What Were We Thinking - Part Deux

After a great couple of days in Pensacola (we loved it there), the weather was not looking promising starting Wednesday for the next leg of our trip.  We decided to leave Tuesday and travel the 100 miles to Port St Joe, offshore. Not sure which was the bigger mistake -- leaving Pensacola or
going to PSJ. We left the Palafox marina Tuesday, great wind and we were actually sailing at 7.8 kts. For about an hour. As previously noted, our trip from Houston to Gulf Shores was lousy. Wind OTN the whole way.  You'll be happy to know that nothing has changed! For about 26 hours (Bob says it wasn't that long - just felt like it)  we fought 20 kt wind on the nose, gusting 25, and HUGE waves. We finally
tethered ourselves to the boat. Fortunately, there were no other Morons (Cue Dick, idiots) out there until about 6 Wednesday morning when a 430 ft cargo ship appeared on the horizon - going the other way, thankfully. Our poor boat took another beating as well as us -- Bob pulled an all nighter. I got about 2 hours sleep.

When we FINALLY got to the peninsula around Port St Joe bay, it took forever to get into the bay. We thought it might be protected in there, but Noooo.  The waves were just as bad and, you guessed it, the wind OTN. The marina is what seemed like 5 miles across -- some of the markers were missing and we were having a terrible time, not to mention that my Captain was a little tired. We had to motor clear across the bay -- 28 markers to the marina!

When we were about 2 miles out, a wind/rain storm hit us and we couldn't even see shore. The "blue barn" was our beacon for the marina. Talking to the girls at the marina was NO help. They told me that we would be on the west dock - pull in to the marina and tie up on the seawall on the left
side. Does that sound like a t-head or something to you? Of course not, it was a cement seawall with PILINGS on both sides and a QUARTER PIER ON THE PORT SIDE. Deja vu Pier 4 only not as nice. Backing in to the slip was no
picnic with the dinghy taking the brunt of a hit.  Bob got it in,
however, it's a trick to get off the boat. It was high tide, of
course, too. 

Did I mention that when I called to ask the girl in the office if someone could help us dock she said "well, you'll be on the West Dock, do you think you need help?" I said that I'd like to have somebody to throw some lines to. There is no way Bob and I could have docked in this "slip." I don't even like the thought of spending 2 nights here, but we have to. The
weather right now is just horrible and not sure when we will get to leave.

I know one thing - we WILL NOT be going offshore to Clearwater until we are certain that the weather is clear. Neither of us can take another pounding like this. Give me the ICW.

Water's Edge docked at Port St Joe, FL Marina

So far, the only good think about this marina is that the WIFI works.  Also, there is a Piggly Wiggly within walking distance (I miss Kroger already).   This marina is more like Freeport, TX than Florida.  Our next leg is the ICW to Apalachicola, a short trip.  We will decide Friday morning whether to try it or not.  We would like to be able to head for Clearwater when the weather breaks this weekend.  Then we are home free.  I have to laugh.

Cheers.