Days 30-33 - Pensacola to Panama City

We left Pensacola Naval Air Station Monday morning on our way towards Panama City.  We stopped at Fort Walton Beach at the city park free dock which has water and a pump out but no electricity.  We were able to walk to a restaurant and the Publix supermarket and get to bed early as we knew we would have a long day on Wednesday.  It took us almost 9 hours to get to Panama City and even though it was a quiet, uneventful trip, it was LONG.  We were anxious to get here because once again, we were anticipating bad weather.  By the time we got here the winds had really kicked up and we were glad to tie up to the dock  because they got up to about 40 knots!

The Great Loop Cruisers Association has what they call harbor hosts at various marinas and we had no sooner got settled when Carl and Greg (his wife) Vernon knocked on the door.  They were so nice to offer their assistance with whatever we needed.  Carl drove Mike on an errand yesterday and we had them aboard for wine later in the evening.  They invited us to dinner tonight with them and another couple.  I'm really looking forward to it because we're going to have Mexican food and I haven't had that since leaving Texas.

I have made the decision not to cross the gulf with Mike so we have hired a captain to go with him and I believe they will be leaving tomorrow.  I'll rent a car and drive to Tarpon Springs meeting them there.  I just feel more comfortable doing it that way even though many other wives have no problem with it.