11 December, 2019 Lighthouse Marina Panama City, Fl

0051 observation --20 mph

Front came barreling in around 2100 last night.  Rapid 180 degree shift in wind with strong gusty northerlies over 20 mph at times.  Temperature also dropped.  I woke at 0100 as boat was jerking a bit--approaching low tide and I had a bit too much slack in the lines.  Wind at 20 mph. Adjusted accordingly and went back to sleep.

Crazy sunrise just before the thunderstorms arrived from the west

Last boundary line of thunderstorms/rain passed about 0630 this am.  Developing LOW in the Gulf SW of here will track in our traveling direction with rain and thunderstorms added to the forecast for the next several days.

Small Craft advisory continues until late Thursday night.  Will check weather early tomorrow morning, but it is looking like we might wait another day.  We have a pretty large bay of open water to transit before returning to the coziness of the ICW ditch.  I will honor the small craft warning, just makes sense.

We have so much laundry to do and it was windy and rainy and the “FREE washer and dyer” while only a 15 minute walk away, are outside; we decided to pass today.  We did walk over and back yesterday afternoon and took showers and did one load of laundry.  Facility appears to be new showers/bathhouse constructed post hurricane.  The associated marina, sister marina to the Lighthouse was hit pretty hard and most of the pier/slips have not been completely renovated.  We decided to jump into the 21st century and tried to get a UBER, but no vehicles available.  I downloaded the LYFT app and ordered a car.  We were promptly picked up,  off on a 6 mile trip to the laundromat.  Due to the unsettled weather of the past week, we had damp bedding, towels and cleaning towels that needed washing and drying.  So, our tasks today were a little more onerous than normal laundry day.  We walked about a block to the convenience mart.  Evidence and remnants of last year’s hurricane remain.  Laundry done, we LYFT back to the marina and are secured aboard for the night.

Tom Thumb

Oh by the way, full moon but solid overcast.  Not to be seen tonight.