Early Start, Stuck Barge 12-11-2014

Thursday, December 11, Early start, stuck barge

We left at 7:00 AM.  We seem get up and get going earlier than we did when we were working stiffs!  Our goal today is to get to Panama City Marina in time to fuel up, pump out, pick up a rental car (no courtesy car here), and shop for food.

There is a travel saying that we often use in the Anderson family when queried about how our trip went.  We always say “Made good time”!

Well we were making good time, and thought we would actually get to Panama City earlier than we expected.  At least until the barge traveling in front of us got stuck in the mud going under a bridge.

Barge in the mud

He was pretty well stretched out across the channel, and we had no choice but to wait for him to get out of the way.  We lost at least 45 minutes watching his efforts.  Finally, he got enough to the side so that we could pass on his starboard (right) side.  As we went passed him, Tim hailed him on the radio with a wish that his day would go better. 

He responded “Jest doin’ a crew change, Captain, jest doing a crew change. Have a good one.”

We got to Panama City Marina, with plenty of time to spare.  We were pleased to note that the transient dock was A REAL FLOATING FINGER DOCK. Wide enough to walk on, long enough to span the boat.

Kathy called Enterprise to get a ride to pick up the car at 4:30.  She was told that the driver would call about 5 minutes after he left the office. 4:00 came and went.  As did 4:15.  4:30 passed us by.  Kathy finally called the Enterprise office to ask, in the calmest of tones, where the heck was her ride. She talked to Don the driver.

Don seemed a kindly old gent, who asked Kathy for directions to the marina.  She is always amazed that local folks, even after informing them that we are not from here, ask her for directions.  She resisted, but barely, the inclination to retort “Drive to the water.  Find the parking lot with big docks and lots of boats. I’ll be there! I will be the old Swede with no lips!”

Don finally showed up, Kathy got the car, did shopping and we settled in, knowing that getting on and off the boat would not be what Kathy now calls The Turner Dock Challenge.

The weather window for crossing the gulf from Carrabelle, FL. seemed to be coming up on Sunday. Almost all of the conversation on Sea Fever was devoted to the feasibility of making it to Carrabelle in the time needed.

We shall see, and continue to talk.