Steinhatchee - A forgotten Fishing Village

Trip Day:	254	Latitude:	29°40.24' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	80	Longitude:	083°23.32'W	Locks Total:	108
Total Miles:	5,563	Location:	Steinhatchee, FL

 

 

Ron was the look-out on the bow while I steered out the channel from The C-Quarter Marina this morning before sunrise.  We knew we had a long day ahead of us on the open water so we had to get an early start.  Once clear of the channel and, therefore, not concerned about hitting channel markers, we were able to enjoy the developing sunrise. 

 

 

 

With temps in the forties, Ron was bundled up as he ate his nice hot oatmeal while steering. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 By mid-day the skies were clear and winds calm.  We had sailed all morning, but with diminishing winds we had to motor the remaining miles across the Gulf of Mexico.  We were 12—18 miles off shore in international waters with no land in sight—just 360 degrees of  horizon.  

 

 Our friend, Auto, did most of the steering since it was a straight-line compass setting.  Hand steering the last 15 miles, weaving and dodging crab traps in 25 feet of water—it was good to be back on the west coast of Florida.   As we approached the fishing village of Steinhatchee, we followed a couple of boats in the three-mile long channel through the shallow oyster bed waters along the coast.   After eleven hours on the water, we were ready for a safe harbor and since few looper boats bother to visit this area the marina staff was anxious to please. 

MONDAY, NOVEMBEER 26th

Nothing about this day was planned.  Our intention was a short run to Alligator Point, just to shorten the distance to cross the Gulf of Mexico to Steinhatchee.  About ten o’clock, Ron disconnected shore power and made ready to get underway.  One glitch .  .  . the engine would not start.  After spending an hour or so troubleshooting the cause and muttering “it has to be fuel or air”,  Ron gave in and called a   diesel mechanic.  Not bad if you thing about it; over 5,000 miles and this was the first mechanical issue that Ron could not handle. 

The mechanic didn’t make it to the boat until after three o’clock and by then the happy hour was in full swing at the docks.  So, the decision was made to stay the night and simply make a long day of it tomorrow.    A front is headed our way, so we will leave early to cross the Gulf to Steinhatchee.