Tarpon Springs, FL

Tarpon Springs is known as the spong capital of the world. They import the wool sponges to Greece!

We took a walk with Jan and Tim through the back roads of the town

The Big Bend Crossing

We decided to cross on a little different schedule. We got up at 2 am and departed the anchorage around 2:30 am to arrive in Tarpon Springs during the day light. The problem going into Tarpon is that it is littered with crab pots which are difficult to see in the dark. We arrived in Tarpon Springs just as the sun was setting. It was a very calm crossing and we were lucky because we arrived in Carrabelle on Tues late morning, fueled up got some miscellaneous things done and were out at the anchorage on Dog Island by late afternoon.

Sunrise

Sunrising on the crossing

Full Circle at dusk

Dog Island Anchorage just out side of Carrabelle, FL

Apalachcola, FL

Leaving Apalachacola at sunrise

Shrimp Boats
7am leaving Apalachcola


Apalachacola River with Morning Star leading the way

Military buzzing our boat

Smack Bayou, Panama City

Three boats spent the night in Smack Bayou. This is Morning Star getting ready to pull anchor

Fort Walton Beach, FL

You think it was cold? We awoke to ice on the boat and it got as high as 54. Good thing I brought my winter stuff back to the boat.

Looking across the intracoastal in Ft. Walton Beach, FL

We were treated to a free holiday concert at the free dock in Ft. Walton Beach. It is a great stop with good resturants and Publix within two blocks of the dock.

Sugar sand beaches

Scenes along the way, radar tower

Roberts Bayou, AL

You can see the ice on the top of the fenders. The boat had a thin layer of ice all over the decks. It was difficult to walk around and pull of anchor.

Pirates Cove, looks like it could be a real hopping place but not this time of year.

We finally left Dog River and headed east to our final destination on the panhandle, Carabelle, FL.

This beautiful sunset is in Roberts Bayou

Touring eastern shore of Mobile

The famous LuLu's. Jimmy Buffet's sisters resturant, Gulf Shores, AL

Watching fisherman throw net on Fairhope fishing peer.