We left Gulf Shores on January 2, 2025 and headed further east along the Gulf ICW about 10 miles into Ingram Bay to anchor for the night. The following day we went another 10 miles to another anchorage at Ft. McRee in Pensacola, finally Florida! We cut the 20 mile trip into two short days rather than staying in one area for 2 nights and having to make a longer trip in one day.
The reason for the nights on anchor is because we would rather find a protected hidey hole and drop anchor than fight the wind and swells while trying to dock in a marina. And free nights on anchor help even out the cost of the nights at marinas. Therefore, again because of wind/weather! we didn’t want to get into the marina in Pensacola before Saturday January 4th, which was to be a good and decently calm travel day.
The biggest problem with the wind, besides the speed, is the direction it is coming from. If it comes from the shore and across land it is usually pretty manageable as it does not push as much water and create huge swells. If the wind is coming from a large body of water, it has time and distance to build up higher swells which in this part of the trip hit us broadside making for a very uncomfortable ride. As a matter of fact it’s been very windy here since yesterday and I can hear it slamming around as I sit here with gusts of 14 MPH and higher.
At Ft. McRee we came across two other Loopers, Blessings Flow and Laney Toons, and what looked to be an abandoned sailboat? Blessings Flow and Laney Toons had been there the 2 prior days and said they never saw anyone on the sailboat, but what was strange was the door was open. Huh, weird but then again a sail boater…
Oh, fun fact; we first ran across Blessings Flow two summers ago in Lake Superior. We were headed one direction and they were heading the other direction. Brenda and Michael messaged each other as we passed. Talk about small world.
On Saturday, January 4th we traveled another 10 miles, with slight breezes and calm water, into Palafox Pier Yacht Harbor Marina in Pensacola, Florida, with Blessings Flow closely behind. We later saw Laney Toons being towed in and found out they lost their starter and are now waiting for someone to install the new one. I am so happy my maintenance guy is always on board and available.
This marina is perfectly positioned at the end of Palafox Street which is known as the gateway to Pensacola and the core artery of the downtown community with deep roots in the city’s rich past. There are a lot of shops, restaurants, museums, and parks along Palafox Street all well within walking distance from the marina.
At one time both Palafox and St. Augustine were battling over who was the official oldest city in Florida. That debate was finally settled and Palafox was determined to be the site of North Americas first European colony in 1559 and St. Augustine was determined to be the oldest continuously inhabited European established town in the United States in 1565.
Yesterday we Ubered to Naval Air Station Pensacola’s National Naval Aviation Museum. This is actually on the base so we had to have ID, duh!!, which I never carry, so we were turned away at the guard gate and Uber took us back to the boat and then again back to the museum. That little debacle cost me about $100.00. I never carry ID, well now my Walking Wallet (Michael) carries it for me. Jeesh!
A few of the aircraft at the museum.
The Killer Kooler started out in 1944 with Fighting Squadron 48 which was training at NAS Atlantic City. Eager to keep their favorite beverage cold, the group got a hold of a Kelvinator icebox. This icebox followed the Fighting Squadron 48 all around the world wherever they were stationed. On February 21, 1945, while on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, a kamikaze attack left the ship in flames and shrapnel penetrated the ready room punching a hole in the icebox. The Saratoga limped into Hawaii for repairs the Fighting Squadron 48, along with the icebox, was reassigned to the USS Monterey, where it stayed until the end of WW II.
While aboard the Monterey, the soldiers began using the icebox to record their wartime experiences, thereby creating a unique example of “trench art”, a medium long popular in the military. With the record painted on the cooler, the cooler became known as “The Killer Kooler”.
After the war the squadron commanding officer LCDR Robert Conrad took custody of the Killer Kooler and used it as a household appliance until the cooling system gave out in the early 1960’s. Really? His wife went for that? I have to believe it was a garage frig. Conrad’s daughter, Robyn Conrad Adair, arranged for the icebox’s last transcontinental trip, transporting the Killer Kooler from California to Florida in 2018 and donating it to the museum.
Oh, great! We just got a text from the marina office informing everyone that due to overnight temps in the low 20’s, they will be shutting off water at 3:00 this afternoon and will turn it back on tomorrow and may need to turn it off again tomorrow night. Michael is now out filling our tanks. And the news this morning is saying that the Big Bend area, the area around the corner from the panhandle part of Florida, exactly where we are headed, is in for a few days of severe weather. Have I ever voiced just how sick of weather I am!!
We are still planning on heading out tomorrow to anchor about 40 miles away for one night in the Destin area, then hit a marina in Panama City area for a night then traveling to a marina in Port St. Joe for a week. That will give us time to get mail and other items and time to look over the city. From there who knows when we will be able to cross the Big Bend area, a 75 mile open water journey, and move farther towards home. Michael is still looking for a home for the boat. So far, not so lucky.
Welp, that’s it for now. I am trying to do these a little more often. Just keep dropping back in to see where we are next. Love to all, Gina and Mike
