Second Wind on the Great Loop and Beyond

Friday - Sunday, November 20-22, 2009.






Another blue sky day graced us as we cruised through the narrow ICW cut and entered huge Choctawhatchee Bay. Because the wind was fairly calm, the long, zig-zag route across the bay was pretty comfortable. Our arrival at Bay Point Marina in Panama City Beach wasn’t exactly my best moment. Since most of my docking experience is on the rivers where floating docks are the norm, I’m used to catching a cleat, then tying the boat up. I seem to have forgotten how tricky it can be to pull into a dock defined by wood pilings. In addition, each slip is different. In this one, we needed to back the boat in. I fumbled with the lines and couldn’t figure out which line should go where and when. Bob couldn’t see what I was doing, so he couldn’t help either. Aaarggghh! Oh well, we made it without mishap.

Because the weather was turning, we decided to stay at Bay Springs for a couple of days. This place carries wonderful memories for our family. The Marriott Resort here was the site of Susan and Keith's wedding three years ago. A few days later, Second Wind was delivered to this marina by our wonderful broker Billy Martin. We've used the time well -- to relax, clean up the inside of the boat, and of course visit with some Looper friends on Sea Sea and RoyEL. Visits on their BIG boats reminds us just how compact Second Wind actually is. But that's ok, she continues to serve us very well. We're getting ever closer to a decision about when to cross the Gulf. It will be after Thanksgiving for sure. As soon as a good weather window presents itself, we'll be off for this overnight adventure on open water.