Float Planning

Mike's fishing to catch some conversation with local fishermen. We're hanging out at the county park at White City, a small community with a gasoline/convenience store and fire department (located about 20 miles from Appalachicola).  Besides a playground, fish-cleaning station and picnic area, the park has two boat ramps and free dock space.  It's a busy place.  Barges pass by fairly regularly.  Many very nice fishing boats left this morning (the monthly fishing tournament was today; $110 per boat to enter!) and they're starting to return for the weigh-in.  The full parking lot is clearing out for the night.

Sunday (tomorrow) is the beginning of a short weather window to cross the Gulf from Appalachicola to Clearwater, FL.  Marv's Weather Service warns us that the weather system that moved through this area last night will leave the Gulf unsettled for a number of days.  The wind is expected to be under 10 mph starting Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning. The waves are expected to decrease and be below the 2' levels by Monday evening.  If we don't cross now, the next weather window isn't likely to happen until January 13th or so.  

Our Current Float Plan:  Leave White City tomorrow at 10 am to arrive in Appalachicola at 1 pm. for fuel, water and secure the dinghy inside the "back porch."  We'll depart Appalachicola at 2:00 pm and arrive outside Dog Island and into the Gulf of Mexico at 4 pm.  Once on the Gulf, we will evaluate the sea conditions.  If we deem conditions okay, we'll cruise 20 hours and arrive at Anaclote Key near Tarpon Springs, FL around 2 pm Monday afternoon.  If we don't like the conditions of the Gulf, we will postpone plans for a day, return to the mainland and find anchorage or dockage near the small town of Carabelle.


This good looking pelican was enjoying the sunshine today and seemed to pose for the camera.

White City is an unincorporated town in Gulf County, Florida on State Road 71. 
The bridge you see overhead was once a draw-bridge.


White City Park has fish-cleaning benches, picnic areas and a playground.  We were able to find dock space to stay 2 evenings.  There's still work to be done on some of the docks to repair the damage done from Hurricane Michael which swept through here over a year ago.


Diane Plath, a dear Long Lake friend, is a poet.  She shares with us beautiful words and as we all begin a new year, we thought you'd appreciate Diane's words as well:

may the new year sing to you,
shine on you,
guide your light through 2020.
make of yourself a light...
shine on!!!








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