November 9-16, 2019 – This week we traveled 270 miles across Lower Alabama and the Florida panhandle, from Mobile, AL to Carrabelle, FL, in preparation for our overnight crossing of the Gulf of Mexico.
It was mostly cold, windy, grey, and miserable.
We had envisioned anchoring and taking the dinghy to isolated stretches of shoreline, strolling the renowned white sand, or sampling the local seafood at fun waterfront bars or restaurants. Nope. Down jackets and wool hats.
We did spend two nights in Mobile, and went with friends to museums – the gals to the Mobile History Museum, and the guys to the USS Alabama. (Separate post to follow) before crossing Mobile Bay and spending two nights at Orange Beach, AL.
The rates were good at the military marina at Pensacola Naval Air Station, and we wanted to see the Naval Aviation Museum there. The marina was somewhat isolated, though, so although we did take our bikes out on the first day, we had to get a rental car to get to shopping and the museum. (More pictures from the museum will be in a separate blog).
We saw the neatest old steel tugboat at the marina, that a young couple seemed to be fixing up; they took it out for a short cruise just after dark one night, but due to fierce winds on our second day there, we didn’t get over to find out what their story was.
We are intently watching the forecasts for when the winds and seas will settle, to provide safe and comfortable crossing overnight. There are as many stories of wonderful starlit crossings in smooth seas, as there are horror stories of rough and worsening conditions in pitch darkness 100 miles out.
It’s looking like Sunday night might be the right time, and so we press on, 50 miles to Destin, 70 miles to Panama City, 85 miles to Carrabelle. Each day the various forecasts seem to look better and better, and more aligned.
Although we have seen many dolphins since getting to Mobile, we finally had them come right up to the boat and follow alongside on our last leg to Carrabelle. Previously they’d come up to the boat for a look and then disappear. Maybe they were looking for people? So Chantale went out on the side deck, and suddenly, there they were! They were so fun to watch – maybe it’s because they liked the interaction, in addition to the waves of the boat.
We top off diesel tanks upon arrival at C-Quarters Marina, and walk up the street for some good fresh seafood before turning in for our last night’s full sleep before the long overnighter.
The next day, we confer with other boats looking to cross, and with some experienced locals with decades of experience on when to, or not to, head out into the Gulf. It appears to be unanimous, that it should be a sound decision to go Sunday afternoon, and we get everything on board ready to go, and especially making sure that anything loose is well battened down in preparation for the possibility of boisterous seas.
We are ready.