Anual Trek to Apalachicola

[Hampton]

30 Oct - We collected our stuff for the weekend and loaded up the boat. Winds were forecast to be NE at 10 - 15. East Bay would be choppy, but the ICW would be fine (as always). Our primary direction to cruise was SE, so NE winds were perfect for taking the boat outside, so we did.

We left the dock around 10:30 in the AM. We had to go about 5 miles NW to the pass, then SW out the pass, then SE along the barrier island (Shell Island) on Shell's Island. It was crystal clear and the dolphins were out in numbers. After about an hour, the sight of the fish ripping across the surface at the bait fish was too much to pass up, so we slowed down off plane and threw out some silver lures and made a few circles - no luck, but it sure was pretty.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=29.963263,-85.518265&spn=0.412841,0.55481&z=11

Back on plane to the SE to Port St Joe. We idled into the inlet that leads into the ICW. 2 miles inland, there's an intersection to the ICW. West to PCB, East to Apalach. We idled in at just a couple of knots and got lods of nods and waves from the local folks fishing in very shallow boats. That intersection marked the 44 mile point from our dock, whether we went inside or outside - it's the same either way.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=29.861488,-85.292358&spn=0.206632,0.277405&z=12

As we continued to the East, an American Bald Eagle graced us with a low pass.

There were a few boats along the last 30 miles to Apalach, so a quick call on the radio helped coordinate a friendly pass that worked for each party involved. As we entered Lake Wimico, there were some very shallow areas and a lot of debris. Caution paid off.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=29.769742,-85.099068&spn=0.206821,0.277405&t=h&z=12

As we continued East, the flow of the river sped us along. That, combined with being about 70 gallons lighter, allowed the 340 to hit 25 knots at 3350 RPM and only about 29 gph. We cruised into the Scipio Creek along some new condos and up to the fuel dock at the marina. A beautiful 3 hour cruise. The gas truck was there so gas was dropping from $3.679 to $2.959. We took on a 100 gallons and saved $70 (we started the trip at 3/4 gas). On to our parking spot on the center dock where we inflated the dinghy and then headed inside for our first of several dozen, fresh, Apalachicola oysters - mmm, mmm, mmm, good.

As the night fell, more friends joined us. The guys gathered up a truck load of firewood and two outdoor heaters and started the evenings festivities. More to come (pictures tomorrow at home, I'm at work - again).

 

[chuck1]

Without pictures this thread sxxk. (Grin) John, sounds like a fun trip.
Was it the new Water Street Hotel & Marina you stayed at. From the web page looks like a neat place. Judy and I've talked about staying there next time we are down that way.

 

[Hampton]

Scipio Creek Marina. I know, I know, Pics.

http://www.scipiocreekmarina.com/

 

[chuck1]

Does Scipio Creek Marina have condos for rent now?
Here is the link for water street.
http://waterstreethotel.com/index.html

 

[Hampton]

Negative.

Those are the condos we passed on our way to Scipio Creek Marina. They're on the Scipio Creek, but not at the S C Marina. Some of our friends stayed at those condos, and other stayed at their docks.

Condos - Normally $175/night for 2 bedrooms (from memory). During Seafood Fest, $269/night for a 1 bedroom. We spent about 500 on gas for the round trip and about 150 for slip fees for 3 nights. So, to take our boat, it was 650 for 3 nights. A 1 BR condo would have been about $700. Not that it's really a comparison, but it makes us feel good to know it was actually cheaper to take the boat.

Those docks are really nice, but the afternoon sun is COMPLETELY blocked out by the building and to get out front to the street, people have to go to the end of the building and then go through the lobby. Our friends had dogs that they had to walk out front. Can't walk them out back - too many gators.

I never made it to the street in front of the marina. I either was at the dock or bookin' down the creek on the dinghy to downtown - which was a blast.

 

[chuck1]

I hear you about the cost of the condo, but Judy won't camp out on the boat. (Grin).

 

[Hampton]

I hear you about the cost of the condo, but Judy won't camp out on the boat. (Grin).

Then it's all good.

 

[fwebster]

Not to steal John's thunder, but we were in Apalachicola for a week about 3 weeks ago. I took 2 of these at the dock at Scipio Creek.........the dogs stay on a leash! The other one is the ICW just East of White City.

 

[chuck1]

Frank,
Is that a gator in the second pictures? It is hard to see. For some reason I can't click on the attached pictures and make them bigger.

 

[fwebster]

Yes.......we were tied up on a layalong dock outside a restaurant and one of the dogs went nuts. She really thought she wanted some alligator.

I'll try again with the pix.

 

[Hampton]

Nice photos, Frank.

I have edited my first post to begin to add pictures.

 

[Hampton]

That Thursday night we all gathered around the camp fires and enjoyed the crisp air and beautiful sky.

The next morning, we ate a great breakfast aboard (lox, bagels...) then jumped into the dinghy for the ride down town with 2 other couple in their dinghies.

The Seafood fest had more great food than you can imagine. Gator on a stick, dozens of raw oysters for $5/doz, and just about anything you could imagine.

Then, we jumped in our dinghies and headed back up the creek to lunch. Tommy and Audrie's dinghy has a loud stereo, bimini, GPS, VHF, center console, 40 or 50HP, trim tabs, and much, much more. We raced between the city marina and the creek, but they were just toying with me (though my 8hp does over 20 mph).

We ate on the water (see the photo above), let the girls go shopping, then the guys headed back up stream to the marina.

More friends arrived (Jason, Kim, and Tyler of Aarrhh & Aarrhh).

Then, we dressed for Halloween and another party at the marina:

We finished the night by retiring to our boat for a concert for two, sponsored by Sirius satellite radio, CD's, and Bose, JL Audio, MB Quart, and Eclipse. Other couples stopped by to enjoy the concert. Several thought they were headed over to see a live band! It was fun. We were quiet by 12.

 

[Hampton]

The next day started with another great breakfast on the boat, then, downtown to see the Florida Seafood Festival Parade!

We are lunch (Mexican), then dinghied back in time to see the arrival show of our good friend, Jay, whose 420 you've seen photos of before

, but today he arrived by air.

We went down town with Jay and Bill in the dinghy and watched some football in the historic Gibson Inn. We decided it wasn't the same as a sports bar, and the sports bar in town was reported as packed, so we headed back home to watch the game with friends:

That night we enjoyed more company around the fires, and hit the hay earlyish to prepare for a beautiful trip back the next day.

 

[Hampton]

Another great breakfast, and then our anual morning cruise in the dinghy back into the marsh.

We said our goodbye's and then headed back down creek to the Apalachicola river, back up the river to the lake, then left at the canal to Port St Joe, and another (or same) Eagle blessed us with a view:

At the end of the canal, there was a new marina called "Captain's Cove." They had gas for sale for 2.819 (or close). We filled up (80 gallons or so), and as we pulled out, Jason and Kim (Aarrhh & Aarrhh) cruised by so, we joined up for the cruise back home on the outside between Pt St Joe and PCB, Fl.

This is across the barrier island from where we spend most Summer weekends:

And this is just another 1/4 mile away. Who will win? Storms, natural barrier island growth, man and stilt?

Back to the dock for a quick clean up and unload, then back home for more football.

Thanks for looking in with us on our wonderful trip to Apalach. Hope more of you can join us next year for more of the same.

 

[chuck1]

John,

Awesome pictures and video. Thanks for sharing.

Couple questions:
1. Why do you go inside and outside? Is there are problem with the ICWW between PCB and the canal?
2. How far up the river have you gone. If this drought ever ends I always thought it would be a fun trip from Columbus, GA all the way down to the gulf.

 

[fwebster]

John probably has his own reasons, but I go the same route. Outside is very protected, after you pass Crooked island, its a prettier run, it is quicker, no small fishing boats to come off plane for, and you don't have all that boring east Bay to run thru. Once you transit the gulf Co. Canal and get to the ICW, there is no prettier stretch of the Intercoastal anywhere than that which cooincides with the Apalach river. That said, when we get strong S & SW winds that means big head seas from Pt. St. Joe to Panama City, so we do run the East Bay leg at times, but I'll take a pretty good beating not to have to.

My draft is too deep to run up the river, so I stick to the ICW.

 

[Hampton]

What Frank said - exactly. It's nice to run straight when you can. It's exactly the same distance from that intersection to my dock either way. That stretch of the emerald coast is spectacular with only two buildings on the beach (the two shacks you see pictured).

I haven't been up stream either. I hear it's a great trip down.

 

[chuck1]

...
My draft is too deep to run up the river, so I stick to the ICW.

Frank
Thanks for the info. I was thinking it was something along those lines. Interesting comment about your draft & the river. I think you draw only a couple inch more then my 41". I wonder how far I would be able to go?

 

[Hampton]

I tried to find the post here about a similar trip, but couldn't. It's a lot different to run shallow in a 450 than a 240. People in 450's don't go anywhere near anything that may have something to do with unfamiliar, shallow waters. In my 250, I used to do it all the time. I'd get stuck on a sand bar, then get out, move people to the front, and push the boat off the bar, then press on. I usually did it trying to find the perfect fishing hole.

Isn't it funny, people on shore try to cast out as far as possible to fish deep waters. People in boats run into things trying to get close to shore.

 

[fwebster]

John is right..........a 450 isn't the smart thing to go exploring in. The cost of letting the bottom, a sand bar or a stump bite you is similar to your expense for the same infraction, except that you add several decimal points.

It is a shame we can't access the SRO data........there was a 2 month long discourse, complete with depths, on running the rivers from somewhere up near Atlanta, ending with the Apalachicola River estuary at the coast.