Adventures on Slàinte Mhath

Day 166: December 31:  A stronger wind than we expected was blowing this morning and the water was rippling as the current flowed past our boats. By the time we got UW, about 8:00 a.m. the wind had died down to a mere breeze. Once again John led the group out of Cedar Key Harbor and back into the Gulf. We had to venture off shore quite a bit to get into deeper water. The Gulf tends to be shallow in general, and along the shores it can drop to 2 feet. We have seen 3 and 4 feet even in the rivers leading to Steinhatchee and Cedar Key.  Never to disappoint, dolphins began playing along the bow, allowing themselves to be pushed along by the force of the water. As much as they are a delight, the countless crab pots are as annoying. It seems that as soon as we engage the autopilot, one is bouncing around directly in front of us, requiring dodging and zig zagging .  When we were almost to the Crystal River channel, Frank called John on the radio. Frank saw that John was turning ...

Day 165: December 30:  A chilly but calm morning. After yesterday's strong winds we were pleased to have a good day to travel to our destination; Cedar Key. Engines were started and we got UW at about 7:00 a.m. John took the lead; guiding our entourage along the Steinhatchee River onto the Gulf.  Dolphins escorted us out of the river and onto the open waters. The gulf was calm, allowing us to enjoy our trip to Cedar Key. Thankfully the sun was out most of the day, but riding on the flybridge continues to be cold, requiring us to don our sweatshirts.  We traveled 51.7 NM in about 6 1/2 hours, arriving at an anchorage in Cedar Key Harbor. Located 50 miles southwest of Gainsville, Cedar Key is a quiet island community nestled among many tiny keys on the Gulf Coast of Florida. A key is a small, low-lying coral island; it is a remnant of ancient coral reefs. When healthy, a key hosts incredible ecosystems.  Cedar Key is the second oldest established town in Florida, right...

Day 163: December 28: It was a pretty morning here on the Steinhatchee River. Lights shining from the marina across the channel glistened on the water, lighting the way for the many crab and fishing boats getting an early start.  We launched the dinghies and puttered up river. There were a few houses along the bank, their pastel colors glowing under a clear blue sky. One in particular caught my eye; as we worked our way upriver it stood in shark contrast to the rest of the area, which looked like it hadn't recovered from one of the many hurricanes that have hit the coast.  Frank needed to find a water pump so we stopped at Sea Hag Marina first. The multi level facility was undergoing some kind of construction. Its many slips were empty except for a charter fishing boat. The restaurant and bar were closed. Tanks filled with live shrimp were gurgling, keeping the catch alive. Frank found what he needed in the store and was instructed to head back downstairs where he could cash o...

Day 162: December 27 : We were all up early; lights turned on in all three boats between 5:30 and 6:00. We were anxious to get UW for our first leg of the Gulf of Mexico. Standing on the decks in the dark, remnants of the full moon peaking through the cloudy sky, the sound of dolphins swirling around our boats was mesmerizing. We stood in silence listening to their breathing and gentle splash made every time they surfaced. It was an incredible experience.  We started engines and shoved off at 7:00 a.m. John was leading the way out, cautiously following his bread crumbs and staying in the marked channel. Inching our way out, we ran aground. The depth of the water dropped rapidly from 9 or 10 feet to 4. John tried backing out, going forward, twisting and turning to no avail. Frank and Mark drove their boats back and forth a few times to create a wake, hoping it might rock us enough to get us out of the shallows. It took 3 passes before we were freed. another crisis averted.  We ...