Other activities in Carrabelle

Our original plan was one night in Carrabelle then hop to Steinhatchee for the weekend as the weather window to cross to Tarpon Springs would not open until Monday. A discussion with the locals about Steinhatchee and the decision to be in the boat parade on Saturday changed our plan. We would wait until Monday and better weather for the hop to Steinhatchee. As fate would have it the weather window did not open on Monday.  By Tuesday afternoon nine other boats arrived from Apalach. Each morning the discussion over coffee centered on the weather and the "window of opportunity" for crossing and the evenign found us gathered for  appetizers and drinks on the deck. We had now been here 5 days but never felt "stuck ". We had lots of company and there was plenty to see and do. By Tuesday evening the word on the dock was that the "window of opportunity" was now Thursday. This meant our original plan of following the bend and traveling only in the daylight was out the window.  We would have to do an overnight crossing. We spent the next two days double checking systems, coordinating departure times and charts and sightseeing. Our sightseeing included the following;  six of us riding our bikes three miles to the Carrabelle Light House and climbing the 138 steps to the top; riding our bikes to the beach; hiring a shuttle service to take us to St. George Island were we walked around and climbed 98 steps to the top of the St. George Island lighthous; and taking our dingy to check out the backwaters.  Unfortunately the motor conked out and I had to row against the wind and apposing tide flow (not fun) to get us back. Tom and Don finished that day working on the motor!!  By Wednesday evenings social and review meeting there were now 11 boats waiting to cross. Seven of us who traveled about the same speed would go together.  Two boats were gas and would have to make a run to Steinhatchee for fuel and the last two were leaving later in the day because they would run at a faster speed.

                                                   Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle

                                          One of our Looper social hours on the deck of C-Quarters

                 7 lbs of shrimp from the "shrimp lady" at $5.00 per pound - took forever to behead!

                                     The narrow stops to the top of the Crooked River lighthouse

                                   A bear crossing sighn along the beach front road in Carrabelle

                                                       The St. George Island Lighthouse

                                                 The ladder to the very top of the St. George Lighthouse