Exploring the FLORIDA PANHANDLE by Sailboat (e.79) | ⛵ The Foster Journey

[@Joe-ve3cy]

I believe I'll just stay in the Panhandle , there's no where any better than the panhandle of Florida and South Alabama... amen

[@ericahemsworth2245]

"chocolate...that's what I do" 🤣🤣 Me Too!

[@2299jsimon]

Appalachacola oysters on the half shell.... yum.

[@teamhaas7406]

Oh, yeah! A mission to find chocolate. Sounds like my kind of mission! :)

[@markbuskens6070]

I love that area,been through there many times shrimping back in the late 90s

[@TheFosterJourney]

It's such a great place!

[@timothythomas1626]

In Summer it is tough in late afternoon in the West Central Florida area. As storms Build up during the day in the east and central of the state. They work their way west By Afternoon. Good News is they Burnout by Dark 95% of the time.

[@SOLDOZER]

The ICW along that Florida panhandle is actually pretty nice if you have the mast clearance. I tried to avoid the best best I could but was forced in due to weather. I actually ended up enjoying it and would take it again.

[@paulhaas4299]

After a while you will find out why, the journey is more important than the destination. Discovery is so much fun, enjoy.

[@TheFosterJourney]

This is lesson we are learning, and wow, it's a total mind shift!

[@Ed-uj4bc]

Great post, love the drone footage! Fair winds.

[@timothythomas1626]

Next Time Do a Tour Stop in New Port Richie or Tarpon Springs . I live in this area. I know you guys would love Tarpon Springs and The Greek Restaurants and the Sponge Docks. Tarpon and New Port Richie are Just North of Clearwater

[@DrJohn493]

Yes!

[@DrJohn493]

Enjoyed seeing your impressions of my old sailing grounds and especially St. Andrews Bay, my home port, Massalina Bayou to be specific. Weathered 2 hurricanes in our slip and not one scratch on our Morgan 32. We got lucky, really lucky. Port St. Joe was always one of our favorite coastal cruises for an extended weekend. And if the Gulf got rough, we could always make the transit on the ICW. Customarily, Apalach was the jumping off point for crossing the Gulf to the any of the ports on the Florida peninsula when beating it to the Keys or Bahamas. Smart plan to bypass Cedar Key. Looking forward to catching up on more of your episodes.

[@coronapack]

I'm imagining that one day you 3 might change over from sailing to motor yacht. Will be entertaining to watch your journeys.

[@MrCurtisass]

apalachicola is know for the oysters !!!!

[@timothythomas1626]

Only thing missing was ANDY & BARNEY Sitting outside the Station Playing Checkers.

[@TheFosterJourney]

Lol. That's so true!

[@micheleschultz6558]

Looked like a beautiful place to stop there in saint Joe! Glad Olivia found chocolate in Pensacola. 👏😋 🍫

[@TheFosterJourney]

It was great in St Joe 🤩...and Olivia was so happy!!!

[@teamhaas7406]

I've lived in Florida for about 17 years, but I've never been to Apalachicola. Looks like a great little spot.

[@TheFosterJourney]

It was one of our favorite spots in the whole Gulf and East coasts!

[@angelafleming7442]

I have not received a post card yet...Olivia...😁

[@SailingPauHana]

Loving how you're doing "jumps" rather than all ICW...That is our plan as well, but in the opposite direction 😁

[@TheFosterJourney]

Day hops are the best! And overnighters are pretty cool when you wake up and make 50 more NM. When are you hoping to start your journey?

[@never2oldadventures]

WoW! Wishing I could crew with you guys sometime. We just sold our property and are now full time RV'ers. You guys be safe. Until our adventures cross...

[@TheFosterJourney]

Congrats on the property sale! 'til our paths cross, cheers!

[@ginamcgovern1250]

I love seeing this synopsis of your trip! You are mastering going with the flow and accepting conditions as they are :) My husband and I just acquired a sailboat in April, and we will eventually go on extended trips, but for now we are cruising the Barnegat Bay in NJ. Cheers for Plan B, C, etc!! Nancy I love the calm too.

[@TheFosterJourney]

Nothing is better than 12 knots in calm seas! Congrats on your boat purchase!

[@keithgeorge4539]

I will be in Boston area (first time ever) Aug 8-14. If your in the area would love to say hello.

[@TheFosterJourney]

That timing might work out!

[@michaelzotzky4378]

The marina in Port St Joe used to be a great place to stay, but still hasn't reopened after Hurricane Michael in 2018. The marina had a pretty low-key restaurant, was walking distance to stores - excellent deal. Where did you dock in Apalachicola? Did they allow overnight stay? Looked like a city dock.

[@TheFosterJourney]

We saw the marina/restaurant on the charts and was hoping for it, but it's still absent form the hurricane. We docked at the municipal docks in Apalachicola. It's a cash deposit box for overnight, and was excellent walking distance from everything.

[@DrJohn493]

Regret to hear the Port St. Joe Marina hasn't reopened since Michael. It was a favorite destination for a long weekend coastal cruise out of Massalina Bayou in PC for us back in the early 2000s.

[@michaelzotzky4378]

@@DrJohn493 We were in PSJ mid-March of this year, on the way to Bahamas. PSJ Marina had no docks, harbor is boomed off, no pilings, not even possible to get off of a dinghy there. The priority is getting the boat stacking facility up and running. As there was bad weather forecast, we took a dock tie a Captains Cove Marina under the bridge. Owner is nice, but its $125 per night, includes water and elec, but we passed on the bathroom. Probably room for two boats only. Gas was about $1 per gallon there higher than any of our other stops. Because you have to cross the big bridge and another, its not conducive to walking into town. Owners nephew will run you into town for $20 each way. Really missing the PSJ Marina. But also understand they are working on cruise ship docks there, so the charm of PSJ may be short lived.

[@DrJohn493]

@@michaelzotzky4378 That is so discouraging to hear, and they're going for cruise docking, really!? Even more distressing. Having owned a sailboat in years past, I could never enjoy one of those montrous cruise boats. It seems the hurricanes are speeding up the loss of the old Florida I grew up experiencing. Our sailing days are behind us and we're land lubbing (ocassional) beach bums now. Heading to Cape San Blas in September for the first time since the year before Michael. Unsure what our emotions will be.

[@michaelzotzky4378]

@@DrJohn493 Just to clarify what I wrote, PSJ Marina will have pleasure boat docks. The cruise ship dock is supposed to be further down. But I agree that PSJ will change with the large influx of cruise ship tourists.

[@rlpatton1970]

You remember what anchorage was called ?

[@TheFosterJourney]

I think it was Jackson Creek or Saul Creek near Lake Wimico. Can't exactly remember though.

[@rlpatton1970]

@@TheFosterJourney thanks you guys going to Bahamas this winter ? Maybe we’ll see ya down there if so

[@2299jsimon]

Cedar Key... narro channel and skinny water all round.

[@kevinc7866]

Are you guys going into Chesapeake Bay or around? Timing?

[@TheFosterJourney]

Yes! We're working on the plans this week, and will share them at thefosterjourney.blog/plan/ We plan to have an updated timeline posted this weekend 👍

[@rlpatton1970]

How do you like the Achilles dingy ?

[@TheFosterJourney]

I like it a lot. It's solid and handles chop really well...but there's something to be said for going lighter for hoisting and for speed.

[@rlpatton1970]

@@TheFosterJourney is it the lighter or heavier model they have ?

[@TheFosterJourney]

@@rlpatton1970 not sure...but it's the 9.5 ft model and is about 30-50 lbs heavier than most other dinghies this size. It has the two layers of fiberglass.

[@southernpaths2986]

Too bad y’all didn’t spend a bit more time in Cape San Blas and Port St Joe… other than that, I really enjoyed the video, that’s my part of the world you visited!!

[@TheFosterJourney]

I agree! We didn't really get to explore Cape San Blas. It was such a beautiful region of the coast.

[@sbroddle1]

We just got back from the cape! Loved it so much!

[@gregorysaue6968]

What kind of sailboat?

[@TheFosterJourney]

Catalina 387. Here's a full detail of the vessel thefosterjourney.blog/catalina-387-sv-cadence/