Dolphin on the Way to Panama City, FL

Day 206 & 207 … Sun & Mon, Nov 12-13, 2017 … 37.1 miles; 4.5 hours

Choctawhatchee Bay to Panama City Marina

Half our day will be in a long narrow channel, then into open waters of St Andrews Bay and on to Panama City, Fl.

Once we were in open waters … the dolphin came out to play in our wake.

They would jump up, turn and then slap down on their sides making a noise, which got Cally’s attention!

Dolphin are SO MUCH fun to watch! I do not get tried of it.

Rip got the great idea to aim the GoPro down the side of the boat at our wake, so we could get a video of them playing.

Yep, you guessed it none played with us after we set it up. We will leave it that way until we catch them and post it for you.

All set & ready for them!!

We will be in Panama City for 2 days. A few chores, including getting our “out of state boat registration” since we will be in Florida for more than 90 days.

There is a park setting for Cally just off the dock of this municipal marina. There are also several beautiful memorials.

This one is by the American Legion & Ladies Auxiliary. I loved seeing the permanent flame!

The town’s 911 Memorial is at the water front (verses along the park) with 2 towers, a majestic Eagle and 4 benches with the Airline & Flight Number of the downed aircraft. The benches beckon you to sit, touch them and reflect.

Never forget 911.

Even on a boat, the bike needs tweaking; this time only tires inflated. Rip needs to ride 1.5 miles to the DMV for our “Sojourner’s Permit”. $80+ buck fee for the boat to be in Florida over 90 days.

Friends with a Chocolate Lab onboard Chemistry; Bob, Barb & Tilley are coming into the marina tonight. We have plans for dinner out. More buddy’s - Scott & Linda on Ramble On are also due in this afternoon, but headed to a nearby marina. We hope to catch up with them at dinner, too!

Good night from Panama City …

Frisky day on Choctawhatchee Bay

Day 205 … Sat, Nov 11, 2017 … 31.1 miles … 4:15 hours

Ft Walton Beach, Fl to Choctawhatchee Bay, Fl

Happy Birthday, Liz Finkle!! We called to wish you a happy birthday, but you had company. Too busy to talk!! We’ll try you again later tonight.

Couple pics from sunset last night at Ft Walton Beach …

As the captain said … “it’s quite frisky out here, today”. You guessed it the weatherman was wrong about the wind. We were on a larger body of water for most of the day, the Choctawhatchee Bay, but the boat handled it well and we were comfortable.

You know it is too breezy when the kite boarders are out in full force.

Not much scenery today … but, a much better distance from passing tows!!

Our anchorage tonight is at the east end of Choctawhatchee Bay, but still in the bay and near the channel tomorrow to head further east to Panama City for 2 days. We are out of the marked channel and safe.

Cally’s shore dooty tonight is at a boat ramp up a creek with a couple piers. Very popular with fisherman to put in their boats, kids fishing from the pier and locals out for a stroll.

WOW … that was Close. Too Close!!

Day 204 … Fri, Nov 10, 2017 … 35.1 miles … 4:30 hours

English Navy Cove to Fort Walton Beach

Off east we go … scenery similar all day on the GICW; dunes to our south with the Gulf of Mexico on the other side. When there is a bridge crossing from mainland to the barrier islands there is a lot of commercial & residential property.

On the mainland (north side of Santa Rosa Sound) we passed today, the scene is consistently residential.

Several narrow areas to transit today. The first area, we see a tow waiting.

Rip guesses he is waiting on a tow to exit before entering the narrow passage as they can’t pass safely especially with turns. So, we slow down to wait, too. We do pass the waiting tow as we are faster than him, so we go first as to not have to pass him later. As the west bound tow comes out of the last turn into wider water, Rip hails him on VHF for passing instructions. We are cleared to pass and he thanks us for waiting, as”this area isn’t to be messed with”.

THEN … we are faced with another tow coming out of a narrow passage. Rip slows so we meet him in a wider area; hails him on the VHF and is told to “pass on the 1’s”. That means we pass port to port (left sides). The tow should hug the red buoys and we will hug the green buoys. EXCEPT, as we get closer and closer … we see the tow is fighting wind or current or both and there isn’t going to be room to pass between him and the green buoy. There is a sand bar and 1’ water outside of the green buoy; NOT an option! Rip slows & threads the needle down the side of the tow. The aft/stern of the last barge HITS the green buoy we are supposed to go between it and the tow. The stern of the tug pushing the barge clears the green buoy and we slip past …. pics below.

THAT WAS CLOSE!!

Not sure how he thought we could fit between him and the green buoy when he HIT the buoy. Gees. GREAT job RIP!!

I didn’t take pics of the barge hitting the green buoy as I didn’t want to distract Rip.

This floating restaurant/jet ski rental shop is right by the dock tonight. I wanted to go over in the dinghy for Mexican … just because we could; but, we have too much food on board (that needs to be eaten) to eat out.

Our stop today is Fort Walton Beach town docks … FREE!! A nice park for Cally and, should we chose Publix grocery store and restaurants within walking distance.

Cute statue at the park.

Ice Cream truck came to the park … DESSERT!!

Lab Partners as rest at the dock tonight!