Thursday, November 5, 2009

It was 65 degrees and sunny as we left our anchorage at 8 am. We originally thought we would leave the intracoastal waterway and travel on the “outside” in the Gulf because of the two “low” high rise bridges on this stretch – the first one with a 50-foot clearance and the second with a charted clearance of 49-feet; however, according to one of our guidebooks, the clearance for that bridge was more like 48 feet. Our clearance with the wind instrument and anchor light is 47.5 feet. Don had no qualms about going under these bridges as they have had experience with a 49-foot bridge in Guatemala and had no difficulties getting under it. We agreed to follow them so that we could see for ourselves that Ally’s Cat could clear the bridges.



We set out into Santa Rosa Sound with a NNE wind at 5 mph and a forecast for increasing winds throughout the day. We were able to sail on a close reach (pinched into the wind) and started out the morning with a nice, easy sail. The wind increased to a very stiff 20 knots making the water choppy and the remaining passage through the Sound a bit uncomfortable. We found calmer waters after the first 20 miles and before passing under the Navarre Beach Bridge (50’) at mile 207.0. We hung back and held our breath as Ally’s Cat passed slowly and easily under the bridge. We followed suit and passed without a problem. Late in the afternoon, we approached the Fort Walton Beach Bridge (49’), mile 223.0. Because the tide was rising, the bridge marker showed that the clearance right then was just under 48 feet. Again, we hung back to allow our friends to pass in front of us and they made it through – however, it didn’t look like there was much room to spare. We knew if they could make it, we could, too, so we gritted our teeth and passed slowly under the bridge. Piece of cake!!

It was time to find an anchoring spot for the night, so we took the lead and headed into Joe’s Bayou at mile 229.5. Here we found a good all around anchorage with unbelievably lovely (expensive) homes, huge boats and fancy docks. It was a bit like being in a fishbowl, but we knew it would be a quiet, calm place and that we would be leaving early the next morning. Don and Ally invited us to come over to their boat for a cocktail, but we were feeling exhausted and like we’d been fighting uphill all day long so we declined. We had a quick dinner and went to bed.

This was the end of our third day of traveling with Don and Ally. They were meeting friends in Ft. Walton Beach tomorrow afternoon and spending the weekend at their friends’ home. We were going to continue traveling eastward.