Our next stop is a new one for us, in Fairhope, AL. This spot is recommended for its friendly town and East Shore Marina, with courtesy van to make the 2-mile trip into town.
As the sun set, we learned that tonight is downtown’s official holiday tree-lighting ceremony. We hitched a ride in the courtesy van with Anne and Larry McLaughlin, fellow Loopers from Spring Lake, MI, here on their American Tug 34, the Great Laker.
Fairhope’s mayor introduced the dignitaries, the Fairhope Choral sang festive songs, the Fairhope High School Band played carols, and we got in the holiday mood.
We dined at the Fairhope Yacht Club, just across the fairway from Monarch, but two miles by road. Glad to have the courtesy van!
Next day, we drove around town. The City has an on-staff horticulturalist, as evidenced by beautiful plantings everywhere.
Lunch at Tamara’s included delectable Crawfish Elegante, a yummy bisque loaded with butter, cream and crawfish.
Next morning’s travel took us into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, where we knew we were in Florida – the dolphins came out to greet us, jumping gaily in our wake. Here we pass the Pensacola Lighthouse, near the Naval Air Station.
In Pensacola Bay, the local sailing group was out for the regatta.
Our port for the night is Pensacola Yacht Club, a beautiful old building surrounded by live oak. This is the northwesterly most Club of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs. As we are members of one of the Council Clubs, Marathon, this marks the start of where we get to take advantage of our favorite member benefit – a FREE night dockage!
More Intracoastal the next day. This red can is almost obscured by cormorant guano. As they like to have their beaks into the wind, you can tell the prevailing winds here are westerlies.
Fort Walton Yacht Club is our stop for the night. We were welcomed by a gang of members, who made sure we each received a complimentary FWYC shirt prior to our departure. We love the Club life!
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