ICW (1)
October 31, 2012
We left Dog River Marina around 0700 and started to head out
with a whole bunch of other boats. It was the first good weather day in a week
so a mass exodus took place.
As we headed into Mobile Bay we decided to try our auto
pilot. It had broken down while we were on the rivers and Gary got it fixed
while we were in Mobile.
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| Time&Tide in Mobile Bay just before we had to turn around and have the Auto Pilot fixed. Picture taken by Sharon - MV Blue Angel |
As we turned it on, the boat steered at a 90% angle to port.
This was not good. After messing around with it for a while we decided to head
back to the marina and get the mechanic to have a look at it.
Fortunately it was a simple mix-up of wires and we were soon
on our way. We were now 2 hours behind the rest of the boats who all left with
us in the morning.
Crossing Mobile Bay the wind picked up and started to rock
the boat a little. We must be getting used to it, because my only concern was
that one of the cats might puke from all the rolling.
We spotted some more dolphins and tons of sea birds, especially
around the shrimp boats.
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| It is soooooo hard to get a picture of a dolphin. Here they are playing in our bow wake. There is womething so magical about seeing a dolphin in the wild. |
We finally made it to the ICW, nice protected water way that
runs parallel with the Gulf shore.
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| A couple of raccoons enjoying a drink of water at sunset - Ingrams Bayou |
We anchored in Ingram’s Bayou.
November 01, 2012
We had planned to spend a couple of nights at Ingram’s but
we were told the anchorages around Pensacola were going to fill up fast on
account of the airshow this weekend.
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| Steerman Trainers |
On the way we saw our first white sandy beaches and a big
sign welcomed us to Florida. Woo,hoo!!
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| Welcome to Florida |
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| Better watch those tides!! |
For the next three days we explored the sandy beaches off
Pensacola. I found my first sand dollar
and the great sea shell collection has begun!!
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| Paradise |
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| White sand, clear blue water |
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| Soft sand |
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| Sea anemone |
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| Shore Bird Sandpiper |
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| Sand Dollar |
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| This Armadillo was not shy at all. |
We explored the overgrown island
of Fort McRee Anchorage and we saw our first live Armadillos.
Gary was in 7th
HEAVEN as it was also the Blue Angles’ homecoming and we had a great view of
the airshow rehearsal. On Friday evening we sat on a sand dune sipping wine with
Kate and Gordon from MV Viking Star while watching the
night air show (a first, even for Gary) and on Saturday we were joined by the
crew from SV Flying Free as we attended the airshow at the Pensacola
Airbase.
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| Blue Angels flying over the anchorage |
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| looking out the observers window of a Mexican patrol aircraft |
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| Sea Stalion |
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| Blue Angels |
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| F18 tight turn causing the water vapour to compress |
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| Fat Albert |
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| Diamond formation |
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| Two solo Blue Angles doing a dirty pass (I kid you not, this is what it is called!!) |
What a weekend!!
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| Gary caught a Flounder |
We are still waiting on a part from West Marine so we are currently
in the Navy Marina in Pensacola, where we were invited to stay as Canadian Military
retirees.
……………………………………………to be continued
Haai Chrissie, ek sal vir Ma bel en se dat alles ok is. ....ek het vir Joey laat weet.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it is a sea urchin not an anemone. Safe travels love reading your blogs.
V & I