Al and Kay returned the rent car, Jerry and Susan headed out to go back to the Wharf Marina until our return trip back to Texas and we filled our water tanks and put our bikes away for the trip to Ft. McRee Cove anchorage. The weather is going to be in the low 70'S for the next couple of days before getting cold so we want to take advantage of it by playing outside. It was time for something new!!!!! When we did this same trip two years ago, I wanted to anchor out at this cove and now we were going to do it. Beautiful white sand beach and I get to play on my paddleboard!!!!! NOT! Susan sent me a text message and said that it looked like 8 to 10 boats were anchored when they went by on their way to the Wharf. Not Good! We forgot that it was a holiday weekend and a lot of people would be taking advantage of the beautiful weather.
After discussing the situation with Al and Kay, we decided to call Orange Beach Marina to make sure they could take us. Orange Beach Marina here we come! Josh printed the directions off their website and as we were heading in it was clearly marked with plenty of water depth. As we turned a corner the sun was directly on our nose and we could barely see the markers, let alone the color of them. The depth was getting shallower and the instructions were getting confusing. Yes - we ran aground but it was soft sand and we were able to back off. A small boater was nice and pointed us to the deeper water. Other boaters just stared! Around 3:30 we called the harbor master to tell him that we were close and would be there shortly but were told that he had left for the day and his helper would also be leaving soon because they close at 4 PM. I said "he left for the day knowing that we were on our way?????" His helper said that another boat was coming in and he would wait for us. Things are not looking so good!!!! We couldn't see the channel because the sun was in our eyes, the instructions were not clear, we ran aground several times, the depths were skinny, we may not have a slip and it is getting dark....... Great!
We finally make it in and they wanted to put us in slips with really short finger piers. Not going to work! We told the harbor master when we visited by car and on the phone that we were trawlers and need to be able to get off midship. Either way we pulled in we would not be able to get off our boats. Boats in this marina (mostly sportfish) do not have aft stern platforms and can back up right to the dock and step off. We have one and would need a ladder to climb up to the dock. They finally put us in covered slips and said because they were now closed to come into the office in the morning to fill out paperwork.
Note to self - take off list of stopping places! Will not recommend to other boaters.
After discussing the situation with Al and Kay, we decided to call Orange Beach Marina to make sure they could take us. Orange Beach Marina here we come! Josh printed the directions off their website and as we were heading in it was clearly marked with plenty of water depth. As we turned a corner the sun was directly on our nose and we could barely see the markers, let alone the color of them. The depth was getting shallower and the instructions were getting confusing. Yes - we ran aground but it was soft sand and we were able to back off. A small boater was nice and pointed us to the deeper water. Other boaters just stared! Around 3:30 we called the harbor master to tell him that we were close and would be there shortly but were told that he had left for the day and his helper would also be leaving soon because they close at 4 PM. I said "he left for the day knowing that we were on our way?????" His helper said that another boat was coming in and he would wait for us. Things are not looking so good!!!! We couldn't see the channel because the sun was in our eyes, the instructions were not clear, we ran aground several times, the depths were skinny, we may not have a slip and it is getting dark....... Great!
We finally make it in and they wanted to put us in slips with really short finger piers. Not going to work! We told the harbor master when we visited by car and on the phone that we were trawlers and need to be able to get off midship. Either way we pulled in we would not be able to get off our boats. Boats in this marina (mostly sportfish) do not have aft stern platforms and can back up right to the dock and step off. We have one and would need a ladder to climb up to the dock. They finally put us in covered slips and said because they were now closed to come into the office in the morning to fill out paperwork.
Note to self - take off list of stopping places! Will not recommend to other boaters.
Susan and Jerry leaving Palafox
Josh "sliming" his bike tire!
Bye bye Palafox - Last Trade heading out
Kay and Al leaving Palafox
A great day on the water
Pensacola Lighthouse
Ft. McRee Cove anchorage where we were planning to go.
Docked at Orange Beach Marina
This is the slip with short finger pier that they wanted us in!
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