Sun Set in Sandestin

We got up early to Minor's (the boat beside us).  He was taking his boat out for the day to give the engines a run.  We were planning to leave after breakfast.  Larry came by to help us with the ropes and say good-bye.  It was another beautiful morning we hated to leave.  After checking everything Don found that our generator would not start, so we delayed our departure for a bit.  He eventually found that the breaker down below had tripped so after he reset it we were on our way.  The water was like glass for most of the trip.  I have finally been able to see the dolphins.  They were everywhere all day.  Don spotted them first and then they followed us along side of the boat in the wake of the boat.  At one point there were about six of them.  They would jump out of the water in front of the boat and then follow us for a mile or two...   It made my day when I actually was able to take pictures of them.....

We were not sure where we wanted to stop.  We thought we might anchor out at Crab Key (the Swimming Spot) at mile 227.5, but with us both battling a cold we decided that might not be a great idea.  Then we thought that we might stop at Destin but found that the marinas either did not answer the radio when we called or their phones and when they did they made you feel they did not want you there as a transient on their docks. It was also so early in the day so we decided to move on.  Just 11.7 miles down the GIWW was Sandestin.  Larry on Lady KK had told us about this area and said it was very nice place to stop so we decided to pull in.  It was very easy to navigate into the Baytowne Marina at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.  It was very impressive coming in with the large condos and hotel all along the shore.  It was late afternoon by the time we got all settled in.  At the end of the dock was the Captain Joe Lee's Galley Eats restaurant.  It was getting close to sun set so we stopped for a drink to see it set.  We met a couple Shon and Debbie Lynn Dukes that were sitting beside us that come there often for a few days and have a condo about a mile away.  As the sun set we set we invited them back to the boat for a drink.  Shon had mentioned that there was a great restaurant in the village so off we all went.  The village was amazing with so many little shops all decked out with lites and Christmas decorations.  It reminded me of Disneyland in California.
 

We ate dinner at The Marlin Grill which was a beautifully decorated on the outside and inside.  It was one of the best dinners we had and cheese biscuits to die for.  Don had a beef filet and I had a trio of fresh fish, yum yum....  It was a nice nite outside as we walked back to the dock.  Again the best thing about our journey is the people you meet.  We know have another couple that we can cal friends.  Shon and Debbie will probably vacation in Canada and we hope to have visit us....  We feel great about this trip, this is a once in a lifetime journey and we are so glad we are doing it....

All Fired Up

Well we certainly had a great time last nite.  We were not sure if we wanted to go or to stay another day.  Linda had mentioned that they was a local farmer's market just down the street in the square.  So.....  we decided to stay.  It was another beautiful morning and not as cold as the day before.  After breakfast we walked down to the square.  You would never know that there had been a party in the streets the nite before.  It was spotless.  When we arrived at the square the whole centre of the divided street had dozens of vendors.  The first section was all the food vendors and there were lots of them.  Selling everything from fresh herbs, vegetables, flowers, all kinds of delicious fresh bakery items, homemade jams and jellies, pies and breads, and even freshly frozen meats.  The next section were all the little craft vendors.  There was something there for everyone and it was packed.  After picking up some pastries, bread and jams we headed back to the boat.  I worked on the blog for a bit and Don worked on the boat.  We met the man the the boat beside us Minor and he was kind enough to lend us his truck to go and pick up some cold medication from the pharmacy and a few things at the food store.  He did not know us from Adam and gave us his truck.  Boat people are one of a kind..... 





Before we went we stayed long enough to take another sunset picture and as we were waiting for the sun to go down I noticed a couple walking towards us wearing shorts, so I said to them "you two must be Canadians" and he said "yes, and we are from Lindsay, Ontario"  Small world they live about 30 minutes from us and when we said that we owned Viamede they said they knew who we were.  Go figure.... 

After we picked up a few thing and returned the truck we had a lite dinner at the restaurant beside the marina.  We sat outside with a heater on beside us.  It was so nice and it made us think "No Snow".  There had been activities all day at the stadium across the bay from us.  We found out later that it was the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the stadium and they had bands there all day.  Just as we came back to the boat they started to do fireworks, and not just a few.  The display went on for at least 20 minutes.   I said to Don that they did not have to do such a large display just for us because we were leaving tomorrow !!!!!

Pensacola

It is now Fri. the 16th.  Don got up early as he does every morning and went for a walk, but like the great guy he is, he put on a pot of coffee for me.  I have been getting up by 7:00ish which is early for me.  I would just like to sleep in till 8:00ish but can't.  Linda had emailed me with the great Tap restaurant she had recommended the nite before.  She was able to get us reservations but the only time in the whole nite that was open was 6:00PM.  Wow a little early for us by it's okay were are retired and time is irrelevant.  Since there was no courtesy car we took an expensive  cab to the National Naval Aviation Museum.  And it was worth every  penny.  The museum is free to the public, but you do need to take passports with you because you are going on an active naval base. The museum is massive with multiple areas to see.  We have been to see other in the past but none like this.  We could not believe how many plane and helicopters there were.  The museum is almost all volunteer's.  And the extensive restoration of the planes is unbelievable.  They took us by one outside to show us what they look like when they get them and then the restored plane.  Just amazing and the generosity of all the companies that supply products and parts to the restoration of these lanes.  There were just so many things to see and it was so well put together I rated it a 11 out of 10...  We both are feeling effects of a bad colds so we were glad to be back on the boat.  The weather had turned very cold and since we both were in shorts a nice warm boat felt good.  Back at the boat we had enough time for a glass of wine before we met Larry and Linda for dinner.  They have been here many times and recommended the Global Grill Tapas Bar and Restaurant.  It had a very trendy interior and a small jazz duo playing music and it was packed.  The menu had so many items to choose from and about 8 specials.  Between the wine and the superb food ( all very reasonable ) and our new friends it was an evening to remember. Pensacola had a downtown merchant arts and wine festival, sort of like "the first Friday's" that are in many cities.  Our waiter asked if we want to take a drink with us as we walked down the streets.  It was like walking down a street in New Orleans.  Music and wine and lots and loots of people.  As we walked down little side streets there were countless vendors selling everything, and always lots of wine at every store or booth.  We headed back the boat around 10:30ish.  It had been a great day, especially when you meet new friends...

Don & Freya ~ Linda & Larry

When we got back to the boat I took a picture of the new stadium all lit up at nite.  Quite nice and very impressive....

                      

 

 

 

Ah Florida At Last

It is Thurs. the 15th and we could here Bill's engine on Carried Away start up.  Joyce said that they were going to anchor somewhere near Pensacola.  We were not to far behind them.  Quick shower and a pot of Don's great coffee and we were off.  Another great day for cruising.  As we were getting the boat ready I noticed a boat pass us which I thought was a Looper. As we got down the system a bit more I could read their name El Sea V and they were not Looper's. 

We pasted a group of colorful condos on our starboard side. It looked like you could have transplanted them from Curacao.  They were a lot of them and they had their own little marina.

We called the El Sea V and Don talked to him and we sort of followed him to Pensacola.  He had recommenced the Palafox Pier Marina right down town.  So we called and made reservations.  As we approaching the marina we past the Pensacola Lighthouse.  It reminded me of Jupiter and the lighthouse.  We arrived at the marina and it is a great marina right down town and walking distance to a lot of shops and restaurants.  Lots and lots of birds everywhere.  Sunshine was oblivious to all the birds.  She was so comfortable and she just wanted to sleep.



 After we were all settled in we went for a walk.  It was quite cool out but we Canadians were in shorts!!!! The area is very much like New Orleans with the iron balconies and decor.  It also has a Spanish feel to it with some of the architecture.  Very nice and so clean.  We invited the couple on El Sea V, Larry and Linda, over for drinks at 5:00PM  to thank them for their recommendation on Marinas.  Just before they came we went up to Jaco's restaurant and had a quick drink to take some pics of the beautiful sunset, and it was beautiful....  Larry and Linda are a great couple that have both sold their homes and are living on their boat.  They had told us of a number of things to do in Pensacola and that it was a must to go and see the National Naval Aviation Museum as well as many other things to do.  So we decided to stay the next day and see a bit of the area.  After they left I cooked dinner, BBQ steaks,  rice and black beans and biscuit's.  And to finish off the meal a piece of my pumpkin cheesecake.  We watched a bit of TV as usual and called it a nite. 

The Wharf at Orange Beach, Alabama

Good-bye to Turner Marina

We were awakened around 6:00AM to the sound of boat motors.  Which means the Looper's are on the move again and the water levels must be better.  Don got up to see if he could help but they were already on the move.   I took a glance at Don from the comfort and warmth of my blankets in bed and saw he was pacing with that look in his eyes, so I got up and said lets go, now.... So in last than 10 minutes I was dressed and we had disconnected the water and hydro and all the lines but the bow.  The next thing I heard was Don saying to release the bow line and we were gone 6:50AM....   It was another beautiful morning as we say good-bye to Turner Marine.  They were all very hospitable and we enjoyed our time there.  It felt good to get under way.  We were on our own again at last, just the two or should I say the four of us...    There was very little traffic as we crossed Mobile Bay and headed for the intracoastal waterway.  It was a little choppy when we started but became calmer as we went along.   We only had a short distance to go today, approx. 30 miles to the Wharf Marina at mile 158.8.



Lulu's Restaurant

The Wharf Marina

It was to early to stop at Lulu's for lunch, so we will have to do it another time.  As we pasted Saunders Marina we saw Larry walking Ms. Peaches.  What are the chances of that...  Just a short distance from that was The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama.  Quite impressive to look at as you approach with the condo complex behind it.   We got in and tied up with no problem.  Went for a walk and there was a small mall and many restaurants and even a large movie theater.  We stopped at Baumhower's Sports Bar and Restaurant for lunch.  It was a very large and had soooo many TV's.  We had burgers and drinks and it was good.  Even better than that, they gave us a two for one entree specials because we were staying at the Marina.  As we got back to the boat we heard Carried Away on the radio and they were going to stay at The Wharf so we asked the Marina if they could be put beside us. We went over to their boat for cocktails.  It was the first time on their boat and it was lovely.  They had so much room and closet space.  I think they have more than we do at home.  Joyce had made a great cheese dip, yummy.  Bill and Don talked electronics while Joyce showed me around.  Each boat you see has something different to offer, but it is fun to see them all....  Came back to our boat and I made dinner.  We were going to go to see the new James Bond but I did not feel great, and with a cold and coughing a movie theater is not the place to be.  So we watched a little TV and called it a nite....   

Lady Antebellum

It is Tue. morning the 13th. and the weather is great and all the rain and clouds and cold are gone.  We decided to do a little tour of the city before the car had to be returned at noon.  We went to see the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion in Mobile.  The 13,000 sq. ft. Greek revival home was built in 1855 by Judge John Bragg as there winter home and for the Mobile social season. It was owned by four other families, the last being the Mitchell's who took such care care in maintaining the home.  It actually sat vacant for 15 years after the Mitchell's, when the Gulf Coast Exploreum group began restoration of the mansion back to its antebellum grandeur.  We enjoyed the tour and the work that had been done to restore it.  It is used as a place to hold weddings and special events.



After we came back to the boat and I worked on the blog for a bit.  It does take time to put this together.  And as I am not so techie it does take my longer.  We stayed on board that time and I cooked dinner and we watched TV.  Our Dancing With The Stars fix....  We are hoping to leave tomorrow if the water levels are up.  We were at to lowest possible tide for the month and were almost if not on the bottom.  We will see what tomorrow brings....

Mobile Alabama

Well it is Saturday the 10th, the weekend already.  We got up and started back to Mobile.  I was a beautiful day and the coastal waters looked so calm.  The all cats were fine when we got back to the boat.  At least they had not killed themselves.  We still had the rental car so we decided to do some supply shopping for the boats. We go back to our boats and we all were tired so we retreated to our boats.  I made a nice dinner and we watched TV and called it a nite.

It is Sun. the 11th and Dianne and Dave have the car the today.  I made a great breakfast and then we worked on the boat for a bit.  We got the courteous car from the Marina and went for a ride.  The weather was not great and it had been raining earlier in the morning.  The cold front had definitely moved in. We drove to the east shore and stopped to tour the USS Alabama and the USS Drum submarine.  It was so much more than we had expected.  It was Veteran's Day so there were lots of people around.  It makes you stop and take stock of everything.  


We drove from there to Fairhope to see what it was all about.  They had made it up to be such a great place.  After seeing the marina we are glad that we are at Turners and not there.  On the way home we stopped at a restaurant called Felix's Fish Camp.  It was late in the day so we went in for just a munchies and a drink, but we were so surprised on the food and service.  I tried their tuna and Don ordered their spinach and lobster dip.  They were both to die for.



We stopped in town for a few supplies that Don needed and then back to the boat.  When we got back we had noticed more Looper boats had arrived.  When I went to see who was there and I notice that Carried Away with Bill & Joyce were there and Take The Plunge and two others.  Joyce had mentioned that it was her birthday.  Don and I came back to the boat and took her a big piece on Cheesecake with a candle in it and a card.  She was so surprised and happy, it was her only BDay card.  Since we had a late lunch we were not hungry for dinner.  We had some of the key lime cheesecake I made and watched TV and then called it a nite.


 I am coming down with a cold so did not want to do too much.  We did some things around the boat and Don worked in his basement (engine room).  Joyce had mentioned that some of the Looper's were going to dinner at Felix's so we said yes since we such a great meal there yesterday.  There ended up being 12 of us for dinner.  Another great nite with great friends and conversation, superbe food and service.  This whole journey has been something that we will never forget.

Turner Marine ~ New Orleans

The every day seem to be pretty great.  It is Thurs. the 8th of November.  We really have not had that much bad weather.  We were moving to Turner Marina today which is right next door to Dog River Marina.  Some of the other Looper's had left very early in the morning.  I decided to make a banana nut bunt bread for breakfast.  Yummy....  The people at the marina were waiting fro us so it made it very easy to dock and tie up. Don, Dave and Dianne went to pick up the rental car at Enterprise.  When they got back we left for New Orleans.  It was a great day to travel.  We stopped at a Welcome Centre in Louisiana and made hotel reservations at the Hotel St. Marie in the heart of the French Quarter.  We had taken our GPS so it was easy to find.  The hotel was on Toulouse Street just a block away from Bourbon Street and right in heart of everything.  Our room was nice but Dave and Dianne had a problem with theirs.  We went out for a walk and of course a drink, we are in New Orleans....  It was dark out and all the lights and people and things going on everywhere was fun and exciting.  My phone was not taking great pictures so we came back to the hotel to pick up mine.  Some how there was some kind of misunderstanding but when I came down everyone was gone.  They though I was not coming back I guess.   Anyway they went out for dinner but I waited for them to come back....  Not a great way to spend your first nite in New Orleans....

Fri. the 9th, day two started off with an explanation of what happened the nite before, and then I just wanted to put it behind and have a great day.  We had to change hotels so we are now moving to the Prince Conti Hotel on Conti Street.  We all decided to do the Hop On Hop Off bus tours, that way we could decided where and what we wanted to see.  We started at the St Louis Cemetery #1 where the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau is buried, and Nicholas Cage has his burial site all ready for him in the shape of a pyramid.  One of a couple I think.



The old charm was there as we travelled along in the bus.  We went by where they make and store all the Mardi Gras floats and a costumes.  So interesting and to think that Mardi Gras started originally in Mobile....  We stopped at the Riverboat Docks on the Riverwalk by their World Trade Center.  Had a great lunch and my first Shrimp Poorboy. 






We all got back on the bus and Don and I got off at the Jackson Square stop.  So much to see and so little time.  The first thing we saw was the Basilica of St Louis King of France.  Beautiful church built in 1718.  Inside the ceiling had a beautiful fresco painted on it and another one at the front of the Church behind the alter. 






Outside the streets were all line with vendors, some wanting to read the tarot cards for you, some to sketch your portrait, lots selling painting and musicians playing on every corner.   There were people on all the balcony's, drinking and having fun.  It was great.  We then walked down Decatur Street to Cafe du Monde to buy some of New Orleans famous beignets to take back to the boat.  The Cafe was packed and it was late afternoon.  Even at the take out window I had to wait 20 minutes.  Later we continued to walked down through the French Market Place.  Store of every kind and size, but lots of little shops off on all the side streets.  You could certainly leave lots of money here.  We walked back to one store to buy a Mardi Gras ceramic mask that had been mounted on a stick and with a wooden base.  Our New Orleans memento....


We walked back to the hotel and got ready to go out for dinner.  We met Dianne and Dave on Bourbon Street and just prosed around the streets.  People on the balconies were throwing beads down on everyone.  If you were lucky you could catch some of them.  We stopped for dinner at the Chartres House and had a wonderful dinner.  We walked the streets for awhile aver dinner then back to the hotel.  Don and I stopped in the bar Vacherie at the hotel and had a nite cap.  Great day in a beautiful city.  Would love to come back again.