Destin FL to Panama City FL - Can you say Monsoon?

Are there monsoons in this hemisphere?!  It sounds like what we are having today.  
We left Joe's bayou in light rain and 30mph winds.  We needed to run fast for a while to get across the large open water by Destin. (a bay I cannot pronounce).  

We were welcomed immediately by dolphins swimming around the boat as we left (no photos, too windy)..  Then the monsoon dispatched my AGLCA (looper) flag and it's pole.   It's at the bottom of the bay.   Again, you cannot take a picture of something that is gone.   I'll have to acquire another one ..

It also bent back my PA horn on the front of the boat.   It was really windy.  

I also discovered that salt water wrecks stuff.   Suddenly zippers won't open, everything is tacky and hard to see through.  Joy.  Lots to clean when the monsoon lets up...

We cleared the 30 mile bay and got safely into a long narrow trench area which is much better for going slow ... And meandered through the swampland in the trench until we got to Panama city (and another large set of bays).    But less windy.   

We arrived safely at a marina where we will wait out the ensuing storm front.   They are predicting gale force winds.  It's better to be tied to a dock than anchored.  

This is a basic marina (Pier 98 marina) still recovering from the hurricane.  They DO have cheap diesel though so we made it a point to come here.    3.99 a gallon hasn't been considered cheap most of my life.... But today..      $1200 later, my tanks are full. (all four of them).   We have fuel to cross the Gulf of Mexico when it is finally hospitable outside.   

We will be here at least two nights... Probably three.    It's fitting since the pelican they have here is named Katie.   Yes, this is a picture of Katie with Katie.  

Katie literally has run of the place.  She walks right into the store and up and down the aisles.  (the pelican, not my wife... although she can walk the aisles too). Lol. 

Here's the route for today...

If no post for a couple of days it's because we aren't going anywhere til this front passes. 

Yes, Florida needed rain.   Yes, we delivered...


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