Day 196 Anchoring at Wilson Beach

Finally broke the bonds of Apalachicola. It was hard to leave after 9 days, we had grown quite attached to this funky, fishing town, but we will be back. We were the first of our Looper group to leave this morning so everyone gathered on the dock to send us off. Took some final shots of the city as we made our way out into Apalachicola Bay then down the ICW. The second pic is where we ate Thanksgiving dinner - the little room on the dock. The ICW ends in Carrabelle then picks up again in Tarpon Springs. So from now until Tarpon, we'll be in the Gulf with an occasional trip up a river. The seas were right - choppy at first, but they laid down. The wind wasn't bad, but the cold forced us to steer from below. Uneventful 5 1/2 hour cruise to a quiet anchorage off of Alligator Point called Wilson Beach. Dinked to Beach House, Chuck and Susan. Only meant to stay a minute then go exploring, but we talked till almost sunset. They've published a series of "best anchorages" books and have done a lot of cruising. Time flies when you're talking boating. Made a non-oyster/non-seafood dinner while listening to "island music" on the best radio station in the states called Oyster Radio on 100.5. The third pic is the sunset view from our anchorage. Beautiful Florida. Want to get an early early start tomorrow so headed to bed to read at sunset. We need rest after our senses-overload stay in Apalach. Will cross a chunk of the Gulf to the Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee.