Panama City to Apalachicola

Our deck hand, Jerrold left us in Panama City to drive me to Atlanta so that I could fly home to help David. Prior to leaving he agreed to swab the decks as payment for his trip with us (only joking). He did a great job and we were sad to lose such a knowledgeable companion.

                              Jerrold, throwing water to swab the deck.

We visited with an "old" colleague of Gary's that he had not seen for 30 years, Bill G. All of us did not look a day older!!!

On the way back to the boat we passed the Air Force Armament Museum, which being a Sunday was closed. However, there were lots of 'planes to be seen surrounding the museum.

The SR71, Blackbird. This plane has always fascinated me. I remember when it flew from New York to England, it took just over one hour. Boy, would I like to have been on board.  

 This airplane, the B-47 Stratojet, interested me as it has 6 engines, one pair of engines and a single engine on each side. I had never seen that before.

This is the Canberra as the British know it, the B57 as the American's know it. It was so low to the ground it looked as though it's belly would scrape on the runway. 
We visited the Gulf Seashore on our way back to the boat. I have never seen such lovely white, fine sand. And the water was so clear but cool, unfortunately.

Back at Panama City, we paid up and left the shelter of the marina. I noticed that one of the stores in the marina's corridor was marked Captain Gary so just had to take a photo of my captain standing against "his" door.

As we pulled out of the marina, I noticed a very large, pretty jelly fish in the water. I do not think I would like him for a swim pal.
We had a smooth journey from Panama City to Apalachicola, Florida. At times, the water was so still, you could not tell the reflection from the object being photographed.

I am back in pelican country so just had to take a photo of them. When I was home in the UK my father said to me "you take a lot of bird photos, don't you?" Well Dad, here is another one just for you.

I am still blond cum grey. I am wondering whether I should have my hair cut really short to reveal only the grey or wait until the grey is longer. I think I will wait unless the weather turns really warm.
We arrived in Apalachicola three days ago just prior to storms hitting. We spent 2 nights in the safety of the harbour whilst rain and thunderstorms hit the Gulf Coast. I came down with a nasty sinus infection (I bet I got it from the people around me on the airplane!!) so took to my bed for a day. I am still not 100% as it has left me with an even worse cough than before.

  

Kingston Rover Loop Map

Going east

After a two week break to our son's I am back on the boat. I had to make a quick trip to Virginia whilst Gary was left to do odd jobs on the boat. I, of course left him my "honey do" list. Did my requests get seen to, no? I can tell where I stand in the pecking order.
Whilst at David's we had 8" of snow. I borrowed a pair of David's boots and went for a walk in the park behind his house. I was the first person to walk in the snow so left my foot prints for all to see. The snow was very powdery so did not make good snow balls.Because his boots were too big, the snow went down inside the boots and made my feet quite cold so I returned home stepping in my own foot prints.

 
Another day we had a terrific rainstorm which produced a wonderful rainbow. I took some photos but they did not do it justice. 

I returned to Gary and the boat yesterday after a very eventful journey. I arrived at the airport on Saturday, signed in at the computer and was asked to "swipe" my passport. Hmm, I thought, I am only going to Florida so signed out the computer and started again. The same request appeared again, when it hit me. Gary had booked my flight to Panama City, Panama not Panama City, Florida. I was told by the airline agent it would cost $800 to correct the error. That was more that I paid for my round trip so I grimaced. She then suggested I talk to an agent at Delta (I was flying with American Airlines) where I might get a cheaper flight. I toddled off to Delta and was told they could do me a flight for $354. However, the agent asked me how old Gary was. Sixty two, I said. He then told me to call Gary and have Gary call American Airlines and pretend that he was computer illiterate and had made a mistake in booking my flight (it was a mistake, I think,  hmmmm maybe not now I think of it!!!!!)
The agent said Gary should be able to get me a cheaper flight. It took 30 mins for Gary to get me a cheaper flight that left at 5:45am the next day. I called David, who was taking a nap and waited an hour at the airport to get him to answer his telephone. He then drove back for me and I spent the night with him and his friends (he was having a get together with his dodge ball friends). I learn how to play "Beer Pong" and won the game for David and I.
I/we got up at 3:30am and drove to Ronald Reagan Airport in down town Washington, D.C. I said goodbye to David and signed in at the computer (again). Well, would you believe it they did not have a reservation for me. I had no reservation number so was at the mercy of the agent. Well, to cut a long story short, they found me a seat on both planes and off I went.
The first plane backed out of the ramp and stopped. The pilot came on and said he could not steer the plane because the ground crew had forgotten to throw a switch. So, we waited 15 mins for the crew to come back, flip the switch and off we went. My new seat was at the very back of the plane next to the toilets and did not recline. Sitting behind me in the galley was a flight attendant who coughed and sneezed the whole flight. Yuk, I thought, I am going to get her cold.
On the next plane from Charlotte, North Carolina the plane was delayed due to mechanical problems. Here we go again, I thought. We were 45 mins late taking off and I had an aisle seat this time instead of a window seat. The lady sitting next to me asked me if I would mind changing seats so she could sit across from her husband at the other side of the aisle. Yippee, now I have my window seat. I noticed that the lady was giving off body heat and thought "my she is very warm". After we took off she pressed the call bell and told the flight attendant she was feeling ill and reached for the "little white bag". Oh no, that is all I need, I thought. Luckily, she was not ill on the flight thank-goodness as that is something I do not tolerate well at all. Now, I am going to get some dreadful disease!!!!
So, as you can see it has been an eventful two weeks and interesting journey back to the boat. I should be able to start doing a proper blog in about a week depending on what we see and what we do.

Alabama - east

The Kingston Rover is roving again!!!!
Well, we are back on the water again after nearly a month break. We went to Independence to help Gary's mother after her knee surgery. However, she was sent to Rehab for more than 2 weeks so I went home as I was not needed.  Before leaving we had a snow storm which was nice to see after not seeing snow for over two years now.
My going home was a complete surprise for my parents and worth every penny to see them. I had a real nice time seeing friends who have kept in touch with me since leaving my homeland. Thank-you, dear friends.
As some of you may know, England has been having one of its worst winters on record not for snow but rain. They have had floods in the south west of England that are going to take weeks to subside because the land is so sodden. All of the Thames Valley is flooded and rivers in Cornwall and Somerset. The day after I arrived in the UK to be picked up by my dear nephew, George, a hurricane hit the south west coast making the floods even worse. I feel so sorry for the people as it must be a terrible mess to clean up - the stench and the destruction. (It is strange, bad weather seems to be following me - ice storm in Alabama, snow in Independence, now the hurricane.) Hmmm, where shall I visit next?
I worked on my father's garden cleaning it up to make it look nice before I left His daffodils were almost but not quite in bloom when I made my departure. I called Mum and Dad 4 days after arriving back in the US to be told someone had come into their garden and cut down the daffodils and their leaves. Dad said they were cut not pulled so some mean, rotten person got a nice, free bouquet!!! My parents were so angry and I do not blame them.  
We have an extra "hand" on board - the "hand"some Jerrold (Gary's cousin's husband) who has been so "handy" to have around. He is staying with us for a week and is doing all the driving and grunt work that I normally do. He is with us from Mobile to Panama City and seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself despite being put to work.

                                              Look, no "hands"

We passed a lighthouse in Pensacola Bay that was built in the 1859. It is now part of the Naval Air Base. We also sailed by Forth Pickens, named after Major General Andrew Pickens of the South Carolina Militia who fought with distinction in several Revolutionary War Battles (Cowpens and Siege of '96). The fort is the largest of 4 forts built to defend Pensacola Bay and its navy yard and was never occupied by Confederate Forces during the Civil War. Building began in 1829 and was completed in 1834. Pickens also led several campaigns against the Cherokees, who called him "Wizard Owl" (info courtesy of National Parks Website).
Gary and Jerrold visited the Naval Air Museum for a day whilst I was left to clean the boat, scrub the floors and counter tops, do the laundry etc. It is a hard life being a woman!!!!

                                              Pensacola Lighthouse

                                                   Fort Pickens

A Sopwith Camel with Snoopy in the cockpit or should I say "dogpit"!!!

              Ford Tri Motor (one engine on each wing and one in the nose)

F14 Tomcat (built by Grumman, now retired by the Navy) replaced by the F18

Man, Jerrold has failed me. He does not know anything about this airplane. He is a mind of information and has taught us so much about the history of the area and the civil war.Pensacola was not very exciting. The day we visited it was Shrove Tuesday so the city was getting ready for its evening Mardi Gras Parade.

                                       Mardi Gras in Pensacola

I made crepes on the evening and had the "guys" toss their own pancakes. Luckily, there were no mishaps and the pancakes did not land on the floor.

I liked the architecture of this building and the reflection of the US flag in the lower left window.
Our next stop for lunch was "Lulu's". A restaurant owned by the sister of Jimmy Buffet. He did not put in an appearance despite having such distinguished guests as Gary, Jerrold and myself. Maybe he was in Margaritaville looking for his "shaker of salt"!!!!

                              Gary and Jerrold outside Lulu's restaurant
The restaurant is immensely popular in the summer so has built a play area for children to keep them occupied whilst a table becomes available. In one area was a mini "Ropes Course" (a fancy climbing gym). I took a photo of a young boy manipulating his way over the upper level of the course.

Our son has done the adult course (I do not remember where it was) and said it was quite challenging and worked every muscle in his body.
We have spent several nights in coves, which I always enjoy. As we pulled into one the sun was just beginning to set over the shrimp boats.

This was the first twin hulled shrimp boat I had seen.

Boy, have we had some cold weather? Yes, we have had some cold weather. Hence, the photo below. I am wearing two blankets embroidered by Jerrold's wife, Jackie with our names on them. Yes, I am still "blond cum grey". Gary still refuses to shave off his very grey mustache so my gray hair remains.

No blog would be complete without a bird photo or two.

I thought the above birds were loons in their winter plumage but now I am not so sure. Their beaks look longer than a loons and they have long feathers at the base of their necks. If anyone knows what they, please let me know in the comment section of the blog.

Aaaah, my lovely pelican.   

Kingston Rover Loop Map