Breaking News: 24-hour gulf crossing in progress, November 8, 2018.
If the water is smooth, it should be approximately 24 hours. Yep, 24. From Scipio to Clearwater is 171 nautical miles. To save you the math, that means 7.125 knots per hour, on average. We left the dock at 11 am, so we plan to be in Clearwater by 11 am on November 9, 2018.
Breathe deep everyone, we got this! We are traveling with three buddy boats, Bushranger, Unfettered and Cavara.
First, Let’s Get Caught Up.
Orange Beach, Alabama
We left off in Orange Beach where we had an Aussie good time with Bushranger
Utopia crosses its wake
Congrats to our fabulous dirt neighbors, Ann and Dale for crossing your wake!!
Road Trip to Fort Myers, FL
Exhale was docked in Orange Beach while Rick flew to LA and Mary and Maddie drove to Fort Myers.
It was a great time to catch up with friends (Hey, Donna!) and meet with nonprofit clients, including Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Wildlife Education Project and Eva’s Closet.
Happy Halloween from the SWFL Yacht Club
Hello to our yacht club friends.
Bolder Boards with Dan Pallotta
From an inspirational Long Beach CA TED Talk in 2013, to a personal meeting with Dan Pallotta. Living a Dream.
Working with my favorite nonprofit, SWFLCF – Dan Pallotta at the Collaboratory. (thanks, Sarah, Sydney and Erica. The Art of Thank You.)
Wildlife Education Project
Meet another nonprofit client, Dot and Trooper from WEP, taking care of business at Bank of America.
Eva’s Closet
Dear friend, and former colleague, Danielle Visone, strategy chat with Board member of Eva’s Closet.
Thanks for Voting!
For all of you who got out and voted, no matter what oval you filled in, THANKS!
Sunrise in Fort Myers
An early departure, Dave joined us for an 11 hour car ride with Maddie from Fort Myers to Orange Beach.
Traveling with Friends
Dave Floyd is back on board, he’s doing the crossing with us. Hooray! And, thanks.
Reunion with Gypsy – Welcome to Florida
It is great to travel with Gypsy. They inspired us to run from the Fly Bridge. So awesome.
Welcome Committee
Fort Walton Beach, FL with Gypsy
Standing Proud in the face of Hurricane Michael
Ever wonder where those tarps come from? Operation Blue Roof by the Corp of Engineers is well underway.
Lighthouse, Panama City
North Star
It was tragic to see the 261 foot North Star run aground by Hurricane Michael. A freezer stern trawling vessel, she was destined for the Bering Sea, but did not leave soon enough. If you want to learn more, read here.
Here we go – may the waters be smooth and the weather gods kind.
Traveling with Unfettered, Cavara and Bushranger. Flat waters so far. Taking turns staying awake!
We just met Bushranger on the water! The exchange: boat baked bread from Heather for boat baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, packed in a water tight bag in case the handoff (in motion) gets soggy. Yum!
Next up: Chill the Champagne, Exhale is about to Cross her wake in Fort Myers!
Where Have We Been So Far? Thanks for asking 🙂
Nautical miles traveled as of November 8 (before the gulf crossing): 4,609, fuel consumption: 2,543 gallons
Total Locks completed = 150
- Florida – Lake Okeechobee area: 7
- Virginia – Great Dismal Swamp: 2
- New York – Troy & Champlain Canal: 12
- CANADA – Chambly Canal/Quebec: 9
- CANADA – Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway: 5
- CANADA – Rideau Canal/Ontario: 47
- CANADA – Trent-Severn Waterway: 44
- Illinois – Calumet, Illinois and Ohio Rivers: 8 locks plus 2 dams (wickets thrown down)
- Kentucky – Kentucky Lake Lock and Dam: 1
- Tennessee – Pickwick Lock and Dam: 1
- Tenn-Tombigbee Waterway: 12
States and Provinces traversed on the water, commencing March 1, 2018:
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama (18)
Canada Provinces (June 10 – August 9): Quebec, Ontario (2).
Side trips (via train, plane or automobile):
Los Angeles (MS [3 – April, May & Sept], Rick [5 – May, June, July, Sept, Oct] & Maddie [2 – May, Sept], Cleveland (RMG, MS & Maddie [2- April and July], Craig [April]), St. Charles, St. Louis, and Chattanooga (with B & B), Lookout Mountain & Missionary Ridge, TN by train (with B & B), MS road trip from Orange Beach, Alabama to Fort Myers with Maddie
Exhale on the Water 
Amazing! Love your style!
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