We needed to leave Ft. Walton Beach early today for the 69 mile run to Panama City Marina and we left at 8:10 a.m. Yesterday I mentioned how tight the pilings were and the first 2 photos are my evidence. The narrow walkway 
also was very shakey and the first 
mate had to put on her big girl panties to venture out to the boat beside us which belonged to fellow loopers Bill and Charlotte Langford. That's them on the bow of their boat as we are leaving. They are staying a week here while Charlotte attends to some 
work related issues back in Nashville. Bill is going to pick us up 
at Port St. Joe and bring us back to Panama City to get our rental car on Wednesday. We hope to get there before noon so we can get packed and started back to WV. Really looking forward to snow and cold temps (sic). When we left Ft. Walton (N 30 24.147 W 86 37.215 
for you Jack), we headed east across
Chocktawhatchee Bay which was an
adventure for us. The bay is very wide (several miles) and a good
also was very shakey and the first 
mate had to put on her big girl panties to venture out to the boat beside us which belonged to fellow loopers Bill and Charlotte Langford. That's them on the bow of their boat as we are leaving. They are staying a week here while Charlotte attends to some 
work related issues back in Nashville. Bill is going to pick us up 
at Port St. Joe and bring us back to Panama City to get our rental car on Wednesday. We hope to get there before noon so we can get packed and started back to WV. Really looking forward to snow and cold temps (sic). When we left Ft. Walton (N 30 24.147 W 86 37.215 
for you Jack), we headed east acrossChocktawhatchee Bay which was an
adventure for us. The bay is very wide (several miles) and a goodportion of the way you had to steer
by compass reading. It was close to 30 miles long and then after passing
thru a canal we had another long West Bay to negotiate. Of course Ricki occupied herself trying to catch a photo of the many dolphins in our wake but got some great video of them jumping. The picture out the stern of our boat on the bay will be one of my favorite shots I am sure. Then as we approached the marina in Panama City, blue lights appeared on our port and we were boarded by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Very nice young men and were just checking documentation and any outstanding warrants. They actually called our SSN into somewhere to make sure we were not wanted. Glad I paid that parking ticket! After finally docking, another looper boat, GonCruzen III with Greg and Barbara Franklin from MD pulled up and docked at our bow. After shopping at the marina store, we captured a beautiful Florida sunset walking back to the boat and then went to dinner with Greg and Barbara in downtown Panama City. Another nice city that Ricki thinks she could live here.
Our position tonight is N 30 09.001 W 85 39.854
Tomorrow we will leave very early for Port St. Joe (N 29 48.884 W 85 18.566) and since we will be leaving for home probably will not post a blog until we return right before Christmas. Until then ... enjoy the holiday season and accept our appreciation for following our adventure. HAPPY HOLIDAYS
You will be home for the BYC Christmas Party Saturday Night!
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