Nov 13th - Nov 21: Panama City to Clearwater

  There is not to much to update at this time.  From Panama City we moved on to Apalachicola, FL.  Apalachicola provides about 10% of all the oysters eaten in this country and we certainly did our best to contribute.  Donald made a two day trip back to Green Cove Springs and the Orlando area for personal business.  Returning to Apalachicola, we moved on to Carrabelle, FL which is our departure point for crossing the Gulf of Mexico to Clearwater in the Tampa Bay area.
    We had to wait in Carrabelle for a weather opportunity to cross the Gulf.  Being on the water for about 14 hours and at night means you want to make sure the weather cooperates. It has been very windy for the last couple of days, resulting in some higher seas.  It looks like the winds are suppose to calm sufficiently on Sunday or Monday night which will allow us to make the 150 NM crossing.  Until then, we are relaxing.
   On Sunday afternoon, after much hand wringing over the weather, 9 boats left Carrabelle to cross the Gulf.  We all made it without incident.  For GREAT ESCAPE, it was a 19 hour 33 minute journey covering 169 nautical miles.  We are resting now and will spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with our great friends Skip and Sharron Moore.

The porpoise have been providing entertainment during
our underway periods.  This guy was doing somersaults alongside.

One of many osprey we have seen along the trip

Shrimp boats alongside the pier in Apalachicola

This bush in downtown Apalachicola was
particularly attractive to butterflies

This majestic fellow was posing on a channel marker
heading into Carrabelle

To pass some time in Carrabelle, there has been some
fishing off the bow.The Boyz are there to help 

Mufasa checking out the fish in the bucket

"Hey Bro, look what's in there"

Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico

Approaching Clearwater FL