Crewdog
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2012
- Messages
- 519
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-28
- Vessel Name
- Blue Merle
- MMSI Number
- 367556050
Combining picking up the boat from maintenance with a vacation cruise, we set out from Apalachicola on glass smooth water at dawn, greeted by a cast-netter and an offer of coffee from a houseboat we were passing in the marina.
An hour later we emerged from St. George Sound through East Pass and passed Dog Island, a sanctuary now co-owned by the Nature Conservancy and a few private landowners. Many amphibious troops trained here in WWII, when it was known as Camp Gordon Johnston. There's an anchorage on the bay side, and perhaps we'll stop and roam the beaches when time permits, and it's not so cold.
Once passing the last channel marker in East Pass, it was a straight shot to Steinhatchee, just skirting the danger area where live fire practice may occur. 3900 rpm was giving us 16-17 kts and only an occasional spray over the bow.
Going upriver on the Steinhatchee was quite a treat, passing fishermen in the flats and many curious onlookers. Found out that Hungry Howie's pizza could be contacted on the vhf and they'd have a pizza or sub ready for you on their dock. River Haven Marina was just past a bridge and located right in the middle of the Steinhatchee Fiddler Crab Festival. Some neat arts/crafts and some decent bands kept us entertained, and a nice seafood dinner was within a 2 block walk.
From Steinhatchee, an easy half day run south just off the flats and past the Yankeetown power plant brought us to Crystal River, and about an hour run upriver through several manatee zones brought us into Pete's Pier and a covered slip. Although there were a couple of restaurants within a half mile walk, we chose to eat at Charlies Fish House just across the bay, where it was easier to take the boat over and tie up at the commercial seafood pier and come back to the marina.
Crystal River is the only place in the US where you can legally swim with the manatees, and it was absolutely fascinating. These gentle giants come to the freshwater springs in winter to enjoy the warm water and rest. What an experience to be floating silently in a wetsuit and snorkel, and have one surface just beside you. People come from all over the world to experience this, and I'd recommend to anyone out there, by boat or land. There are many tour companies, but we chose one that only took 6 passengers instead of 20 or so.
The return trip got cancelled due to bad wx and forecasts of 8-11 foot seas in the gulf, so we did a shuttle and got the truck/trailer back to Crystal River, and managed to visit 2 places we intended to go by water.
The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab was a wonderful experience and quite a lesson on marine life and ecology. They have touch tanks, and not-touch tanks. And they have both a recuperating loggerhead and kemp's ridley turtle in tanks for display. The owner and founder also has a set of letters exchanged with John Steinbeck in the 60's, as both have a keen interest in marine biology. There's a small marina at Panacea that a tug can get into, and only a 2 block walk to the aquarium.
Last stop was Cedar Key. There's places to anchor and dinghy in, and a courtesy dock at the boat ramp, but no marina. We parked the truck/trailer/boat there and soon a parade of locals was coming by to look at the boat and give thumbs up.
They say an army travels on its stomach, and I guess boaters do too. So I'd be remiss in not mentioning Tony's Clam Chowder and Seafood, and a wonderful dinner at the Island Hotel Restaurant.
The RV parks were all full, and the really nice folks at the Cedar Key B and B let us park on the street next to the inn, and a wonderful homemade blueberry waffle breakfast capped off the trip.
I know a lot of loopers cut this corner of FL, but there are a few gems well worth stopping for.
An hour later we emerged from St. George Sound through East Pass and passed Dog Island, a sanctuary now co-owned by the Nature Conservancy and a few private landowners. Many amphibious troops trained here in WWII, when it was known as Camp Gordon Johnston. There's an anchorage on the bay side, and perhaps we'll stop and roam the beaches when time permits, and it's not so cold.
Once passing the last channel marker in East Pass, it was a straight shot to Steinhatchee, just skirting the danger area where live fire practice may occur. 3900 rpm was giving us 16-17 kts and only an occasional spray over the bow.
Going upriver on the Steinhatchee was quite a treat, passing fishermen in the flats and many curious onlookers. Found out that Hungry Howie's pizza could be contacted on the vhf and they'd have a pizza or sub ready for you on their dock. River Haven Marina was just past a bridge and located right in the middle of the Steinhatchee Fiddler Crab Festival. Some neat arts/crafts and some decent bands kept us entertained, and a nice seafood dinner was within a 2 block walk.
From Steinhatchee, an easy half day run south just off the flats and past the Yankeetown power plant brought us to Crystal River, and about an hour run upriver through several manatee zones brought us into Pete's Pier and a covered slip. Although there were a couple of restaurants within a half mile walk, we chose to eat at Charlies Fish House just across the bay, where it was easier to take the boat over and tie up at the commercial seafood pier and come back to the marina.
Crystal River is the only place in the US where you can legally swim with the manatees, and it was absolutely fascinating. These gentle giants come to the freshwater springs in winter to enjoy the warm water and rest. What an experience to be floating silently in a wetsuit and snorkel, and have one surface just beside you. People come from all over the world to experience this, and I'd recommend to anyone out there, by boat or land. There are many tour companies, but we chose one that only took 6 passengers instead of 20 or so.
The return trip got cancelled due to bad wx and forecasts of 8-11 foot seas in the gulf, so we did a shuttle and got the truck/trailer back to Crystal River, and managed to visit 2 places we intended to go by water.
The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab was a wonderful experience and quite a lesson on marine life and ecology. They have touch tanks, and not-touch tanks. And they have both a recuperating loggerhead and kemp's ridley turtle in tanks for display. The owner and founder also has a set of letters exchanged with John Steinbeck in the 60's, as both have a keen interest in marine biology. There's a small marina at Panacea that a tug can get into, and only a 2 block walk to the aquarium.
Last stop was Cedar Key. There's places to anchor and dinghy in, and a courtesy dock at the boat ramp, but no marina. We parked the truck/trailer/boat there and soon a parade of locals was coming by to look at the boat and give thumbs up.
They say an army travels on its stomach, and I guess boaters do too. So I'd be remiss in not mentioning Tony's Clam Chowder and Seafood, and a wonderful dinner at the Island Hotel Restaurant.
The RV parks were all full, and the really nice folks at the Cedar Key B and B let us park on the street next to the inn, and a wonderful homemade blueberry waffle breakfast capped off the trip.
I know a lot of loopers cut this corner of FL, but there are a few gems well worth stopping for.