7 December, 2019 Pearl harbor day

Rough bay.  6.6 engine hours-- a lot of no wake zones, 14 SM.

Overcast, rain showers off/on all night.  Good anchorage, good hold.  Slept in a bit--leisurely coffee at 0700.  Wind picking up.

Easy start to the day.  However, the 10 mpg east wind freshened and became more NE@12-15 approaching Choctawhatchee bay (bay) where we experienced 2 footers on the bow initially, moving port forward as we changed course more easterly.

We churned along for about two hours rocking and rolling.  Turning southward toward Destin inlet, we passed under highway 98 bridge and entered Destin harbor.  (Destin) What an incredible build up area; no space left on the water front, left or right.  Nearing the end of the harbor at 1035, we anchored in 12 feet.  Sea surface water temperature: 64 degrees.  Will likely spend the next two days here and wait out the weather.  Tonight and tomorrow it is forecast to blow pretty good.  (weather)

After lunch we splashed KAOS and rowed to the northern shore and made landing at a closed water sports business.  We cable locked up KAOS, walking up the unlocked stairs to ask permission.  Nobody home, business closed until after the new year.  Good to go.  We walked about a mile to Goodwill, and TARGET (have not been in a target for several years-my personal boycott list but needed propane) and a seafood market.

Kaos all secure

Goodwill was very well stocked and I bought a new windbreaker for 9 bucks and got POC a Destin T-shirt for 3 bucks.  Wahoo, living large.  Bought four one pound propane bottles at Target and walked back.  Stopping at a seafood market with a marquee proclaiming fresh gulf shrimp $5.95/pound we bought 1.5 pounds and a small jar of cocktail sauce.

Loaded the dink and rowed back to Serenity, which remained securely anchored to the sea bed.  Grilled two small ground chuck burgers, boiled the fresh shrimp.  Marvelous surf and turf aboard Serenity as the sun extinguished itself into the gulf of Mexico .(map)

1019 sm   1247.9 Hobbs.