We did it! We crossed the Gulf of Mexico, in just under 20 hours, covering 180 miles. We were extremely lucky to have a weather window open up for our Gulf crossing the day after we arrived in Carrabelle, FL (on the panhandle of Florida). Some boats have waited a week or more as this is the season cold fronts are passing through with strong north winds, making the passage quite rough. We set out at 1500 (3 p.m.) with a flotilla of 8 boats, Slo Pace in the lead. We ran about 9 mph and set a course east first, then southeast headed to Clearwater, FL for the most comfortable ride. A few boats in the flotilla chose to head a bit more east in the early morning, entering the intercoastal waterway further north, near Tarpon Springs. Slo Pace, Betty Gail, and Islena continued southeast toward Clearwater. We arrived at 10:38 a.m., just under 20 hours of motoring. For most of the trip, the seas were 1 to 2 ft. following seas on our port stern quarter, which made it a very tolerable ride (notice I didn’t say comfortable, but tolerable). Seriously, I would do the crossing again in those conditions.
Upon arrival, we were all hungry and several voiced a need for an adult beverage. After tying up in our slips, the crews of Betty Gail, Islena, and Slo Pace headed to the patio of a nearby restaurant, Clear Sky, and had a wonderful meal with, you got it, adult beverages. The server even brought out a chicken breast for Murphy to enjoy after the crossing. Due to the waves, we didn’t allow Murphy on the deck, so he bravely held his potty for the entire trip.
We stayed 2 nights in Clearwater, where Murphy and I enjoyed early morning jogs over the Clearwater bridge to Clearwater Beach, often ranked as one of the best beaches in United States and sixth-best in the world for its soft white sand. We had dinner out the second night with more loopers who also just finished the crossing. Two of the couples had faster boats and could complete a daytime crossing in 9 to 10 hours. Not Slo Pace!!
Our next stop was St. Petersburg, FL where we got together with dear friends. Dave and I had purchased a townhouse in St. Pete a few years ago (it’s currently rented) and whenever we finish cruising (and maybe RVing), St. Pete will be our new home. One of our dear friends, Ginger, graciously opened up her home for a get together, and I had fun making a charcuterie board for the group and we ordered pizza for all to enjoy. Murphy even had a friend to play with, Martini.
The next day was Thanksgiving, and John & Lenore kindly invited us to join their family for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was also the day our good looper friends, Roger & Chris aboard Betty Gail, crossed their wake in Bradenton, FL (just south of St. Pete). We buddy boated and looped frogged with Betty Gail throughout our loop and wish them a heartfelt “Congratulations”. By the way, loop frogging is a fun term we learned which describes when you meet the crew on a boat at one location, perhaps run with them for several days, and then you don’t see them for a while, and then “poof” there they are at the same location as you again. It’s so fun to reconnect and compare looping adventures. Anyway, a big CONGRATS to Betty Gail for a remarkable accomplishment, proudly displaying their hard earned “Gold Looper” burgee.
After departing St. Petersburg, we are only 7 days away from competing the Great Loop, or as they say, “cross our wake”, arriving back at the Cocoa Village Marina. Our first stop leaving St. Pete was in an anchorage just south of Sarasota, near Siesta Key, then an anchorage off Useppa Island, FL – near the Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant which claimed to inspire Jimmy Buffett to write “Cheeseburger in Paradise”. Yes, of course, we had to have a yummy Cheeseburger.
That’s it for this week. Four more overnights to go…
Fun Facts: Distanced traveled so far: 6,196 miles in 8 months and 5 days, stopping at 152 unique locations, traversing through 79 locks (with 5 more locks still to come…)
Thanks for following along on our adventure,
Brenda with Captain Dave, and best companion ever, Murphy