Thursday, March 24th
Well, we’re finally off! I have mixed feelings about this trip - partly I'm really excited, and partly I'm a little scared. This is an awfully big undertaking!
We pulled out at 10:00 this morning. We’re so loaded down that the stern is buried in the water. We look like a whale that’s about to breach! We’ll be sleeping up front in the bow berth. I’ve heard you have to pay big bucks at fancy health spas to hang down so the blood flows to your head, and just think, we’ll be getting that treat for free!
We had a FAST run all day; the wind was blowing fiercely. The bad news is that our knot meter didn’t work all day. We decided to spend the night at the 331 bridge near the east end of Choctawhatchee Bay. Just as we pulled into shallow waters to anchor, our depth meter quit. VERY BAD! Luckily we had marked waypoints on a previous trip, so we followed those in safely. We anchored, and started to tidy up the boat. Sam just happened to look back, and we were careening toward a channel marker! We rushed to start the engine and just missed hitting the buoy. Apparently we had failed to set the anchor properly. So, we made another approach and this time got it well set.
The night was very rough from fierce winds, but our anchor held fine and things were good.
Butt in the water!
Pulling away from the dock
Under way!!!
Way Cool! Where will you be on April 17th?
ReplyDeleteOh my, not a start that will help your nerves! This adventure will have times of high and low - fast and slow. Enjoy this wonderful opportunity you both have to be together!
ReplyDelete“Come, cuddle your head on my shoulder, dear, Your head like the golden-rod, And we will go sailing away from here To the beautiful land of Nod”
Ella Wheeler Wilcox quotes (American poet and writer 1850-1919)