At Panama City

We are here on a planned stop. Should have kept going. Don't get me wrong as Panama City has a lot but we do/did not find it the place we want to stay at and getting stuff really requires a car. The trolly goes everywhere but time is on their side not ours. Plus the slips are OLD and not real boater friendly (concreat, narrow, older pilings and finger piers and they want more than they are worth. So we did clean the boat, went shopping at what was supposed to be close to the marina places and then decided enough is enough. Will leave here early Wed morning for an anchor out for a couple days and then on to Carrabelle.

The trip from Biloxi to Panama City was well different. We left Biloxi in a light wind and fair weather with good weather projections. We then found out that a "light" wind (15) reaally causes the Miss Sound to bounce. and we did but thank goodness for stabilizers and it was Cloudy which made for a dreary day. But the anchorage at Dalphin was great and we spend a good night there. Met a couple of the locals tending the crab pots. They and their pet were very friendly.

The trip the next day was good. the weather was great and once while we were waiting on a barge to clear a bridge, we idled by a deck for a house and talked to a local for a while. Saw lots of nice homes along the ditch. We anchored close  to the island next to Ft. McRee. grat anchorage and so close tothe gulf we could hear the gulf and would stayed there a few days but when we tried to lanch the dingy and the cable broke before we could get the dingy off the boat. So we decide to move on the following morning, well call it noon. WE woke to FOG. Pea soup thick fog. We  hung around until around noon and it lifted enough for the tug etc to start moving so we did also. Ran into patches a few times and then decide to pull into a cove after about 20 miles. Again the anchorage was great. Again woke to fog with the boat a hang out for a bunch of birds trying to navigate the fog. But it cleared faster and better so we were able to get on down the road to the next anchorage. The next morning found it clear and we had a great day going accross a couple of bays  well almost. Some of the boat drivers are rude and some are well  stupid. Almost got run into by a pontoon boat that was to busy watching a para sail.. Was escorted by a couple of dolphins for awhile. Took a lot of pic of them and soon as i quit, they left.

While in the "Grand Canyon, got to see a Bald Eagle. It was eating a fresh caught fish when we came upon it jumped into a tree about 20 feet away as we came by. Awsome.

 Got to Panama City, the people were very helpful.

Met a couple from Laporte who had an engine issue and were being towed in the morning to a yard. Had a great talk about the Great loop over a couple of margerettes.

The port host for the America Great Loop Association came by as we were walking and we had a great chat.