Days 147 & 148 – Bay Point Marina to Port St. Joe Marina - November 30 - December 1, 2011

We have finally departed from Panama City Beach.  Although we have not committed to a crossing day yet, we believe there may be a window within the next five to seven days, so we are moving toward Carrabelle so we can take advantage if the window actually materializes.  It may seem as if we are obsessed with this whole “weather window” thing and making our crossing – it certainly feels that way.  This is a big deal for all Loopers.  For most of us this is an overnight event that will see us away from land for over 20 hours.  We want our crossing to be as uneventful as possible – to do that, we must be patient and wait for our chance.

Five Loopers left Bay Point Marina this morning.  We are all on the same plan to arrive in Carrabelle on Saturday or Sunday.  We are on our way to Port St. Joe for two nights.  This is a sister marina to Bay Point Marina.  The day starts quite cool but the sun is out and the boat warms up pretty quickly.  Today’s travel takes us through St. Andrew’s Bay, into East Bay and then into another canal section of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway (GIWW).  The final five miles for the day is through a canal called the Gulf County Canal that leads from the GIWW to the city of Port St. Joe and the St. Joseph Bay.  I’m sure that in the past this was a busy port town with shipping and fishing industries, but it is now a town working to transform itself and attract a tourist trade.

             Miles: 49.0      Bridges: 3        Locks: 0

boat building and repair along the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway

cypress stumps along the waterway

more cypress trees

Grianan and Boreas at Port St. Joe Marina

Boreas tied up at Port St. Joe Marina