On to Panama City

On Saturday we waited in Pensacola for the final electrical test on our windlass so we knew what part needed replacing. Steve Stack returned to do another test, and the windlass' motor is fine. The problem is our wired remote. He didn't even charge us anything for his help!!!! So we will order a new one and have it delivered somewhere down the waterway.

We had already visited the Naval Air Museum several times, so it was time to move along. We had a four hour ride to Fort Walton Beach. This area belongs to the Air Force...The Eglin Air Force Base is larger than the state of Rhode Island. It was here that Jimmy Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders trained in secrecy for their famous raid on Honshu. In nearby piney forests and swamps the US Army Rangers train, as well as the Air Force's "special ops" programs. Much of the barrier island is "restricted", and you can see radar domes and this unusual tower. 

It was a lovely, warm day. We never tire at the scenery.....not many high-rises. Talking to people along the way, we have found that many residents believe this will be a very bad hurricane season. Many in Pensacola were taking their boats out of the water in preparation. We have been very fortunate that the storms brewing in the Caribbean have either fizzled out or gone up the east coast. 

We had no internet at Fort Walton Beach....

After hearing that 20 knot winds were approaching, we left early and headed to Panama City. Choctawhatchee Bay, over 5 miles wide in some places, was quite rough, and Snow Cat received a thorough coating of salt! The dogs ate their breakfast, but we munched on bananas and granola bars, saving our regular breakfast for calmer conditions. That came when we entered a 20 mile long man-made canal, called the "Grand Canyon." At the far end was West Bay that leads to Panama City. We out-ran the wind! We arrived to see sailboats plying the calm waters. It was another warm, beautiful day. The channels are well-marked with buoys that also serve other purposes! The green Intracoastal Waterway buoys are identified by a gold square, and the red ones have a gold triangle. 

After another 4 hour ride, we tied up at the Panama City Marina, and we saw a tug that we had passed several times last April. How could we forget the name....Lady of Perpetual Help! We even took pictures of it last year pushing its barges up the Grand Canyon. There was another tug here that was helping remove the oil booms that were placed near the inlets. We had seen them in Pensacola. The oil spill doesn't seem to be a problem with boating at this time. 

Later in the day I turned into "the Queen of Clean", and gave the outside of the boat a thorough, soapy scrubbing. The hose water was so warm! The stiff breeze was spraying me at times, as well as the boat, but it felt good, and I dried in minutes! Today I will clean the inside. The dogs are shedding so much that I hope they have enough hair left to keep them warm this winter in Tobermory! 

We have decided that today, Monday, will be a day of R&R. We will stay and enjoy the day...and the wonderful tv reception and internet! The protected Gulf Intracoastal Waterway ends in about 80 miles. Then we have to travel about 150 miles to arrive back in the Intracoastal at Tarpon Springs. The waves in the Gulf now are 5-6 feet. On Friday they should be 1-2 feet. So our target date for crossing the Gulf will be Friday. 

We are actually ahead of schedule. Boating and deadlines don't mix too well. We are supposed to arrive at our son, Jeff's, in Sarasota by Oct. 20, a few days before we babysit while Jeff and Ellen go to San Francisco.  So far we are ahead of schedule, but Mother Nature could put a stop to that in a hurry!