Hard to believe this trip is almost over!
Feels like we started out just yesterday.
Bob said we would feel that way, the first day we left – how true!
Our anchorage last night was in Wetappa Creek. Lovely! The grass and marsh surrounding the area reminded me of the waterway in Georgia. During the wee hours of the morning, I went on deck and saw the most eerie, beautiful sight. The water was like glass, stars reflecting themselves on the surface and these wispy swirls of steam coming off the water all around the boat. At first, I thought perhaps Mercedes was steaming up and it was leaking through the hull. (Almost woke Lionel, but then thought better of it – Thank Goodness!) Come daylight the fog burned off quickly once the sun woke up. I hope that my pictures will portrait it like it was when I get them developed. I think Victor captured some of it with his digital. I’m not sure what the deal is, but here we are in Florida and the decks were covered with ice and frost. The forward deck was so slick that I was tempted (if I were younger and much more agile) to skate across it. It was a cold, but really spectacular morning!
Our trip today was so pretty. I had no idea the waterway here existed. In one area, called the “Grand Canyon” by the Tug captains, the bank is worn away by water and it does look like a miniature Grand Canyon. It has miniature buttes and crevices also a variety of colors. Further, along the way, the banks spread out into small lakes and bays. We saw a family of eagles, in fact this morning there was an eagle perched on a tree just over the boat. Along the way, we frightened a small otter that had come down to the water. As we motored by, he first ran along the tree line of the bank, trying to get away, and then attempted to climb a sheer faced bank of mud. His little legs were going as fast as they could, but he was slipping and sliding. He finally gained traction and got up and over the edge. You know his little heart had to be pounding like crazy.
We are finally in the Gulf (Actually St. George Sound) anchored off Dog Island. The island is a narrow spit of sand. Some of the wider sections have stands of trees and are dotted with a home here and there. No access by car here. Lionel tells me there is a ferry. Imagine what it would cost to build a home here with everything having to be shipped in? Not sure if their power is via generator or if there is underground cable.
We are about 40 miles from the St. Marks River entrance and another 10 to Shields Marina. Scott has planned a lunch for us when we arrive. Mark, Kirsten the boys and Donald, Brandy and the girls will also be there. After a couple days in Tallahassee, we are off to Tampa.
January 30th. – Tuesday
The sunrise off Dog Island was beautiful. There were porpoise dancing all around the boat. This is stuff fairytales are made of! Our journey across the gulf was a good one. Achievement handled like a dream, though it took us awhile to get some sea legs.
The lighthouse at St. Marks is visible for miles; the water was a deep blue and – Yep! The sun was shining and sparkling off the water. I can’t remember when I’ve seen so many porpoise. At one time, we had five of them swimming in front of our bow wake.
We followed a tug and barge up the river until we reached the bend to the Marina – lo and behold! There was our welcoming committee. They were at the dock by the old fort waving and hollering hellos. I could even hear Jaden and Kade hollering “ Grama” “PaPa” and saw their little arms just waving like crazy. Now, that sure got my heart a- pumpin’. What a welcoming site. We had a great visit, Scott and Sha invited us to their home for dinner (and it was scrumptious) – they also replenished our wine and Yingling supply. Lionel and I got to sleep in our own bed to two nights and I got to love on my twins. (Mark and Kirsten, too!)
Sunday the local Tallahassee newspaper, the Democrat, came to the boat to interview the Captain and take photos. Yesterday morning the story ran – we open the paper and here is our Captain Bob – big as life – on the first page of the local section. How neat is that? The photographer, Scott, was quite taken with Achievement. He took loads of pictures. She had lots of visitors come and admire her. Family, friends and friends of friends. Of Course the captain and crew just love showing her off.
Yesterday we spent the day getting ready to leave. We had a bon voyage committee, headed up by Scott, Sha and the boys, see us off. Achievement again tooted her wonderful train horn as she glided down the river, saying farewell and thank you. This was to be an exciting day. Her (and mine) first overnight passage in open water. The Captain laid out the course to Tampa/Clearwater and set up rotations in four-hour increments. He and Patrick took the 4PM to 8PM shift, Lionel and Victor the 8PM to Midnight and so on. I (the princess) got to sleep. The seas were perfect, though in the Gulf, even with flat calm, there is a bit of pitching and rolling. We had a ¾ moon and a zillion stars. The sun is now just rising over the horizon. We should be at the marina somewhere between 10 and noon today. I know the guys will be beat. Even though it was four on and four off, I don’t think they slept (maybe just a catnap) in the four off. Lionel and Victor are on now. Have you ever heard that it is darkest – just before dawn? Boy is that a true statement on the water. In the time between the moon setting and the sun rising it was inky black. The sky and water were pitch black with no differing between them. It was like sailing into nothing. Of course looking up there were the zillion stars. Pretty Cool!
Looking forward to seeing family and friends in Tampa and maybe getting further south to WARMER weather. (Is there any?)
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