Monday Morning...
Warren went down to check all systems before we pulled anchor this morning. He discovered leetle bit of water in the bilge....
The bilge pump had blown a fuse most likely because the non-return valve in the line is welded shut. Something to see to while we are in Panama City. Water is entering the bilge via one of the rudder glands...bummer...he had to pump out about 9-10 inches in the rear. Just another bloody thing to deal with.
We have some serious questions about the Boat Surveyor who should have picked up a lot of the things that have gone wrong with the boat since we have lived on her and this might be one them.
We pulled anchor late this morning, at 8.30am. There is no rush to go anywhere, or at least we think there isn't, at this stage.
Looking back towards Ingram Bayou and the other boats that left shortly after us, as we head out to the magenta line and the ICW for the day's motoring. We should have only 60 odd miles to travel today.
We continued along the eastward section of Wolf Bay and came out through Hatchett Point into Perdido Bay. What a stunning day and an absolutely stunning Bay. WOW!
This hug cigarette boat looks like it is made for Dolphin tours or similar. I hate to think what it sounds like, as the smaller ones can be heard for miles before you see them.
This home was on Mill Point as we turned past the green marker, (photo above) into the main body of Perdido Bay. We weren't there for long before turning south towards Bayou St John, on the back side of Orange Beach. Lovely homes lined the Bay, as you can see...the one above is a classic example.
We love the mixture (mostly motley) of birds that take a break from fishing on the various sign posts. These three shags are in the right pecking order:)
In front of us on Ono Island, are yet more condos. On the other side is the Gulf of Mexico. I guess you could say that this part of Alabama is very popular. I think we had bought property here before we left the Bay:)...we wish! It is the perfect place for fishing, being inside the Barrier Island (St John Bayou, Ono Island and Perdido Key). The north shore was less populated, but even more stunning in the wooded lots and lovely homes with long dock fingers out into the Bay. We think the climate might be better here too, as you would invariably have a sea breeze in the hot summers! I am sure we will come across some more lovely places we would love to call home...you think??:)
North Shore homes...Perdido Bay
As we turned East out of Perdido Bay along Ono Island, we looked right and saw this small city. There is no city name on our charts, so I cant tell you what it is. The bridge goes over the Perdido Pass Channel, so perhaps this place is called Perdido Pass?
This condo complex caught my eye! It is actually on another islands behind the one in front.
I think I had bought this place by the time we passed it. I bet you can figure out why!:) Not one but two boat lifts and room for a jetski! woohoo..it's own white sand beach and a long low profile...some token palm trees and bright blue water..I would just need the servants to keep it all and we would be right! dream on??
The bird that built the nest on top of this red marker pole has to be fairly large to carry all the sticks.
We passed Inerarity on the north shore and proceeded through a narrow channel at the east end of Perdido Key into Big Lagoon.
I love these little Islands in the middle of the water...but they aren't so much fun if your boat gets hung up there...they are VERY shallow in and around them.
Fabulous day for a picnic! We are in a no wake zone here, so slower travelling.
This is the narrow channel we went through to get into Pensacola Bay
More condos...
Just out of Perdido Bay into Big Lagoon we came across our first Sand dunes. Low and with scrubby grasses. 
This boat lost the race!
Pensacola Florida. The bay was huge and wide open. Lots of boat traffic. We came across the bottom of the bay along between Santa Rosa Sound and Santa Rosa Island, another skinny little barrier island that goes for more than 40 miles along the Gulf Coast.
Coming into Pensacola Bay, on the screen. You might be able to see the boat in the middle of the screen. We took a sharp turn right along the red flags into the bottom of Pensacola Bay.
This is the first Lighthouse we have seen...and it was painted Purple:)This is just before Warrington, before Pensacola.
We came alongside Fort Pickens, at the beginning of Santa Rosa Island. The Fort began in 1829, completed in 1834, was named in honor of Major Gen. Andrew Pickens. It is one of only four Forts in the South that was never occupied by Confederate Forces, during the Civil War. The importance of the Fort is that it is at the entrance to Pensacola Bay, and protected the Pensacola Naval Yards during the American Civil War.
These two guns are Civil War guns.
The Fort became obsolete by the end of the second WW. It became part of a popular State Park until the creation of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in 1971. Following extensive repairs, the fort was re-opened to the public in 1976.
Lots of visitors on the island today. Lots of fishermen also, in the area. It was 44.6ft deep as we went past the Island.
This is opposite Warrington. Pensacola is a ways in the distance.
The chart shows us at the beginning of the Santa Rosa Sound/Island opp. Fort Pickens on the south end.
This large US Coast Guard boat is sitting outside a Military installation (Warrington) at the beginning of Pensacola Bay.
The water was calm and blue and the sky clear but for a few vapor trails.
Our wake across Pensacola Bay, with yet more condos in the distance. The land here is FLAT!
More condos....Pensacola
We have now entered an area known as The Narrows...and narrow they are. We were in another No Wake Zone so we travelled slowly, giving us time to fully appreciate our surroundings. This home with the red roof was a bit different to the stock standard American-style home that were it's neighbors.
This is the Navarre causeway Bridge, still travelling alongside of Santa Rosa Island on our starb'd side. This trawler kindly throttled back for us to pass just before the bridge. This is Time and Tide, a boat that shared our mooring in Ingram Bayou last night, and it had left the Bayou an hour before us. These folks are from Ontario, so we guess they are loopers who have come down from Canada, making them half way through their trip. We promised to keep in touch and hopefully see them elsewhere. They figgered we were Kiwis after our radio conversation...good to know I have retained my kiwi accent:)
On the other side of the bridge, about half way across the bay, we came across a fisherman and his son in their small fishing boat, enjoying the attentions of a group of about 6-8 dolphin, playing in the relative shallows. They are such a joy to watch:) Further on we had plenty of them around the boat.
Sorry, these photos are not in order of passage....It is sometimes hard to do so as we have come such a long way in the past couple of days. When you travel 60-90 miles in a day, things begin to look much the same, especially crossing these large bays.
This is the Windhaven Beach Radar Dome. It is opposite Windhaven Beach, along from Navarre Beach.These military Radar installations were on Santa Rosa Island. The road goes from one end to the other..so it would take you over an hour to travel from east/west to west/east.
The dunes along the narrows
This is a state park with lovely covered gazebo for shelter.
This Military base is at Warrington, at the beginning of Pensacola Bay. These photos are a bit out of order, sorry.
After entering the Narrows at the east end of Pensacola Bay, we were looking for a marina called South Wind Marina (10.08am) in order to refuel at a good price. $3.79 plus Fl. tax. ($3.91). We put about 160 gallons in the tank. Grateful to have that facility on the way, before getting into expensive Florida fuel prices elsewhere as we go south. We also put some water in the tank and gave the front of the boat a wash. She is VERY salt encrusted and badly needs a wash. It will have to wait, Im afraid.
Apparently we missed the last flyover of the Blue Angels air performance team whose home base is Pensacola, and who winter-over in San Diego.
Pretty sand beaches off this area, scrubby cover, used to have trees before Hurricane Ivan, apparently.
Just about to leave the Narrows...a No Wake area...for ages...The bridge marks the end of the narrows, and takes us into Choctawhatchee Bay
The colors are definitely eye-catching
and the fact that they are right on the waterway with a white sand beach in front...how nice!
A Marina and RV park are right next to the bridge...as is common and makes good sense, for an RV park! no?
And then we come to the end of the Narrows which is called the Emerald Coast, Florida. The Narrows opens up into Choctawhatchee Bay.
The Choctaw are the dominant American Indian Tribe in this area.
You can see the magenta line along the right hand side of the photo going north...well, east, actually. That is the Intra-coastal waterway, and took us right acrtoss the bay. It can get a bit boring going across these large bays and I can see how it would be easy to fall asleep if not for someone to talk to and keep you awake!We passed Destin, Florida, and made our way in the late afternoon sun to Joe's Bayou. I had enquired earlier about where this was, but I didn't pay much attention to it. Now that it is imminent, I can see it on the chartplotter, and see that the channel into the Bayou is especially small...as in..a thin line. Hmmm
We called ahead to Sun Harbour Marina around 1..45am, to book a berth for Tuesday night when a big north blow is due to hit the area. We don't want to be parked outside somewhere when those 20-30mph winds come through with near freezing temps.
The depth sounder had been playing up, either because of the mud being stirred by another boat, or the quality of the water which is pretty murky.
All is well now.
We had a pikelet with jam on and a cuppa around 3pm...windows opened because of the temperatures being high...lovely to have the fresh air!
We turned into Joes Bayou as the sun was setting...and the water depth went from 22 feet to nothing in no time flat. The channel, as I have said is VERY skinny and we thought we were fine coming into the first red marker. NOT!. Our port side got stuck on the mud with a jerk, in just three feet of water. BAH!
Small boats returning to their ramps for the night were on the scene and we hailed one of them, filled with kids and women, and the fellas were sitting high on their fish watching station with tinnies in hand. They were not equipped to help us really, and had no idea what they should be doing, to the point where one of them was trying to hold the rope that was towing us, in his hands. One sure way to lose a hand!
We are a 55ft boat, and they were a 20 foot runabout. They initially tied our rope to one of their cleats, which popped off the boat like a clay target...basically a missile! not funny when there were other people in the area. Other boats arrived and had opinions, of course and one of them lead us into the channel as we were freed. Thanks fellas! mucho gracias! Our nerves were a bit frayed after that and we still proceeded into the Bayou for the night...well, we didn't have much choice actually. The alternative was to motor in the dark and find somewhere else. Nope!
Most boaters in this area will laugh when they tell you about their grounding adventures. I can tell you, it aint much fun in such a large vessel. There is no way you can free a 36,000lb boat off the mud with a boat hook! I tried!:) Oh well, what else are you supposed to do??:)
Well, this all makes for good work stories, eh?
We were tired after our ordeal...but we are learning each time we do this..hopefully.
One thing we are learning is that we WILL NOT seek out places that have skinny little channels. Shades of our experience at Offats Bayou in Galveston on our first night out of Houston, lol.
I got some dinner under the influence of 5% alcohol Apple Cider and we went to bed early.
There were lots of little fishing craft zooming in around us in the dark for a while, as there was a ramp no far from the boat. We were parked in about 11ft of water, so felt reasonably safe from the north wind. The anchor had a good hold, and Waz slept well. We were up early and off the anchor by 6.30am just after sunrise, without breakfast or coffee, so that we could take advantage of the high tide, such as it was...about 3 inches?? anything helps.
We negotiated the narrow channel without further ado, and out into the open water and much deeper Bay. phew!
21.6ft of water is a happy event.
Tuesday 12th, November.
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