Oct. 18-19 - Crossing the Gulf

Dog Island, FL

“A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.”  —English Proverb

To get the Texas Pearl home we have to cut across the Gulf from the Tarpon Springs area to Carrebelle or Apalachicola. We decided to make the crossing in two days since we aren't as familiar with this boat. We wanted to stay closer to shore, just in case there were any issues. Although we did loose cell serve both days, we were in radio contact the whole way. We pulled out of Dunedin before dawn on Saturday and docked in Steinhatchee just after sunset. It was a beautiful day, sunny and cool, but a little breezy and we felt like we had ridden a bucking horse all day. We docked at River Haven Marina...where we stayed in 2011 on The Pearl. It was just the right place for us then, but a little small for Texas Pearl. The only place that had 50-amp power was the fuel dock so that is where we docked. The dock was just long enough for us but very narrow...we looked like an overgrown giant on it and towered over the covered slips. I should have taken a picture, but we arrived after dark and left this morning before sunrise. Steinhatchee is a cute little town but docks are a little small for larger boats.

Our second day on the gulf wasn't as pleasant as the first...although the weather was sunny and cool again. The winds were much stronger and we had four foot waves. The rough seas made it a very long day and Stan had to work extra hard to keep us on course. We were extremely happy to come through the inlet and anchor behind Dog Island and finally be able to relax. We are about half way home from this point and it will be fun to see some of the places we cruised at the beginning of our adventure…it’s been 3 ½ years since we’ve been in these waters.

Sunrise over Tarpon Springs

Our first morning out in the Gulf was pretty nice

Coming into the cut at Dog Island