Day 194 Sunshine Finally

When we opened our peepers this morning, we actually saw bright light streaming through the windows. No more gray skies, but still too choppy and windy for trawlers to travel. Free Bird took off for Carrabelle, but the rest of us stayed put.  Had breakfast with Leslee, Chris and Alice, after helping Sara and John shove off. The sky was brilliant blue without a cloud - a brisk cold wind blew as we walked back to the boat. John spent the afternoon working on wiring the radar to the upper helm. I read about the city we've been in for a week. There are something like 900 historic buildings in this town. We walked by a lot of them yesterday. The post office was built in 1922 and is still active today. The Chesnut Cemetary was started in 1833 and houses some the Apalach's founding fathers, Confederate soldiers, scarlet fever victims, and the famous botanist, Dr. Alvin Chapmin. Around the corner is a museum dedicated to Dr. John Gorrie, who invented an ice machine. When the city had an outbreak of yellow fever, he contrived an apparatus to keep his patients more comfortable. It was the forerunner to air conditioning. In the center of town are two cannons. For the most part, Apalachicola was left defenseless during the Civil War, but during one brief period they had 8 cannons. These are 2 that were left after the war. Interesting town. Not sure where the day went, but suddenly it was docktails. Had some good snacks and lively conversation. Afterwards, John and I hiked down to Bowery Station (BS) and listened to some local talent during Open Mike.  We love this tavern and this town. I think we seriously could live here. Tomorrow we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our Looper "family" while we are missing our real family. John says we need to wait one more day before heading to an unprotected anchorage. Hoping all our loved ones, family and friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. You will be in our thoughts and our hearts.