Good Morning Loopers and Cruisers!!

We have opted for Plan B.  We have stayed in Panama City Marina due to the high winds and weird weather.  Wind gusting to over 25mph.  A bit of rain mixed in.  More wind in the near term with gusts over 30mph.  This will give us plenty of time to get over our colds that we picked up in Mobile.  A joy to have that last cough and sneeze leave our body.

We don’t know just how long we will be here.  We are waiting for that elusive weather window to make the Gulf of Mexico crossing.  Loopers and locals call it the “Big Bend”.  The most eastern end of the panhandle of Florida.  Our last large water crossing.

There are at least 3 ways to cross the Big Bend.

The first is the coastal route from Apalachicola or Carrabelle, FL to Steinhatchee, FL then southward along the coast line.  Stopping at Cedar Key and any other places along the way that fancies you.  An issue with this crossing is the shallow nature of the coast line.  Perfect for fishing since the waters are marshy but not for deep draft boats like Always Home.  This Gulf crossing is only about 80 miles of open water.  Then cruising down the coastline until you get to the ICW again.  I have designated Clearwater since it pops up on the Google maps but Tarpon Springs is also a common entry point off the Gulf.  This route may take a cruiser several days to make the transit.

Carrabelle to Clearwater/Tarpon Springs via the coast line

Many Loopers opt to take the other popular route.  Whether crossing from Apalachicola or from Carrabelle, it may be a 150-180 mile cruise.  Fast trawlers may be able to make this distance is a daylight crossing.  Going at 20mph, a fast trawler can make this in less than 10 hours.  If I do the math correctly.

Apalachicola to Clearwater/Tarpon Springs

Most slower trawlers require an overnight crossing.  Starting in Apalachicola and end up in Clearwater around 10am the next day.  180 miles at less than 10mph means we will be doing a 20 – 24 hour cruise.  Getting to the west coast of Florida after the sun has risen is so we can see all the crab pots and other fishing gear found in the waters and not be blinded by the sun.

Another way to cross the Gulf is to go directly from Panama City to Clearwater.  Not a usual crossing but some Loopers do this.  This is around a 240 mile cruise.  More open water, it looks like.  But doable.

Panama City to Clearwater

We have done that “hurry up and wait” routine several times now while on our Loop.  Cape May, NJ, Erie Canal and Petosky, MI come to mind.  We are doing it again.  Right now, as of November 20th, for us slower trawlers there is nothing in the short term, at all.

The Panama City Marina is in the downtown area.  Like most towns, there are few stores we prefer to shop at near us.  In the meantime, we have rented a car to run errands.  Those places like Home Depot, Walmart, Ace Hardware, West Marina and such.  The facilities here at the marina are excellent.  A good place to hunker down and wait.  We are keeping busy with boat chores and planning.  Getting ready for the big crossing!!

Check out this sunset!

Sunset at Panama City Marina Nov 15, 2015