Thursday, December 2, 2021  Crystal River, FL (Twin Rivers Marina) - Tarpon Springs, FL (ATW Marine Services)

Good morning.  We are on our final ride where we will be in the great open water of the gulf. As we leave the marina with our looper buddy the water is incredibly low.  It’s slow going so that we don’t run aground.  



Below is a picture of our buddy boat as we start to leave the channel into the gulf.


We don’t get pictures of “Our Nauti Time” on the water very often and I thought that our buddy looper did a great job with this one.

Once again it was stressful trying to dodge so many crab pots.  It took all four of us watching out and we still had severe very close calls.  In fact, as we were cruising very slow a crab pot surfaced directly in front of the boat.  Jim immediately powered down the engines and we slid over the pot. Once we spotted it behind us we powered up and slowly proceeded.  There was no evidence of damage or problems.  

The channel markers to enter the river/channel are so welcome but the water is still shallow so we barely move along.  FINALLY we are at ATW Marine Services and they were waiting for us to lift the boat.  We couldn’t believe that there was no wait at all.  So, we drove the boat onto the lift.  We thought that there would be a wait and we haven’t even packed a suitcase for several days on land. LOL!!!  Nonetheless, look at what we found on the prop as the boat was lifted.


Oh my God!!!!!  But as we got closer, the rope was not wrapped around the prop but was looped on it.  NO DAMAGE, NO PROBLEM!!!!  Jim and I both almost lost it when we first saw the rope.  I give Jim a lot of credit for reacting fast and powering down the engines at the right time.



It is amazing how the lift can move these large vessels. After she was put on dry dock we were able to board to pack suitcases and clear out the refrigerator.  Due to insurance restrictions we can’t have any electricity or batteries on while on dry dock.  ATW was so accommodating that I was able to clear out the refrigerator and freezer and store everything in their refrigerator/freezer.  I guess it was time to defrost the freezer.  LOL!!!!  

Our next issue arose when we found out that the thruster part was not delivered.  It was promised to arrive nearly a week earlier. After hours of trying to track the part with the distributor and UPS, we found out that UPS couldn’t deliver it because of an address issue.  ????????????  Not a pretty conversation between Jim and the distributor.  So, we were told that the part will arrive by 11:00 tomorrow (Friday).  Keep in mind we can’t stay in dry dock very much longer then Monday due to their demand for space.  

At this point it is 4:30 and we are exhausted.  I have secured a hotel room until Monday and a rental car.  All we want to do is eat, a hot shower (again) and bed.  As we were sitting at dinner Jim and I both were wondering what it will be like to actually be on land and drive.  LOL!!! 

Keep your fingers crossed that the part arrives tomorrow and there are no other delays.  I have started to research what we will be  exploring while here and hopefully have dinner with Tony and Karen Long before leaving on Monday.  Jims first “must do” is a hair cut.  It it just a little over a week before we fly home.



Comments

  1. Steve and Loraine MartineauDecember 3, 2021 at 4:55 PM

    Glad you made it there safely. Now, prayers the part arrives. Oh, the joys!!

    ReplyDelete

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