We're in Florida!

We cruised from Mobile, AL to Pensacola, FL today, a very nice cruise in 65 to 70 degree temps.

We went past the Mobile Bay Light, built in 1886.













Then we were in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway most of the day. It's a canal behind the barrier islands on the gulf, connecting the many bays and inlets along the gulf. It makes for a natural protection for gulf waves and is kept dredged for boat traffic.




And past Lulu's Restaurant (Jimmy Buffet's sister's restaurant).











The most fun was when we stopped at Perdido Key to go to a gulf island beach. It was recommended by a couple of the Hatteras Owners Forum members who have been here. It's really a beautiful beach. Perdido Key is one of the long thin barrier islands protecting Pensacola Bay from the Gulf of Mexico waves. It also forms the sheltered waterway of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway where we were cruising. The key itself is only a few hundred yards wide and many miles long. Both the gulf side and much of the waterway side is lined with beautiful sand beaches. It doesn 't seem to be a National Seashhore or a park, just a very long barrier island.

We just anchored Nonchalance on the waterway side where there is a nice wide spot (abouit 500 yards wide) so we were out of the way of boat traffic. This picture is from the gulf beach dunes back across the waterway where we anchored. Then we got the dinghy out, dingied to the waterway side beach and walked across the dunes to the Gulf side beaches where there's a nice surf.

The beach was about 10 miles long and we only saw one group of people and one fisherman on the whole beach. We almoist had it completely to ourselves! The sand is an extremely fine white sand here and feels good to walk on. Daisy loved it and chased a stick thrown into the water. She just about wore herself out running on the beach.

Of course, we had to hose the salt water off ourselves and Daisy when we got back to the boat.











I was also very happy to see the dolphins again. They caught up with us in many of the small bays connected by the waterway. When we were going slow, they'd surf our bow wave in front of the boat. When we were going faster, they'd surf the bigger side waves right beside the boat, so you could go out on deck and watch them jump and surf right next to you... only about 10 to 15 ft. away! I tried to get pictures of them jumping, but it's almost impossible because the digital camera has a slight delay between pressing the button and taking the picture. By the time it takes a picture, all you get is the splash. Previously, I got jump pictures by guessing when they'd jump anf taking a dozen pictures before I caught one jump. So I have a dozen pictures of splash when they landed and this one picture of one starting to jump. I am absolutely enthralled by watching them surf our side wake.

Tomorrow we're going on to Destin, FL.