A Yachting Blog On Blogs of Some of our cruising friends doing the Great Circle route

When you check out our blog, if you click on "view my complete profile" you can see the other blogs we are following, and their great pictures.  The picture above is "One September"' and their  blog is full of great pictures taken as Mike and Judy do the Loop.  They just stayed at Bobby's Fish Camp and went on to Fairhope Alabama across Mobile Bay.

 "Last Resort" has just crossed the the Gulf of Mexico from Appalachacola to Tarpon Springs.

Here are Freya and Don on Last Resort.  JoAnn and  I got to renew our friendship and tour their boat at the Looper meeting at Joe Wheeler Marina in Alabama in October.  It was truely beautiful.  They are from Canada and sold a resort on the Trent-Severn Waterwayand bought a boat.

"Fandango" when cruising down the Tenessee. They have a pictoral history of their trip in their blog.

Kate and Kathy  are On "Fandango" with their husbands. They are holding Asian Carp involuntarily caught while cruising on the "White Trash Palace" while staying at our harbor, Port Charles Harbor.

Judy and Mike, on "One September" are from Virginia Beach. They plan to do the "Loop" again when they cross their wake in Virginia.  We are looking forward to seeing them when they return to Port Charles next year doing their second loop.  They suggested that we head south again with them then.  Who knows what the future holds???

Darrel and Lisa on "Why Knot" are St. Louis natives who write a great blog.  You can follow them on "Why Knot",  by going to our profile and clicking on their blog. When they've finished the "loop", they also plan to do it again!

"Why Knot"  Stayed with us at Port Charles Harbor'  They are on the lower Tombigbee River heading for Mobile Bay at this writing. 

Joel and Debbie on "Water Music" are taking 4 years to do the Loop and their blog is facinating with many pictures.  Check it out.

"Swing Set" from our own area.  Mike and Rosie left many friends behind, sold their home and plan to live full time aboard Swing Set.  The picture above is in Bimini Basin in the Ft. Myers area of Florida.  Their blog is fun to follow.  Their recent blog tells of being in  Marco Island area.

Oh!!    I left out  Holly,  This is Holly On "Swing Set" enjoying the aft deck, as any great boat dog would do. 

Crossing Mobile Bay among Shrimp Boats and Naval Vessels Fall of 2009

As we saw Mobile Bay ahead we left the ICW (intracostal waterway) and Bon Secour Bay behind.

Into open water carefully watching the navigation markers as we would leave the prescribed "safe" channel and cut diagonally across the bay. A path worked out on our chart the night before allowed at least 8 foot depth all the way.  The short cut saved about 2 to 3 hours off of the trip.

Heading west

Fishing boat ( in the backround are the Ecor Rouge Cliffs.  The red colored cliffs are claimed to be the highest shoreline point of the United States from Maine to Galveston Bay)

To cross we ran inside at the lower helm. It was too cold in the morning breeze outside at the Fly-bridge helm on the upper deck.

Shrimp boat in middle of Mobile Bay.

 Back in the Traffic Way, after our short cut that seemed to work out well, with out a hitch.  A problem with plotting your own course out side of the channel, is that since hurricane Ivan, there is always the chance of hitting uncharted litter in shallow areas of the bay like someones old refrigerator etc..

Cargo ships as we approached down town Mobile.  The Bridge in the background is the beginning (mile 0) of the "Tenn-Tom Waterway" that took us 480 miles to Kentucky Lake.

New style naval vessel being completed

Another cargo ship that dwarfed us as we passed it.

Downtown Mobile Alabama's waterfront

 First sight of the "Tenn-Tom Waterway" was the Mobile River.

 Looking for a good spot to anchor for the night on "three River Lake" off of the Tenn-Tom.  We were still  subjected to tidal action until we got above the Coffeeville Lock and Dam so anchoring has to take this into consideration.  Time for that glass of wine and to relax on the hook (at anchor).  Another of our boating rules is to be at a dock, or on the hook with a glass of wine at 4:30 PM each day!

Yachting, Boating, and Cruising Restaurants On the Water

                                                                            

A favorite of mine for fried chicken on the river in the St. Charles Mo.- Grafton Illinois area.

"Kinders" on Mississippi R. at Golden Eagle Ferry (above)"Crows Nest Bar and Grill" at the Crows Nest Marina in Venice Florida is just a walk down the dock.  It  has a great fresh seafood selection along with steaks etc. etc.  One of the times we ate there they had stone crab on the special list!

Another favorite is "Flippers" (as in porpoises).  Its at Bear Point Marina in Orange Beach Alabama on the ICW (intracoastal waterway).  Of course there are many other great places in the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach area, but again Flippers is just a short walk down the dock and they have free home made ice cream for desert!  When we stayed in Bear Point Marina the porpoises would come in the harbor every morning to round up fish.  It was quite a show !

"LuLu's" is Jimmy Buffett's sister"s place and is right on the ICW in Orange Beach Alabama.  Lots of loud music, and I'm told that Jimmy does show up unannounced on occasion when he's in town. The food, although secondary to the atmosphere and tourism appeal is still fairly good.

If you're just not in the mood for breakfast aboard, there is this place just off the dock at Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina Florida.

One of our favorites is "Hellas" in Tarpon Springs Florida.  We recommend docking at the municipal dock there because everything you want to do in Tarpon is a short walk from there.  Hellas has the most awesome Greek food and occasionally a waiter walks by with a flaming dish of something and all the Greeks in the place go wild yelling "Opa Opa".  I have know idea what they are yelling but its fun to see.  Here, JoAnn and I are seated with friends Bob and Donna who drove up from Anna Marie Isl. to Tarpon to visit with us while we were docked there.  Bob and I met JoAnn and Donna at the same time and took them on a picnic for our first dates.  We were students at U of Mo. then.

Restaurant at Grand Mariner Marina on Dog River in Mobile Alabama.  Known all over the area for their fried crab claws.  Well I didn't think they were as good as a "Boscher Town" burger back home.

"Tiki Bar and Grill" at Roland Martin Marina in Clewiston Florida is a great stop on the Okeechobee Waterway.  Good food and very festive atmosphere and music.

Well here we are at the "Bubble Room" on Captiva Island.  A free trolley ride and short walk from the South Seas Yacht Basin.  Very good food and awesome deserts like red velvet cake.

Of course a favorite place to dine is on the boat with at a quiet dock settled in for the night.  Captiva Island's marina

Here's an Early "Happy Thanksgiving" and few Gulf pics

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends doing the Loop where ever you are!  And to our friends who are "dirt dwellers" as we are now. Please give yourselves a little treat by reading the other blogs attached to our profile.  Blogs like "Water Music", "Why Knot", Or "Fandango" or "One September" or "Swing Set".  By following these blogs you can get a real feel of what its like to live aboard and travel on a boat!  Simply click on "our profile" and pick out a blog to read from the list. (Picture of the Moorings marina in Carrabelle Fla. above.)

Carrabelle river.  If you get the idea we miss doing this, you're right!  This week "Swing Set" said in their blog, that they lost their Anchor on the Calossahattche river .   Now let me think.  Would I rather be here in St. Louis waiting for winter with the boat winterised at the dock, or looking for a new anchor like Mike and Rosie, in Ft. Myers Florida???  Hmmmm?

Carrabelle  river enterance off of St George Sound.  Note Port Charles Harbor burgee in lower left corner on our "Great Escape"..

Carrabelle Fla

JoAnn and I while at Sail Fish Marina bringing "Great Escape" home.  It was  announced at the AGLCA meeting in Joe Wheeler, there will be "pot luck" thanksgiving dinners in the Fairhope Ala. and Dog River areas for all those Loopers who are away from their home ports.  The harbor hosts as I understand it, are cooking the turkeys and the Loopers  should bring a dish.  JoAnn and I whish we were there to celebrate with you all!     (for new readers the term "Loopers" refers to people who are in the process of or who have finished cruising the Loop.  A counter clockwise route by water around the eastern half of the United States)   Stay dry and keep your pointy end into the wind.

Sunsets, A Joy Of "Living board" Cruising

Our boat "Great Escape" at sunset in "South Seas Yacht Basin", Captiva Island Fla.   (double click pics to see better)

Some sunsets are spectacular

Sun rising on the Gulf of Mexico while crossing to Steinhattache.  To get on course early, you simply aim at the sun for the first several hours!

On Tennessee River.  "Red sky at night...a sailors delight.  Red sky in the morning sailor take WARNING!

ICW

Somewhere on the ICW ( inter costal waterway)

Getting an early start on the day.  Daily routine is to be at a dock or at anchor by 4:30 PM with a glass of wine to unwind and enjoy a new location and new friends.

Awesome