Crossing the Gulf of Mexico - Carrabelle, FL to Bradenton, FL

We say our goodbyes to our Looper friends and cast off at about 10:30 AM from Carrabelle, FL. The first few hours are uneventful and pleasant as we exit the channel and head East and then South along the ‘barge line’ as had been recommended to us at the Moorings Marina. Minimal waves and a beautiful sunset over the Gulf of Mexico leave us feeling hopeful that this will be an uneventful and dare I say, easy trip. The trouble starts around 1:00 AM when Larry has barely put his head down for a nap. At the helm station I get a jolt of adrenaline as I see a crab pot float by on the port side and then one on starboard. I put the boat in neutral and get Larry back at the helm while I run out to the bow with the hand held spot to light a path that will get us out of the crab pot field. Well, that was unexpected, as we purposely chose this ‘recommended’ heading to avoid crab pots...so much for local knowledge! Three hours of picking our way through crab pot fields got pretty old and pretty stressful. We finally lose the pots when we move further offshore. Larry eventually gets a nap and we transit the remaining dark hours without incident. We were both so happy to see the sun rise and finally get to the St. Petersburg inlet and Bradenton, FL (190NM). The trip was 25 hours from start to finish. It would have been so nice without those darn crab pots...but then I would never have seen the dolphins playing on our bow in the middle of the night, or the turtles and rays that dashed off into deeper water. It is good to have the Gulf Crossing behind us, kind of an ‘overnight shakedown’, if you will. We learned a lot about how to minimize background light in the salon by sticking ‘post-it’ notes over offending electronic panels, not to freak-out that your radar is not functioning properly just because there is no traffic with-in your 8 mile radius for hours, when to take naps, when to start drinking coffee and how well intended advice can be just like flotsam and jetsam...just words floating out to sea.

Our completed route as recorded by our Inreach Garmin, 190 NM or 217 statute miles

Safety first! Our life raft (prefilled with safety equipment), SOS beacon, foghorn, stabilizing binoculars, life vests, cell phone pouches & battery packs, knife and ditch bags

…but an even more appreciated and beautiful sunrise

This picture is looking back at the Manatee River Railroad Bridge that closes between 11:00 AM & 1:00PM. We approached the bridge at 10:45AM and it was closed…1/2 mile from our destination! We used the horn, we hailed the bridge and we called th… — This picture is looking back at the Manatee River Railroad Bridge that closes between 11:00 AM & 1:00PM. We approached the bridge at 10:45AM and it was closed…1/2 mile from our destination! We used the horn, we hailed the bridge and we called the phone number on the bridge. Thank goodness they opened the bridge for us.

No time to nap as the Independence got her first bath in months and is sitting pretty…

…prettier than us - the tired but happy crew…cheers to us!