Day 69 - on the road again

Miles cruised 56, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $18, daily high temperature 77*F, total days in PSJ 26.We had a wonderful evening of conversation and sundowners with Looper royalty tonight onboard Changing Latitudes. George and Pat Hospodar brought their friends Carol and Ray along. Carol was a colonel in the US Air Force and Ray was a captain in the Navy Seabees. Ray and Carol recently crewed in the Pensacola to Cuba race on a vintage Tartan 37. About 100 miles out after beating to weather in high seas the chain plates pulled off the deck and seawater stated pouring in. The skipper wanted to continue on but the crew mutinied. They returned safely to their home port with half the crew out of commission due to seasickness. A good choice.Our guests from Reflection - Carol, Ray, Pat and George.We were underway at 7:45 am. Reflection went to the pump out dock as we prepared to cast off. We are traveling on the ICW at 8 mph along with George and Pat on Reflection. This will be a 56 mile day. We will cruise to Apalachicola and then to Carabelle. Once we get to Carabelle we will anchor at Dog Island until 10:00 pm. Then we will start a slow cross. At dawn we will determine how fast we need to go to be  in Clearwater around noon. It is likely we will cross with several other boats in a convoy.It is nice to be moving again after 26 days. Andy said farewell to Lisa the marina manager. Lisa gave us blueberry muffins as a departure gift.The ICW is narrow in this section. It is about 100 yards wide and 10' - 12' deep. Perhaps it is narrow everywhere. We do not have much experience on the ICW at this point on our trip because we crossed the gulf from Panama City to Port St. Joe and did not take the ICW.Pelicans flying on the ICW.This is our planned course tonight.  Approximately 172 miles from Carabelle to John's Pass in Clearwater, Fl.We made our slip reservation at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Marina, Clearwater Beach South Harbourside. -" Located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway we are a short walk to the beach. Enjoy our onsite 50 slip marina, boat rentals, chartered fishing trips, dolphin watch tours, 18-hole miniature golf course, game room, fitness center & gift shop. The area surrounding our Key West styled hotel is free from noise and traffic. Hop on the Beach Trolley to visit John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk or Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Bask in the warm Florida sunshine in our heated garden pool and Jacuzzi and watch the breathtaking sunrises each morning at our marina." The cost per night at Port St. Joe Marina was $18.00. The cost for the Holiday Inn Marina is $101.00. That is the price of civilization.Eddy's weather wag - Good Morning Fellow Loopers!Well, it’s time to quit mulling over those real estate pamphlets for the Forgotten Coast and move on!It probably won’t work out for “Go-Fast” Loopers to do a daylight-only crossing today, as wave heights in the early morning might be too high. But it looks like Sunday’s conditions would allow you to zip across nicely.The extra pie someone sent King Neptune worked! “Laid-Back” Loopers needing a weather window for a slow passage will have the opportunity for a Saturday-night / Sunday crossing as well as a Sunday-night / Monday crossing. Neither night will have the proverbial dead calm water, but Sunday night’s crossing should be a little calmer than Saturday’s. Just depends on whether you subscribe to the “A bird in hand” theory of decision making!As always, I'd appreciate a quick note regarding the actual conditions you encountered during your crossing.Brain Clutter: First President of the Republic of Chile: Bernardo O’Higgins, a Chilean of Irish descent.Be well, keep safe, and stay happy!Eddy J.This is the weather window we have been waiting for.  Winds less than 13 mph and waves less than 2 feet.  In this case winds are 10 mph or less and waves are under 1 foot.  We are hoping for a flat ride.Bonus photo - Carabelle boasts having the smallest police station in the U.S.  It is only a phone booth.Bonus photo #2.Carl (Chef) Wooden - quote for the day."A boat can love the storm only if it is stronger than the storm!"Mehmet Murat ildan