Crossing the Gulf, A Rite of Passage!

We've had an exciting week, crossing the Gulf of Mexico from Florida's panhandle (Apalachicola) to its west coast (Tarpon Springs) overnight on Monday!  The trip took nearly 24 hours of constant running.  We couldn't have had nicer conditions - calm seas and a full moon - but it was still an interesting challenge for Dave and me.

We'll spend a week in Tarpon Springs then will head to Clearwater Beach for a month, two weeks of which we'll be in Richmond for the Christmas holidays.

En route to Apalachicola on Nov. 24

More of the ICW

Bald eagle



MAIA in Apalachicola FL

5 PM on Nov. 26, entering the Gulf of Mexico

The sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico

The sun rises the next day after running all night



The sun rose just in time to allow us to spot crab pot floats,
40 miles out of Tarpon Springs

Entering the Anclote River at Tarpon Springs FL about Noon
on Nov. 27.  From Apalachicola we ran 194 statute miles
across the Gulf of Mexico, 22 1/2 hours!!  Even with a full
moon and calm seas it was quite a challenge!