Welcoming committee

Pelicans and cormorants.

Abandoned boats

Many abandoned boats line the intracoastal. Today we traveled about 78 miles, arriving Carrabelle 1600. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will begin our first leg of sailing in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico and hope to arrive Steinhatchee late afternoon. We are three days away from my brother folks!!!!!!!

Can you guess the tax structure?

Little floating homes like this one, are located all along the intracoastal water way. This one has a washing machine out front. Other's have little tricycles and usually a row boat attached to the home. There aren't any no wake signs, but we somehow thought it would be a good idea to really back it down!

On the GIWW

We're in the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way at this point and some of the passages are narrow and winding! We hailed these tugs, barge, AND dredge, all of which are being PULLED by these two tugs up front, to ask permission to pass. Not much room for error! We laughed as some of the boats behind us hailed this motley group trying to decide if they were coming, or going! Believe me, after coming up upon it, we could understand their question. Ron said he'd never seen anything like it being towed in confined waters.

West Bay Florida

Here you see the beautiful creature about to jump out of the water. They are spectacular. What else can I say! I hope we never tire of seeing them!

Dolphin off the Bow

This guy was running with us directly under the pulpitn and swam from port to starboard and back again. And never touched the boat once. It was SOOOO exciting! I wish every one of you could have been with us this day!

Happy Birthday!

This was a beautiful manger scene in front of one of the restaurants. I couldn't get the entire cast of characters and animals so I decided to get the most important ;-) It's beginning to loot a LOT like Christmas!

Animated figures

Gilligan wasn't quite sure what to make of these animated figures but he was a gentleman and made no noise in the crowd of people! He merely pulled back and watched with his eye on each of us from time to time to find some security in his frightened little world.

One of the shops in the town

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

We attempted to anchor in not one, but three anchorages this afternoon. The bottom was mud and silt and the anchor just would not hold. We began calling marinas and nearby we found Baytowne Marina in Sandestin, Florida. It was just about sunset when we arrived. We had dinner and wanted to get some exercise and this quaint little Christmas town is what we found. Come to find out, Sandestin is a resort town. We were both sorry we'd had dinner. These are some of the pictures I could get with my cell phone. We didn't even bring the camera.

Florida Pelicans

Watching these guys dive has been fun. They don't appear to be too accurate however, as rarely do we see them come up with their prey! When they do, it's great fun to watch them swallow. The fish almost swim all the way down! Years ago Tony and Jill were visiting in Monroe and gave us The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds. I used it a lot in Monroe and we brought it with us on the trip. We're both glad to have it aboard. There are some weird looking birds out here! It's fun to find and identify some of the newcomers!

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

This is the beginning of the Gulf ICW. Tonight we are in Pensacola Beach, Florida. We wish we could say it's warm here -- but it isn't!

Black-crowned Night Heron

Look in the center of the dark photo to see the bird on the piling. It's a Black-crowned Night Heron and he came every single night we were at the Dog River Marina. I know the photo isn't the best. He was beautiful though and I had to share what I could get of him. Every single night he'd come and watch us through the window! If we moved, he got a little edgy and he'd never let us on deck to take the shot. I know it's dark but again I say: "It's a NIGHT Heron!!!!"

Christmas on the Loop

Readying the boat for Christmas!

Our 2007 Christmas Tree

Our little 2007 Manger & Fiber Optic Tree

Having a two day delay due to inclement weather, we decided to take advantage of the courtesy car offered by Dog River Marina and search for a small Christmas tree. We found this cute little tree (32" tall) in Walmart! It's Just the Right Size!

The Shrimp Boat

Little did we know when we took this picture just off our marina entrance, that this boat would be docked directly across from our berth. Now, you think I'm going to talk about shrimping, don't cha! No, we're more focused on his generator! For some reason, this engine does not start until the generator runs a bit. This shrimp boat sails each day before 5:30 AAAA MMMM! and I used to think when I worked for Grumman Aircraft, that when they tested those jet engines, nothing could be louder! Wrong! All of life is comparative and when you are in a sound sleep at 5:10 AAA MMM or to our Coast Guard Auxiliary Friends OOOOOO510 -- those jet engines in Grumman? They were a piece of cake!! Of course age has nothing to do with it, right? I was 19 at Grumman -- almost 60 with the shrimp boat. Naw, age has nothing to do with it!

We had a ball!

Ya know ??? Ya' can't let husbands skills get rusty because "honey-do-lists" grow even in new homes! We had a ball. We laughed, we ate well, we enjoyed our dogs enjoying one another and we accomplished something in the process! THIS was a truly Great Thanksgiving! I wish our friends would let us introduce you because they are terrific people who added so much to the trip. O well. You'll all just have to take our word for it!

Our Thanksgiving Pal

There are a lot of people who don't choose to be on the internet in any fashion whatsoever! But, their dogs are O.K. So again, use your imagination and know that we had a very blessed holiday with a real life family, surrounded by love and great food and creating a memory we will treasure from our Loop experience. This is Justa, as in "Justa dog!" and she is love and laughter from the tip of her nose to her wagging little tail!

Great friends in no time!

Still with our friends in Mobile, Gilligan was invited over to meet Gustifer! We laughed until we cried! This was quite the combination! You all missed it! "Ain't" ya' sorry!

This mornings blessing!

Sunrise beyond the bridge! A great way to join hands with all of you and praise God for the many blessings in all our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Any Bug Lovers out there?

This guy just flew in for a visit. I'm sure he's well camouflaged in the wooded areas of Mobile, but he stuck out like a sore thumb on the boat. We were intrigued enough to take a picture of him. Anybody know what he is?

Meet Gustifer

Visiting friends in Mobile Alabama, they requested not to be shown on the blog. I did get permission to introduce you all to Gustifer -- one fantastic dog with more personality that "pup" in "Homeward Bound." This guy is a love and we thoroughly enjoyed the time with him ... and his owner!

The Dolphin

Coming out of the Mobile Ship Canal and entering Mobile Bay, I had just asked Ron what the water temperature was; wondering whether we were far enough south to begin picking up dolphin along the way. No sooner had I asked, off our starboard bow, in the distance, we saw them break the surface. They shortly caught up to us and ran in our wake for about 4 1/2 miles. By far, this was the most exhilarating part of the trip so far. They were so close if I would have leaned over I'd have touched them. You could hear them clear their air holes as they broke the surface over and over again. Talk about a feeling a awe! To be this close to one of God's best creations, I was overwhelmed! and so Joyous the fishermen laughed!

Construction of an oil rig

A pristine little tugboat!

This was just a pretty little tug. I think it was recently drydocked because she was just as pretty as a picture -- so I had to share it with you.

Mobile Bay, Alabama

This was a nightmare -- for me! Don't even ASK who was at the helm today! And Ron took it in his stride. It was busier than the Manhattan waterways. At least that's the way it felt. The channel is a lot narrower so all activity comes in your general vicinity! I felt like we were tip toeing or is that tip-towing (groan) through a bee's hive! It was very exciting though and I just wish I could share all the great pictures we got through here.

Morning Delay

Ron told me the night before we'd have a lot of fog this morning. The water temperature was warm and the air temperature c c c cold folks. Really Cold! We slept with socks on our feet and a few extra quilts over us. We were toasty warm at night, but come morning???? Well, first up turns on the generator and begins the heating unit. Humm. Ron's ALWAYS first up :-)))

In the river, highly recommended is the use of a second anchor. The stern anchor. There is limited space in some of these little coves and swing would bring you aground. Plus the anchorages are so few and far between, in order for other boats to also find refuge, space is very limited. So we learned something new. In New York and CT we never had a need for a stern anchor. We had both read Chapman's suggestions prior to the trip and a few good articles written by Tom Neal in Offshore Magazine but we'd never done this before. It was a relatively simple procedure. We had no problem implementing it again, once we got over the awkwardness of doing something new.

Ockatuppa Creek - Tombigbee River

Anchored just off the Tombigbee River, we were joined by another member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary (his flag is in line with our rail). They are from Tennessee and just began the loop. We have traveled together for a few miles back on the Tombigbee.

Demopolis, Alabama

We actually saw a "used-to-be-real" alligator (I believe this picture is a crocodile) as we walked into town this afternoon. It was killed by a car and looked to be about two feet long. Would you be surprised if I told you I kept a closer eye on Gilligan during that return trip! I believe he is what they call a tasty little morsel!

We also settled on the ole homestead! Those of you who would like more information, please contact me on my private E-mail and we'll fill you in. We're very excited and glad to be settled once again. We will be building a home and they will begin construction in about a week. It should be complete shortly before we "cross our wake" which is Looper talk for finishing the loop. It's good to be back out here again. Ron and I both missed the boat while we were gone. Life is strange!

White Cliffs of Epes - Tombigbee River, Alabama

White Cliffs of Epes

Still traveling along the Tombigbee River, the white cliffs of Epes was quite a sight. Again, the pictures do not do this justice. I'm sorry.

More beauty of Fall

We left Columbus, Mississippi two days ago. Tonight we are in Demopolis, Alabama and enjoying their Fall here. Demopolis was the infamous 32 degrees North -- which we were not permitted to cross before November 1 due to insurance restrictions. We'll be here one night and then it is two to three days of anchoring out before the next marina. Anchoring out is beautiful! Stars so clear you think you are standing in part of heaven itself.