January 25, 2014 Saturday White City Dock NM 330

Woke up during the night with a tapping of something on the boat, sounded like rain but when more awake realized it was sleet on the boat.  In Florida--really,Really!  Last for only a little bit.  Departed at 8:30 under cloudy skies and no wind.  Temp in the 40's again. 11:30 Stopped at Apalachiocola, Florida for fuel, called Field Trip and they were just leaving so we topped off the fuel tanks and decided to re-provision for groceries at Carabelle.  Pushing because of the good weather window to do the crossing tomorrow, only good one before a week or more of rain, winds etc.  Came into C-Quarters Marina at 17:00, NM 375 plus 3 miles.
Curt in his log says Planning on leaving the Marina at first light tomorrow going to Red marker 2, Carabelle Channel marker then turning ENE and going to Red "26" South Shoal Light then turning SSE to Red marker 2 across FL. Barge Canal, then sound to the Flashing Red 4 and Anclote Key North Entrance to Tarpon Springs Turtle Cove Marina.  Sounds simple enough, right?.  Will do the ditch bag tomorrow on the way out of the bay.  Most everything together thanks to Mike mailing us a ditch bag with all the supplies.  Discussed where to put the oars for the dingy for quick access if we needed to leave Castaway ll in the middle of the Gulf crossing. 

 Morning after when Curt's ready to go

 Leaving the docks, see the bridge to the left where the green and red lights were coming from the night before in the dark

 A boat/camper/home off the ICW

 Looks like they may have had a fire, flood or something with all the dead trees

 Breakfast on the go, nice and smooth to cook a cheese omelet on the way

 down the waterway seeing the end of the ditch out to the Apalachicola Bay to Carabelle

 Meeting a fishing boat

 Nice on calm out on this bay, although would be nice to have some wind for the jib.

 Just was reading about the Polynesia term "Raimiti" for a phenomenon when the water and sky become one, you can't tell where one starts and one ends. Except for the dark tree line in the middle a little farther out and we will get to experience this phenomenon.

 Getting farther away from the land into the GICW Apalachiocola Bay

 A fellow aviator showing off how he can hover across the water, putting down his landing gear at the perfect moment and skid to a stop on top of the water.  Pretty cool.