22-26 December, 2019 Déjà vu all over again

With credit to Yogi Berra's most memorable 'Yogi-isms'.  We remain in Carrabelle.  Worried the tax man might say we are residents and send a tax bill.  Really hoped to depart for Steinhatchee yesterday, Christmas day.  The weather god did not agree.  What had looked only a few days prior as an approaching good window, never materialized and the seas and winds remained elevated.  I have a paid weather forecaster who does Marine forecasting and his recommendation was not to go.  (weather) We would have had 3 footers forward of the beam for 10 hours.  Very rough pounding and probably would have required slowing from our lightening speed of 7 MPH to something less making a night arrival into a strange channel/harbor with extremely rocky and shallow fringes on both sides.  No thanks.  Talked with the local Tow boat captain and he recommends winds less than 15 mph and seas 1-2 feet max for our little boat to be comfortable on the crossing.  This guy goes out all weather day/night doing rescues and towing broken boats back to harbor.  I am going to listen what he has to say.

So we have improved our physical training, we have increased our walking distance to over 4 miles.  We have worn out the sidewalks in town.  Folks say hello in the local IGA grocery store like we are locals!

It was a warming and sunny Christmas morning onboard Serenity.  Coffee freshly brewed, we opened our shared boat presents.  Fender keepers--helps POC secure the lines of the fenders quicker and easier.  Bluetooth voice activated headsets--marriage savers they say.  We have been surprised how hard communication has been anchoring, locking and docking.  We are not that far apart, but Serenity's engine is in the helm area and while it is not loud, it does interfere with voice communication.  So now instead of having to shout, holler, frantic waving of hands and facial expressions, we bought each other the new head sets and we can speak in a calm manner.  That is the theory anyway.  Very nice present from our friends in P'cola.  Great coffee mug for the helm station from my 5 month old grandson.  Thanks Max.  Phone calls with family and friends completed the morning.

Max mug

Inspiration 

We walked to Carrabelle beach.  A 2.5 mile one way trip.  Pretty easy along highway 98 with enough right away the oncoming traffic was not a bother.

Almost to the beach

Beach at low tide

A really nice beach that was the location of a WWII training site for soldiers to rehearse the d-day landing.  Camp Gordon Johnson  I never knew this existed.

Training site

Easy walk back to Serenity.  Lunch, a nap then it was time to eat again.  C-Quarters Marina was hosting a Christmas lunch for the loopers.  Admission was bringing a side dish.    There was probably 15-20 folks in attendance with excellent and varied food.  The marina provide a fried turkey.  A great time was had, meeting new folks, renewing acquaintances and sharing the day.  Near sunset, return to Serenity and close up for the night.

Next weather window appears to be 30 Dec.  I hope so, we are ready to get going, but will be smart and not rush if the weather does not meet our requirements.