November 22, 2012 -- Clearwater and Completion of Monarch's Second Great Loop

To make the final leg of our circumnavigation of the entire eastern half of the United States, we need to cross the Big Bend, the northeast corner of the Gulf of Mexico. This transit is best done with daylight on each end, to avoid the ubiquitous crab traps, which can foul a propeller. As the trip is 18 hours in length, this time of year with its short days really demands an overnight crossing. So we departed Apalachicola at about 14:00 hours (2:00 p.m. for you landlubbers!), and made it safely into deep and unobstructed water, just as the sun set.

The weather was almost perfect, with just two hours of beam seas. Finally, the sun came up!

And shortly thereafter, we entered Clearwater Pass.

We have earned our Platinum Looper Flag, as this is our second time around. During our second Great Loop, Monarch Traveled 6,271 nautical miles (7,525 statute for you landlubbers) Transited 105 locks Duration 306 days Traveled from sea level to 841 feet above seal level and back Visited two countries (Canada and US), 16 states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York state, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama), the District of Columbia and one province (Ontario) Stopped in the largest US city (New York), the largest city on Lake Superior (Thunder Bay, Ontario), and the largest city on Lake Michigan (Chicago) Visited too many tiny towns and wonderful anchorages to mention (see our prior blogs)! Docked at, or anchored nearby, and visited every member club of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs (36 clubs) Northernmost latitude 48°45'28"04 Southernmost latitude 24°42'78"93

And Jerry puts our Platinum flag on display for all to see and admire! Thank you for following the adventures of Monarch. Now it’s time for us to dock the boat and spend some family time back in Michigan. When we have new adventures, we’ll be sure to add them to our blog.

November 19-21, 2012 -- St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, Fl to Apalachicola, Fl

After departing St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, we entered the Canyon, a narrow man-made cut which forms the waterway.

As the Canyon widened into Lake Wimico, oystermen were hand-raking their catch in this small boat.

We arrived for our night’s dock at St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club in Panama City. The Club was quiet; this is the one night a week it is closed. We had a peaceful night at the dock.

The next morning, we had a view of this interesting shipbuilding facility.

Next we reached Apalachicola, the jumping off point for the annual parade of “Loopers” – pleasure cruisers making their way around the eastern half of the US. Mariners spend pleasant days or weeks in this friendly town, awaiting the weather window for the overnight crossing of “The Big Bend” to Tarpon Springs or Clearwater.

These houseboats seemed permanently moored along the bank on our way up Scipio Creek to Water Street Marina.

Apalachicola Bay is home to some of the best seafood in the country, including 90% of Florida’s oyster crop and 10% of the entire US harvest. Gambler is among the large fleet, which also harvests fish and shrimp.

On the opposite shore, behind Dora Mae, you can see the mountains of shells, the byproduct of all those wonderful oysters.

The shells are not wasted, as they are used in road construction throughout the region, here ready for transport via barge.

Even in town, there are smaller hills of shells, awaiting transport.

To partake of those special local oysters, we dined at Caroline’s River Dining, which boasts oysters eleven ways: Chilled, Key West, stew, Po Boy, Asian Barbeque, Kayarain, Motoyaki, St. Jacque, Saltim Bocca, Lim-O-Zine, and Boat Flambe.

The following afternoon, Thanksgiving Day, we departed the marina, thankful for the predicted perfect weather window and our overnight cruise to Clearwater.