Cruising with the Tug from Apalachicola to Fort Walton Beach, September 7-19, 2012

We headed back to the Gulf Coast of Florida to continue our trek westward.  First part of the cruise was exploring the Florida Keys (December of last year).  Second part was the cruise from the Fort Myers area to Tarpon Springs (April).  And now the cruise from Apalachicola to Fort Walton Beach (Sept.).

This is the bridge under the Gulf Canal that runs into St. Joseph Bay.  We headed north away from the bay looking for the ICW with a head current of about 2 nautical miles per hour.  With this kind of water going under the boat, I just knew, at this point of the morning, that we are not going to make Panama City before dark.  Hope the sandwiches hold out.

But who would know?  After only a 5 miles run up the Canal and headed west now in the ICW, there is no current and the water is like glass.  When you take a picture, the reflections are so clear that you can view it upside down as well as right side up.

Here is a shot of Blue Water Bay Marina (Rocky Bayou-north of Choctawhatchee Bay) to include bar and restaurant.  Debbie Sheldon happened to be Harbor Master that day and recognized the “Ragged Ass Saloon” T-Shirt from Pine Island that I was wearing.  The “damage” was done.  Debbie and Scott became our best friends and really showed us around.

We wouldn’t have had the guts to beach the tug on the sand bar inside Destin Harbor without Scott being the official unofficial harbormaster.  Scott and Debbie had spent the night on their sailboat in Destin Harbor the night before.

Here is a great shot of Mike Decker and myself (Bay Point Marina in the Grand Lagoon off of St. Andrews Bay-Panama City area) after completing some very difficult tug boat repairs.  I met Mike in 1970 when we were both young Lieutenants in the Marine Corps in Camp Pendleton, California.  Mike lives in Panama City and volunteered to be our official guide to the City-and a good one he is!

We are in Horseshoe Bayou on the south side of Choctawhatchee Bay leaving the Baytowne Marina after meeting with the real Captain Ron.  Michael joined us for a beer and some oysters at the restaurant ashore operated by Captain Ron.

Mike and Melissa at one of the best restaurants in the Panama City area-Uncle Earnies at St. Andrews.  Great food and a nice pier to tie up to as well.  Mike Decker has never learned how to behave.

Sunny and Tammy and Debbie and Scott standing around being local at Crab Island.  Crab Island is really a sand bar just inside the Destin Bridge where the water is super clear and all the locals hang out drinking cold drinks.  Parking is free.

And sometimes it’s time to just “kick back” here at the Bluewater Bay Resort adjacent to the Bluewater Bay Marina up Rock Bayou.   Where is Melissa?  It’s time for another glass of wine.