Guest Blogger Art.

Since today is Art's last day on the boat.  I've asked him to write his version of our adventure:

The Bubble

My two weeks in a bubble by day and a cave by night is coming to an end. The bubble is the cockpit of Pura Vida surrounded by clear plastic for protection of cold weather and the cave is the V-birth that I crashed in early each night.  My 15 day journey from Port Arthur Texas to Apalachicola Florida with my brother was fun.  My part of his and Ruth’s Journey to the Bahamas, was to help Greg get their boat to Florida. Mission accomplished.

Art's Cave

Getting up before sunrise, motoring/sailing 25 to 60 miles a day has been an adventure.  So many sights in nature were revealed; eagles, ducks, pelicans, abandoned and partially sunk sailboats, people, barges, riverboats, houses, towering motels, old towns, cities, forest, swamps, bayous, sandy white beaches, rivers, including the mighty Mississippi. We sailed in sounds, bays, and the Gulf of Mexico. We even anchored at an island in the Gulf one night.  For some reason, Mark Twain comes to mind.

We didn’t watch TV; however, we did have our computers (Greg logged into his blog each night).  Guitars were brought out on several occasions.  Spending time with Greg brought back memories of two young boys sharing a room at our parent’s house on Brinkman Drive, in Port Arthur. Conversations would come up like “what do you think dad would say about this trip?”  We both concluded the same answer and laughed.  He wouldn’t care for it.

Time has gone by as quickly and as smoothly as a pair of Pelicans gliding inches above the surface of the water.  My watch is over and my nephew, Bryce, will take my place.  I’m sure he will enjoy this adventure as much as I have.

Thanks Ruth and Greg for letting me be part of your journey.

Art

Piney Pt. to Apalachicola

Date: Dec 12, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  1655 ET                     

Location:  Apalachicola, Fl

Weather:  63 cloudy       

Sea State:  Small craft warning ending 1 am

Destination Tomorrow:  from anchorage to dock, Apalachicola

Engine Hours:  1320                                                                        

Crew:  Art           

Mr. Majestic

Comments:  We left Piney Point around 700, ICW mile 300, motoring all day.  The little wind we had was in our face or blocked by the canal banks.  The same sites, a narrow ICW canal opening into another lake or bay, etc.  We did see the most majestic eagle of the trip, a large Master sitting atop the tallest leafless tree overlooking his domain.  We pulled into Apalachicola around 1500, topped off the fuel, 20 gallons, the water and emptied the trash.  Anchor was dropped at 1555.  Actually 1655 ET. 

Chef Art

Today we completed mile 635, not counting the circles waiting for locks, bridges, tugs and dredges blocking the way.  Port Arthur is mile 285 west of New Orleans and Apalachicola is mile 350 east.  For some reason mile 0 is at the Harvey Locks, at the Mississippi River. 

Tomorrow, Chef Bryce arrives then Chef Art departs Saturday morning with his wife Annette.  They choose to do the cooking for some reason.  If the window opens Saturday as expected Bryce and I will travel the remaining 25 miles of the ICW, which ends at Dog Island near Carrabelle, through the East Pass for an overnight passage to Tarpon Springs or somewhere near.

Art has been a true big brother, taking care of little brother.  Without him I would have probably turned around somewhere near Bridge City.  Thank you, Art. 

Wheeler Pt. to Piney Pt.

Date: Dec 11, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  1515                          

Location: Piney Point, east of Panama City

Weather:  48 all day, wind, rain 

Sea State:  Bays are rough

Destination Tomorrow:  Apalachicola

Engine Hours:  1312                                                                        

Crew:  Art           

Coldest day of entire cruise, we hope.

Comments:  Throughout the night we heard occasional loud splashes.  We figured it to be the dolphins wanting us to come out and play.  The cold north wind accompanied by hard rain blew in earlier than expected around 1700.  In the morning the dolphins were gone, probably because it was 48 degrees.  It was raining and 48 the entire day.  Throughout the day we made our way through bay after bay, including West Bay, St. Andrew then East Bay, with winds gusting to 28.  We gave the jib another workout when the winds settled to 15, but saw gusts of 24.  We made good time under sail.  We dropped anchor just east of Piney Point on the north shore of East Bay around 1515.  We’re hoping to spend the next two nights in Apalachicola at the Municipal Marina, awaiting Bryce and Annette.  Bryce will replace Art for the following week.  The window is looking positive for a Saturday and Sunday overnight Passage to Tarpon Springs.

Navarre to Wheeler Point

Date: Dec 10, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  1415                          

Location:  Wheeler Point

Weather:  Rainy, mid 60’s            

Sea State:  Calm

Destination Tomorrow: East

Engine Hours:  1304                                                                        

Crew:  Art           

Comments:  We pulled up anchor and left Navarre around 630 after awaiting the fog to lift.  Shortly after shoving off the fog returned and stayed with us for another 30 minutes.  We made our way through The Narrows turning NE once we reached the Choctawhachee Bay.   We were under jib alone most of the way through the bay, with winds near 17 knots on the beam.  It rained most of this stretch.  Thank you John and Chuck for convincing me to add the Eisenglass curtains.  We made it to the Clyde B. Wells Bridge around 1415, greeted by several dolphins which stayed around to visit and allowed us to take pictures after anchoring.  We anchored on the NE side of the bridge in protection of the norther, which should blow in shortly. 

Gulf Shores to Navarre Beach

Date: Dec 9, 2019                                            

Arrival Time:  1515                          

Location:  Navarre Beach, Santa Rosa Island, FL

Weather:  Beautiful, 72, No wind             

Sea State:  Calm

Destination Tomorrow:  Protection from approaching norther

Engine Hours:  1298                                                                        

Crew:  Art           

PV at anchor off Santa Rosa Island

We left Tacky Jack’s around 800 this morning after waiting for the fog to lift.  It is a perfect and protected dock to tie to for the night and eat some good seafood.  The water throughout the day was smooth with no wind.  The anemometer read the speed of the boat.  We dropped the anchor about 100 yards off the Navarre Beach Park on the Santa Rosa Island around 1515 and dinghied to shore.  The distance traveled today was about 50 nautical miles.  Today was the first time we were able to see the anchor on the bottom.  Tomorrow we'll try to make moderate distance then find protection from the approaching norther.  

Dauphin Island to Gulf Shores, AL

Date: Dec 8, 2019                                            

Arrival Time:  1430                          

Location:  Gulf Shores, AL

Weather:  Cloudy, some rain     

Sea State:  Extremely rough       

Destination Tomorrow: 

Engine Hours:  1290                                                        

Crew:  Art           

PV resting at Tacky Jack's

Comments:  Today was going to be our day off.  Well things changed a bit.  During the night the swell on the south side of Dauphin Island increased.  By morning it was somewhat uncomfortable, so we decided to move further east with more protection, anchor the boat then dinghy ashore and see the sights.  It made since because, besides expecting a calmer anchorage, it was also closer to the township of Dauphin Island.  When we got to the possible anchorage we found it to also be somewhat choppy, so we selected to go around the east end of Dauphin Island  The east end is connected to Pelican Island which extends south because the cut that separated them no longer exists. Therefore, we would have to travel south around the sand bar that makes up Pelican Island.  The chart shows it to extend approximately 1.75 miles south.  We turned south expecting a short trip.  However, as we made our way the island continued endlessly.