Splash Up in Tarpon Springs!

Did you ever think that all you have is bad luck?  I sometimes feel all Gary and I do is make lemonade in our lives.  As we came in the South passage to gain the intercostal at the mouth of Tarpon Springs we hit a shoaled in area off Anaclothe Key.  As we were so tired we called our towboat service to help us get off and avoid other unkown areas.  Unfortunely, all service isn't good.The captain that came damaged our boat and we almost lost our rudder.  We are now on the hard again to get a new rudder and navigation  equipment replaced.  I am housekeeping on land for at least a month.
At least this is a beautiful place to be.

Jan at the sponge docks

Our new home and car for at least a month

Skyline bridge in St. Petersburg, gorgeous 

MissEm's new home,Pittman Yacht Services

Gary's new favorite, charbroiled octopus 

Big Bend Passage

The weather window opened and we were ready to "Do a Carrabelle!", and leave.  The beginning of the 23 hour trip was rough, but by the afternoon it was getting better and better.  By midnight the stars were out and the waves were down.  Gary had reefed the main and we were making great time.  I slept stretched out in the cockpit and Gary woke me at 4 AM for a relief break.  We started seeing Dolphins and were very excited that we had such a good passage.

Splash!

After more fun days staying with Gary's Mom and driving back and forth to Carrabelle, the boat was finally painted.  We took our neice Keira to the Tallahassee museum for a day of fun.  We also had a weekend in the Gibson Inn in Appalachicola.  Then we turned in the rental car and waited out the weather for the crossing to Tarpon Springs.

Getting  ready to leave Carrabelle all painted up

Ready to go.

Jan and Kiera

 Fun at the Tallahassee Museum. Lots of new animals to see.

 

Keira got to touch the baby alligator

She decided to skip holding the snakes

Appalachicola is a great place to visit.  We had a geat room at the Gibson Inn.

Music at Tamara's Cafe