Dec 7-8th, 2011

December 7 - 8

There was a weather window which opened first thing Tuesday morning and everyone decided to head across the gulf. We are still at Carrabelle and had intentions of leaving yesterday with the group, but we had a loose alternator belt and the mechanic was suppose to be here by 8AM and did not arrive until 11AM...Ken was fit to be tied.  Thought we could catch the slow group and headed out...then our depth finder was not working...had to pull back to the dock and Ken knew it had to be some switch, but could not find it...so we waited again for the mechanic to arrive around 1PM.  Just wasn't meant to be... There is a small window to cross Friday or maybe Tuesday next week.  We just moved our flight reservations to next Friday week when we will be flying out of Tampa Bay.  We are trying to get home for Christmas!  We heard from several boaters that they had a successful crossing.  John & Rita on Brandy IV were towed back to the dock because their water pump went out. 

We woke up this morning in the mud!  Third night docked at Carrabelle and the tide is a lot lower than usual because of a full moon and a storm pushing the water out of the bay.  So our props are in the mud!  Ken will pull us forward a few feet once the tide is up.  We just had to shrug our shoulders and laugh about this one.  Loop Dreams is grounded!  We stepped off the swim platform onto land.

Bob and Lynda on Erika Lynn called to tell us about their crossing.  They are doing well and enjoying Tarpon Springs. We had plans to try to cross the gulf  Friday, but we were advised not to.  So the next window will be Tuesday, unless the weather changes.

Loop Dreams in the mud.  Watch that first step!!  We are spoiled with floating docks back home.

 

Low tide shoal off the bow

 

Carrabelle is a little town with a tiny police station

 

Pretty sunset at Carrabelle