Apalachicola to Panama City

Monday, April 23, 2018- (I put the year there because I'm so behind in posting.  One of my friends said she really liked the blog...back when I was doing it.  ;-)

We had a pleasant trip from Apalachicola to Panama City.  The day was a bit chillier than we've had here recently...69 degrees.  We passed by the Impenetrable Swamp today.  Doesn't that sound like a great title for a reality TV series...or a horror movie?  We anchored about a mile away from St. Andrews Marina and went in the next day for our stay.

We like this marina more and more.  Laid back area of town in the St. Andrews Historical District and a very safe, comfortable place to leave the boat while we go back to Knoxville for a few days. 

We got to Panama City on Monday, April 9.  While catching up on laundry, groceries, etc., we made plenty of time for walking the neighborhood and eating at a couple of the local restaurants: Hunts' Oyster Bar several times (yes, Wayne continues to indulge and the oysters here were $9.99/dozen compared to Apalachicola's $12.99.); and St. Andrews Coffee House where we had both a great lunch and breakfast.  We highly recommend both!

On Tuesday the 10th of April we had the pleasure of visiting with Rich and Mary Gano.  They invited us to attend their cruising club for dinner.  It was a small, friendly group and we greatly enjoyed their company and the Gano's.

On Wednesday the 11th, we picked up our rental car for the trip back to Knoxville.  We were gone from April 12-17...arriving back in Panama City on the 18th.  We gathered late minute groceries and turned our rental in that afternoon.  Shortly after, Wayne learned that his Aunt Juanita had died.  She was in a nursing home in Springfield, TN, and had been ill for some time.  We made reservations for another rental car which we picked up Friday afternoon. 

On Saturday the 21st we drove to Springfield and attended the receiving of friends.  Wayne was able to visit with his cousins and relatives.  We drove that evening back to Cullman, AL, where we spent the night.

Got back to St. Andrews on Sunday the 22nd to find Panama City was under a tornado watch that evening.  The wind was screaming and there was even some thunder and lightening.  We were delighted to wake up this morning and find the winds had died down and we could finally leave Panama City!

Today we were going to the Ft. Walton Beach area.  We had in mind an anchorage the cruising group had mentioned which is before the bridge on the opposite side of Ft. Walton Beach docks.  The weather was perfect up until around noon when we entered the Choctawahatchee Bay.  For the last three hours of our trip the winds increased and the waves followed their lead.  It was just rough enough that the three of us were huddled on the bridge for several hours, not daring to go down the stairs to main cabin. 

FINALLY we got close enough to land on both sides, as we approached Ft. Walton Beach, that things eased up a bit.  We checked out the anchorage we had targeted...but ended up deciding on Ft. Walton Beach docks with double lines for the west wind blowing.  ;-)  Tomorrow should be nicer and we plan to aim for Ingram Bayou with a stop at Bear Point Marina for refueling before the trek up the rivers.

Sleep tight (I know we will!) and "talk with you soon."  ;-)