Clearwater, FL and Warm Air - Finally!

Sandpiper is in Clearwater, FL and the temperature is in the 70’s. After waiting out stormy weather we left hurricane devastated Pensacola at 11 PM on 1/18/05 out in the Gulf to Panama City for a night crossing arriving in daylight the next morning. Our good friend Susan Tonon from Chicago joined the crew. On 1/21 the three of us left Panama City and traveled the Intercoastal Waterway to White City where we docked overnight at the Gulf County Wood Duck Nesting Habitat Enhancement Area. A bass fishing tournament was in progress and the fishermen and women may have been the nicest people we have ever met. A couple gave Loy a ride to a convenience store up the road and back after dark. A man out for a night of camping on his fishing boat with his children offered to go to his home and get sweatshirts for us because he didn’t think we were dressed warmly enough for the weather.

On 1/22/05 we returned to the open gulf for Apalachicola when a pod of bottle nosed dolphins appeared to play in our bow wake for 20 minutes. There were at least five who leapt out of the water, swam seemingly effortlessly, crossed over and under each other, veering off to one side or the other returning to pass through the pod sometimes on their side or back. Occasionally on a side pass I got the impression they were looking at me as I leaned out over the bow to watch the most beautiful of athletic demonstrations. The sense of fun and excitement was infectious and I found myself laughing out loud with delight at each new pass.

We arrived at Deep Water Marina, Apalachicola, FL the next day at 1:00 PM, now Eastern Standard Time, and began to enjoy the delights of this small town with a history of being a cotton shipping port, a shrimp fishing port and now a growing tourist economy. We attended a community theater review at the Dixie Theater on a cold afternoon and enjoyed drinks and dinner at the Gibson Hotel. Cold weather with wind was coming in and in another unbelievable act of kindness a waitress, Jeannette, got permission to leave work and drive us back to the marina in her own car. It blew like stink the night of 1/23 (up to 40+ knots). When we left at noon on 1/24 for Clearwater, FL most of the buoys leading out of Apalachicola had blown out of position and we went aground several times as we tried to follow the channel out into the gulf. Our course took us near two US Navy seal vessels and a US Coast Guard Cutter took up station on our stern and provided security for the seals. This was a 24 hour crossing of the Gulf. We each took a four hour nighttime watch on the helm. Dolphins swam with us briefly 20 miles out. While Linda was on the helm the chart plotter and auto helm decided to quit. Linda did not wake up the rest of the crew, but programmed the backup GPS and kept us on course. What a woman! Susan made her usual improvements to the rigging of the boat. She had to leave us from Clearwater Municipal Marina to return to Chicago and her work. Susan plans to return for the crossing to the Bahamas later this spring. Bruce and Jane Kuehl may also join us sometime in April.

Dave and Charlotte Coppin will be in Clearwater on Monday 31 on their way to Sarasota and we will get together. Loy’s sister, Ruth, and her friend, Dot, surprised us by flying into Florida to spend a few days with us in Clearwater. We love the change from quiet anchorages to social life. We are driving over to Orlando with them to visit Epcot Saturday and Sunday. Monday we hope an electrician will help us with repairs to the autohelm and then Tuesday we hope to sail to Sarasota and see the Coppins again. This is beginning to feel more like retirement and vacation all the time. And we like it. Take care of yourselves friends and let us hear from you. Our e mail is Lwill425@aol.com.