Back To Clearwater YC

After a wonderful visit with my niece and her family, it was time to move on towards home.  David was slowly but progressively getting better.  We had planned to cross on Monday from Tarpon Springs but the forecast called for 7 foot seas on the panhandle side of the trip and we thought that would be a bad risk all things considered.  We left the marina late due to waiting for slack tide so only made it back to our anchor spot off Dunedin.  With the moon phase the tides were more pronounced so we had very little water under the keel.  All we need it enough to float and we had that!  We pulled anchor and headed down to Clearwater YC.  It felt strange to be going technically backward but it was the right call.  We had so many generous offers to help us bring the boat back across but the stars lined up for our friends Paula and Bill to be our angels.  Paula brought Bill to the club and we left the next  day.  The trip was uneventful but a motorboat trip.  We had hoped for another magnificent sail but we did have a magnificent sky.  The Milky Way was in full glory and Bill and I each saw a shooting star.  David had no issues with the crossing but I came down with a full blown nasty cold.  Turns out Bill wasn't helping me handle the boat, he was helping David!  We made good time in the crossing and continued on the Apalachicola where Paula picked him up on Sunday morning.  We are truly blessed with so many good friends.

This creatively decorated boat was coming in the Clearwater Pass as we headed out.

A glorious sunset on the gulf.  There was a green glow but no flash.

This poor flying fish came aboard in the night.  We weren't starving so
he went back overboard.

An ingenious innovation to bring air in while sleeping in the v-berth.

This mahi was just big enough to be legal and made a great meal.

Entering Dog Island Cut.  On the Panhandle side of the gulf at last.

Waterfront of Apalachicola.

Apalachicola River