Day 163 & 164: Town of Steinhatchee

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 out in the trailer by the side of the road. There we saw several trailers filled with products; shirts, coats, jewelry, flags and more. These were stores on wheels ready to travel to places where folks were ready to buy. We found the entire set up mind boggling; we could not imagine there ever being enough business to support this large facility, still growing with a new addition. 

We meandered up the river which, between the blues of the sky and the dark color of the water, sparkled and played tricks on us; what exactly were we seeing? Reflections created uncertainty. 

We lamented the number of destroyed docks and boats, left to deteriorate on the sides of the river, evidence of the damage Hurricane Idalia caused in 2023. There were also several rough looking boats moored or anchored, appearing as though they were live aboards, yet also seemingly abandoned. A vintage houseboat sat in the middle of the river; she was rundown but we could imagine how beautiful she must have been in her hay day. 

A public boat ramp at Fort Steinhatchee Pier made shore access easy. The pier is simply a platform that extends about 35 feet over the edge of the river that serves as a fishing dock and kayak launch. Across the street is a community park with picnic tables. We parked the dinghies and meandered around the small town of about 600 residents. It was an easy walk to the ACE hardware store and Dollar General; but the most important stop was for lunch. After reading positive reviews, we decided on McDavid's Cafe, known for its homemade glazed donuts. 

The restaurant, claiming to serve the best homemade southern cuisine recipes, possesses an abundance of charm. Once a house, its small rooms provide a cozy dining experience. Our waitress was a one man show, handling the lunch crowd with ease. We ordered a plate of fresh donuts along with our lunch (John and I both had Corned Beef Brisket Rubens); and like anyone on vacation, we ate desert first! 

Day 164: December 29: We made the right decision; stayed put at anchor today due to the predicted storm. There were white caps in the small river and winds howled for most of the day, finally calming down around 5:00. Our boats spun 360 degrees throughout the day and it was colder than I would have liked. A perfect day to hang out on the boat; read and watch a movie. John and Frank spent a good part of the day in the engine room, changing a thermostat and updating some other item. 

Mark called early in the day to ask for advice; the tide had gone out so much that he was sitting on the bottom. John told him to wait until the tide came in before trying to move; noting the bottom was pretty sandy so it was likely his boat had not suffered any damage. When the tide did come in, he moved to our spot and rafted up for the night; a precaution against being stuck in the morning when we are ready to get UW.