve]

We left Seabrook Marina in New Orleans at 8 AM Tuesday we experienced several delays: RR bridges, locks, and travelling up the swollen Mississippi but finally tied up at the bulkhead at Boomtown Casino at 5 PM. 16 miles in 9 hours!! the longest delay was at Industrial Lock, + 3 hours.
We overnighted at the Bulkhead of Boomtown Casino and Wednesday had a good day to cruise on to Houma where we arrived at 3:30 PM.
All in all a very nice trip, just more windy days than we would have liked!

 

[Last Tango]

We left Seabrook Marina in New Orleans at 8 AM Tuesday we experienced several delays: RR bridges, locks, and travelling up the swollen Mississippi but finally tied up at the bulkhead at Boomtown Casino at 5 PM. 16 miles in 9 hours!! the longest delay was at Industrial Lock, + 3 hours.
We overnighted at the Bulkhead of Boomtown Casino and Wednesday had a good day to cruise on to Houma where we arrived at 3:30 PM.
All in all a very nice trip, just more windy days than we would have liked!

That's wonderful. Home safe again to plan the next trip!

Welcome Home

 

[McGillicuddy]

I just arrived Apalachacola today. Weather looks good for a jump to Anclote Key over next couple of days. May depart tomorrow evening. It’s been a nice week of cruising from Biloxi to here.