Apalachicola

Yesterday, Tuesday, we left Panama City Marina and arrived in Apalachicola four hours later. We are docked on Scipio Creek, and the reedy marsh on the other side of the creek provides great protection from waves, kicked up by the wind. However, we were told about the resident gators here...so our dogs are not allowed to go down the steps at the back of the boat, the bottom one being only 10 inches off the water!!!

 Apalachicola ships oysters all over the world...and last night we sampled them at Papa Joe's Oyster Bar. We had eaten them last April on our way north and enjoyed them even more this time!  Hopefully when we leave on Thursday I'll be able to get a picture of the oystermen working in the bay...it really is such hard work.

                            Some of the docks have seen better days....This is the view behind our boat!

Our dock is next to a fish cleaning station, and we watched a fisherman clean white trout yesterday. They caught over 30 fish but not sure if they kept them all.

 Apalachicola is an old colonial town that propered in the 1800's because of the cotton trade. There were even foreign consulates here to expedite the trade to Europe. Some of the antebellum homes have been restored and are so lovely. Today, Wednesday, we walked around town for a few hours since Don had to have his INR level checked at the local hospital since he is on coumadin. Our doctor back home said the test is only about $10 or $20. Well, how about $79! At least they took Master Card! 

We walked by a cemetery from the 1800's, and I noticed tiny Confederate flags on some of the graves. Then I read a plaque that said Confederate soldiers from Apalachicola fought with General Pickett at Gettysburg. I had just read about Pickett and Gettysburg in my Civil War book!

Dr. John Gorrie invented the ice machine here back in the 1830's. He used it to treat patients with yellow fever, but it soon found its way into the fishing industry! We tried visiting his museum last April and it was closed. And it was closed today also! 

Trinity Episcopal Church was opened, and we went inside. It has an interesting history. It was built in White Plains, NY, then taken apart and shipped to Apalachicola. One of the very first pre-fab buildings!!! It is the second oldest church with an active congregation.
Click on the photo to enlarge the plaque.

Don has a few boat chores to do today. Our port bilge pump isn't working so he has to install a new one. Plus our windlass remote arrived. It has a different size plug so some re-wiring is involved. 

 The weather looks good for a Gulf crossing on Friday. We will go to Carabelle tomorrow and check the weather. We have our fingers crossed for calm seas.