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

Carrabelle Fun

We enjoyed some great times in Carrabelle at CJ's restaurant.  Mr. Bullet, with his white cowboy hat, lent us his truck so we could go and rent a car in Tallahassee.  Ms. Jewel, the owner let us use her little trailer out back for over 2 weeks.  The visiting bear gave us some great shots.  As well as the little lady that decided to ride her horse down to the C quarters marina, where we would hang out. Our daughter, Amanda, Steve, and Granddaughter Madison were able to come and visit on the weekend.  Amanda said CJ's had the best oyster PoBoy.  I think Gary was hooked on Prime Rib Friday's.  
Some people would understand about being on the "HARD".  That is the term for your boat being pulled out of the water. It is put on the hardtop in the boatyard for work like painting.
Finally, after many weeks we visited Gary's mom and drove back and forth daily.  we were able to spend the 4th of July and enjoy endless showers and food.

CJ's restaurant with Bullett and Hank Williams

Horse riding into C Quarters!

Bear in our backyard at CJ's

Visit from the Bailey's checking out the Police station

On the swing with Steve, Madison, and Amanda

End of the ride

On the Hard (boatyard) in Carrabelle

Finally, good weather and we were ready for our overnight crossing to Tarpon Springs. Gary immediately noticed we had a problem.  Once we hauled out to find out what it was, we decoded to go ahead with work we were going to have done in August.  So we are still in Carrabelle. We were able to get the new out of water survey done.  Also the repainting of the green stripes and the bottom job. We enjoyed the hospitality of many of the Carrabelle locals, which I will show in my next post.  Right now we are staying with Mom in Tallahasse and driving back and forth until all the boatwork is completed.

Rope we picked up on the way to our crossing

Hauling out at Dockside boatyard

getting ready to repaint