Day 171 Fort Walton Beach to Pearl Bayou St Andrews Tuesday November 6, 2018

Day 171 Fort Walton Beach to Pearl Bayou St Andrews Tuesday November 6, 2018

Clouds were in control again today but only passing showers - but very threatening storms in the area. High in upper 70s

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Today we traveled about 75 miles. We are looking to get in position for cross the Gulf from the Panhandle to the west coast of Florida later in the week. We left about 6:30 to get to a our planned anchorage mid afternoon.   The day was warm and the clouds continued to dominate the sky.

I guess the area of Fort Walton Beach is called the Emerald Coast.

Gypsy with Jim and Sue are off to get ahead of the threat of thunderstorms. We have to cross Choctawhatchee Bay first. It is about 30 miles long.

The sun did tease with a few appearances but this is looking to the east and storm clouds are moving from the west. So it was not to last.

Just east on the bay is the bridge to Destin that is on the outer bank.

This cloud passed over head and is on our left side and moving to the NE. We had seen the beginnings of a waterspout when it was off to our right.

As we watched the cloud formation a water spout formed and moved down to the water. Note the swirl of water from the surface - glad we were just watching. It did make us think of Dorothy and Toto.

 The cloud bank as it moves away. It even looks nasty a long way off.

The real damage from the Hurricane Micheal is ahead of us but we started to see some carnage.

Here we are coming to the end of Choctawhatchee Bay. For about 20 miles we will be in a cut ditch canal. Here we are approaching the "ditch."

 And now in the ditch

And here is what most of the ditch looks like - sand any one?

 The end of the ditch.

And on to West Bay that will take us to Panama City

This is West Bay and the storms are still moving around us - and we were able to stay ahead of them as some good ones passed behind us as they moved inland.

We have passed through the industrial area of Panama City and began seeing some real damage of homes.

And there are many boats ashore including this big ship. But we are not sure what type it is.

In a few more miles we arrive at the Pearl Bayou. It was a great anchorage even if there was four boats in the trees still remaining from Hurricane Michael.

There are two other Looper boats here with us tonight. Trust the storms have blown out.

So as the sun has set it is time to say ..........................

Good Night and May God Bless