Monday, January 9, 2017
Sunday, January 8, 2017
November 18, 2016
Up early on a beautiful day and getting ready to make the crossing. After breakfast at the Moorings of Carrabelle and a conversation with a German, named Hans, we bought groceries at the local supermarket (IGA).
We backed out of our slip at 9:59 and met the Molly B at exactly 10 A.M., about 25 yards further down. We quickly passed by Dog Island and were in the open gulf for the first time.
Our plan was to follow Tom and Linda at about 100 yards back. Now, two and a half hours later, the coastline had completely disappeared in the distance behind us. Jimmy decided to take a morning walk around the boat and made a video of everything he saw - - - water, which was very blue and rather choppy.
And then, a few minutes before 2 P.M. Jimmy pointed out that the transmission fluid temperature gauge was measuring way over the high reading of 280 degrees.
"WHAAT ? ? ?"
Then I noticed that the tachometer had stopped working. Jimmy opened the hatch door to the engine compartment to have a look.
"OH MY GOD ! ! ! ! !"
His tone said it all . . . or so I thought until I saw the FEAR on his face.
I looked into the engine compartment, it was half full of water being sloshed and churned around by the belts and pulleys.
"HOLY SHIT . . ."
We gotta go - - - A.S.A.P.
Jimmy called Tom and told him we taking on water - - - a lot of water. I heard Tom say he was turning around. While Jimmy was bringing the dinghy around to the side of the Lucky Lady, I went to the cabin, grabbed my duffle bag and whatever was on the table. I held the dinghy and Jimmy went below and got what he could. Paddling away you couldn't help noticing the beautiful turquoise water straight below. When we were safely on board the Molly B, Tom asked Jimmy if he wanted to stay until she sank? After staring at his boat for 2 or 3 minutes, he told Tom that he wanted to stay.
Tom called the Coast Guard and Jimmy gave them the information he could and answered their questions as to what, when and where. The four of us watched as the Lucky Lady went lower and lower, rolling from side to side. As the water covered the right side of the boat, she was pulled under, but only for a moment. Then she bounced righr back, but only for a moment . . . and dipped under again - - - this time for good. (Remember those beautiful eyes?) I swear it looked like she winked.
She was sinking quickly now and only a small part of her top deck was still out of the water. It was time to go and Jimmy nodded to Tom, who set the Molly B back on course. We would arrive in Tarpon Springs 20 hours later, thanks (so very much) to Tom and Linda Schmidt.
Sadly, this next chapter has become the last and the Lucky Lady sits offshore, 30 miles southeast of Carrabelle, FL.
Up early on a beautiful day and getting ready to make the crossing. After breakfast at the Moorings of Carrabelle and a conversation with a German, named Hans, we bought groceries at the local supermarket (IGA).
We backed out of our slip at 9:59 and met the Molly B at exactly 10 A.M., about 25 yards further down. We quickly passed by Dog Island and were in the open gulf for the first time.
Our plan was to follow Tom and Linda at about 100 yards back. Now, two and a half hours later, the coastline had completely disappeared in the distance behind us. Jimmy decided to take a morning walk around the boat and made a video of everything he saw - - - water, which was very blue and rather choppy.
And then, a few minutes before 2 P.M. Jimmy pointed out that the transmission fluid temperature gauge was measuring way over the high reading of 280 degrees.
"WHAAT ? ? ?"
Then I noticed that the tachometer had stopped working. Jimmy opened the hatch door to the engine compartment to have a look.
"OH MY GOD ! ! ! ! !"
His tone said it all . . . or so I thought until I saw the FEAR on his face.
I looked into the engine compartment, it was half full of water being sloshed and churned around by the belts and pulleys.
"HOLY SHIT . . ."
We gotta go - - - A.S.A.P.
Jimmy called Tom and told him we taking on water - - - a lot of water. I heard Tom say he was turning around. While Jimmy was bringing the dinghy around to the side of the Lucky Lady, I went to the cabin, grabbed my duffle bag and whatever was on the table. I held the dinghy and Jimmy went below and got what he could. Paddling away you couldn't help noticing the beautiful turquoise water straight below. When we were safely on board the Molly B, Tom asked Jimmy if he wanted to stay until she sank? After staring at his boat for 2 or 3 minutes, he told Tom that he wanted to stay.
Tom called the Coast Guard and Jimmy gave them the information he could and answered their questions as to what, when and where. The four of us watched as the Lucky Lady went lower and lower, rolling from side to side. As the water covered the right side of the boat, she was pulled under, but only for a moment. Then she bounced righr back, but only for a moment . . . and dipped under again - - - this time for good. (Remember those beautiful eyes?) I swear it looked like she winked.
She was sinking quickly now and only a small part of her top deck was still out of the water. It was time to go and Jimmy nodded to Tom, who set the Molly B back on course. We would arrive in Tarpon Springs 20 hours later, thanks (so very much) to Tom and Linda Schmidt.
Sadly, this next chapter has become the last and the Lucky Lady sits offshore, 30 miles southeast of Carrabelle, FL.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
On Thursday, the 17th, we met Tom and Linda Schmidt and made arrangements to travel with them and their trawler, the Mollt B. Tom is an experienced captain and actually built the Molly B over 11 and a half years. We would leave at 10 the next morning and go direct to Tarpon Springs, about 160 miles to the southeast. It would take about 24 hours and be an overnight ceossing, 30 miles offshore of the "big bend."
That same afternoon, Eric, of MS Dockside Marina lifted the Lucky Lady out of the water and she checked out just fine. He also adjusted the rudder and steering. A little later we'd meet up Eric again at Fathom's Steam Room and Raw Bar, across the river. It was open mike night and Eric went from boatyard to bandstand, entertaining all with his really good guitar playing. A trip to Carrabelle simply must include a stop at Farhom's.
That same afternoon, Eric, of MS Dockside Marina lifted the Lucky Lady out of the water and she checked out just fine. He also adjusted the rudder and steering. A little later we'd meet up Eric again at Fathom's Steam Room and Raw Bar, across the river. It was open mike night and Eric went from boatyard to bandstand, entertaining all with his really good guitar playing. A trip to Carrabelle simply must include a stop at Farhom's.
Tuesday, 11/15, was a short run through Appalachicola Bay and St. George Sound to Carrabelle. It took about 3 and a half hours. The intracoastal ends here and picks up at Tarpon Springs, just north of Tampa. There were many things to consider before we would leave on the next leg of the journey, for we'd soon be in the open sea.
We spent the next 2 days on bikes and got to know Carabelle quite well. It was easy. Such a great town - - - with the finest of people. Although it's small, it seems to have whatever you'd want or need. What we were looking for most was local knowledge, good weather, and sound advice.
Way back in Evansville, IN, we learned about a certain group of boaters known as "loopers." These folks travel a circle route (loop) down the rivers and gulf, up the east coast, across to the great lakes and back to the rivers. We met loopers along the way and wanted to cross from panhandle to peninsula with these other boats, if possible. Jimmy also decided to have the Lucky Lady lifted out and looked over.
We spent the next 2 days on bikes and got to know Carabelle quite well. It was easy. Such a great town - - - with the finest of people. Although it's small, it seems to have whatever you'd want or need. What we were looking for most was local knowledge, good weather, and sound advice.
Way back in Evansville, IN, we learned about a certain group of boaters known as "loopers." These folks travel a circle route (loop) down the rivers and gulf, up the east coast, across to the great lakes and back to the rivers. We met loopers along the way and wanted to cross from panhandle to peninsula with these other boats, if possible. Jimmy also decided to have the Lucky Lady lifted out and looked over.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Monday, 11/14, saw the Lucky Lady off to an early start as she left her quiet mooring in West Bay. It was another beautiful day and the water was as calm as we've seen since leaving Louisville. From West Bay we entered St. Andrew Bay and then into East Bay. Back into a narrow canal for a while and then across Lake Wimico . . . a very shallow Lake Wimico with mullet jumping everywhere. The wide open water narrowed again and we were on the Jackson River and then the Appalachicola River. Back in the Eastern time zone.
We passed a swing bridge. Until then I didn't know that such a bridge existed. Soon we'd reach another bridge, Hwy. 98 as it crosses the river and into (or out of) Appalachicola - - - the oyster capital of the world.
We passed a swing bridge. Until then I didn't know that such a bridge existed. Soon we'd reach another bridge, Hwy. 98 as it crosses the river and into (or out of) Appalachicola - - - the oyster capital of the world.
This was the first swing bridge we had ever seen. The disconnected section swings into place when needed.
As seen from the back of the boat at the entrance of Lake Wimico.
As seen from the port side at the enter ace of Lake Wimico.
Entering Lake Wimico.
Secluded camp on the Jackson River.
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