Just a few comments about Kaylee and the trip since the previous post concentrated mostly on where we were and when. This trip was Kaylee's first multiple overnighter on the boat. She had previously spent two nights aboard in TX at dock when we were considering purchasing the boat. We didn't take her along over Thanksgiving, thinking we were going to be going 24hrs/day for a week offshore - it didn't end up that way, but it was still a bit of a rough and harrowing trip. When we returned to Florida she made us promise she could go on the next trip. We did.

On this trip, it was just the three of us and I was a little worried about the handling of the boat while one of us was distracted with Kaylee. We talked a lot about the ground rules on the way over. She has been on boats a lot, so she knew most of the basics. We stressed that there might be times that she would just have to go below decks while mommy and daddy dealt with things on deck. She seemed to understand.

We knew she would do fine overall, but I was concerned she might get bored and clingy, or maybe even want to sleep in our room! Nope. She loved her V-berth (the room at the bow of the boat) and went to bed each evening without a fight. During the days, she loved helping 'drive' the boat and even learned how to steer to the compass a little. Helping turn the winch to put up the mainsail was also a favorite. She colored, played with a few new Christmas presents she brought along and pretended a lot, mostly about being a squirrel :-)

It was a great trip for her and for us. She really seemed to enjoy the experience and we got a comfort factor that she can live on this boat for more than a day or two. She followed all the rules and found other things to do when we were having to anchor, dock or deal with the boat in any other way.

She was happy to have fresh blood on the boat when we picked up Dan in Apalach. She talked him to a game of Go Fish and I think she learned to cheat.

Christmas day, after presents and brunch, we (Ken, Danielle and Kaylee) quickly cleaned up (thanks mom) and jumped in the truck to drive to New Orleans. We were lucky to arrive at the RV Park and Marina in between two big lines of thunderstorms. We scrambled inside and relaxed for the night. The next morning (Wednesday, Dec 26), after attending to some laundry, another alternator installation, a few quick errands, and a fuel top off, we were off! By 2pm. With an afternoon start and close to the shortest day of the year, we wouldn't get far. We picked out Chef Menteur Pass as a good stopping point and even hoped to dock at a restaurant, but alas, the entrance was too shallow and we had to find another place to tie up for the night. After another quick tow out of the mud by a tug crew out in a small boat and then scouting around a bit, we found a delapidated bulkhead we thought we could tie on to and stay out of the way of other boats. A slow approach and we did it.

We set out the next morning (Thursday, Dec 27) promising Kaylee the sails would go up as soon as we hit open water. About 10 more miles in the intracoastal canal and we entered Mississippi Sound where there was . . . no wind . . . at all. You could see your reflection in the water. Needless to say the motor stayed on and the sails stayed down.

Another front was approaching from the west so we decided with the calm weather to continue through the night and try to make it to Pensacola before finding a spot to wait out the rain and wind. We passed under the Dauphin Island bridge around midnight and were now in Mobile Bay. We planned to go the Gulf route here, but Ken noticed the bilge running non-stop and discoverd a broken hose clamp and unattached hose causing water to spill all over the engine. We put the boat in neutral and I held the hose in place while Ken borrowed a hose clamp from another spot. Thirty minutes later, all fixed up we chose to stay in the Intracoastal (ICW). Once we knew we were close enough to Big Lagoon (Pensacola area) to make it before the weather arrived, we decided to anchor in Wolf Bay around 3:30am and get a little sleep. Otherwise we were going to want to sleep the whole next day while Kaylee was raring to go.

Friday (Dec 28) morning we leisurely made our way in to Big Lagoon in search of fuel and a place to stay for the night. I called around and found one that would work. As we fueled up I asked about anything within walking distance and maybe a shower? No luck. Not much close and the marina had not rebuilt their facilities since Hurricane Ivan (2004!). I didn't really want to pay $1/ft for no services at all. They were very nice and told us of a good place to anchor and that we could stay tied up while we walked around to get off the boat for a bit. So glad we did! We found an incredible playground. Kaylee played and ran around for about an hour. We headed back to the boat and found our anchorage for the evening. The weather came through about two hours later. We had a relaxing dinner and evening and went to bed.

Saturday (Dec 29) morning as we were leaving our anchorage and were finally putting the sails up, the head sail wrapped around itself and made a knot (I'll have to let Ken explain the specifics). This lead to about 45 minutes of Ken and the sail in a vigorous wrestling match in 25 knot winds (yes, I am seeing a pattern of either too little or too much wind). There were times I was not sure who would win. Ken did, and we finally sailed out the channel in to the Gulf. With only a headsail (the front one), and reefed at that (only partly out), we were cruising at 7-8 knots, this is flying in this boat. We had a great sail to Destin (never mind almost running aground entering the harbor) where we found a marina that would fit us in for the night. I was about to baulk at the $1.50/ft rate until he answered my question about a shower with, "sure, I'll get you guys a pass to the Emerald Grand Spa for showers". Sold!

Following long hot showers - I haven't mentioned yet that the whole trip was COLD, really cold, 30-40 degrees cold - we had a great dinner, caught up on a few sports scores and planned our morning with breakfast and coffee before sailing to St. Andrews Bay (Panama City). About 5am Sunday (Dec 30) Ken nudged me and said he thought we were touching bottom and the tide was still dropping. We needed to leave now or risk being stuck in Destin for the day - so much for breakfast and coffee. 

It was lucky we left as early as we did because once we were underway and starting to look towards the next stop in the waterway guide, we realized there was one more bridge we had not identified as a 50' fixed bridge. We are 57 feet at the top of our mast. This meant we would not be able to re-enter the ICW in Panama City as we had planned. With the early start we had lots of time, and another good wind (15 knots +), so we decided to shoot for Port St. Joe. A long (about 100 miles), but good day of sailing put us going under the bridge in Port St. Joe at sunset. We took the canal up to White City where there is great community boat ramp and basin. The only problem was it was a little shallow for us (starting to see the pattern?). We managed to find a spot at the edge of the dock with our stern poking out just a touch in to the canal.

With it so shallow again and worried about tides, we got another early start on what was to be our final day. We headed south on the ICW, cutting off the St. Joseph peninsula, toward Apalachicola. A pretty ride through Lake Wimico and down the river system. In Apalachicola we picked up Dan T. who had planned to do the whole trip with us, but wasn't able to when work commitments popped up. After passing under the St. George Island bridge we put the sails up again for a couple hours before the wind died and it was time to motor in to Carrabelle.

Around 5pm on New Year's Eve we motored up the Carrabelle River, waiving to our friend David on the balcony of his condo. We docked at The Moorings and were all happy (especially Kaylee) to see Memommy and Dedaddy (Ken's parents) and Grandma and Grandpa (my parents). Pam brought hot chocolate, another hit with Kaylee! 

Dinner at Angelo's and a good night's sleep. None of us witnessed the ringing in of the new year, but what a way to finish 2012!