Pearl Bayou to Tom's Bayou, Valparaiso, Florida

 The rains from Hurricane Zeta came through around 3 am Thursday along with the wind off and on all day with the wind really picking up. We had a motor yacht come in and anchor around sundown and were gone early. The owner of the large anchored sailboat came by and said hello in his inflatable and other than that it was a quiet anchorage. A fisherman came by in his skiff to check on the crab pots around the perimeter of the anchorage. We left on Saturday morning when we could see that the weather was not going to be pleasant in Port St. Joe this week. We had a beautiful sunny day and calm seas for travel as we retraced our route back to the intracoastal. We headed for Tom's Bayou to anchor out on Halloween. 

Blue  moon rising over Pearl Bayou

Flying low over West Bay

Airboat tour boat roaring off through the marsh

The highest osprey nest

Sandy cliffs resemble rocky shelves

Dock's Oyster Bar on the other side of the bridge

Blue moon rising over construction crane on shore

At anchor in our new hailing port

Hogtown Bayou to Pearl Bayou, Panama City, Florida

 It was a nice trip under the Hiway 331 bridge and through the intracoastal cut where we saw several tugs and barges pushed up against the shore to weather the storm. Coming out of the cut we got waked by an airboat tour boat and then hit the roughest section of water. Coming from West Bay of Panama City Beach across where the pass opens to the Gulf of Mexico was not as choppy. We sought shelter in Pearl Bayou with several local boats and the base crash boat from Tyndall Air Force Base. We have all around protection and after Hurricane Zeta makes landfall tonight in Louisiana, we are predicted to get more wind and rain tonight and tomorrow here.

Tugs and barges along the shore

Approaching Pearl Bayou

Crash boat from Tyndall Air Force Base in anchorage

View back to the channel entrance to Pearl Bayou

Emerald Coast Marine to Hogtown Bayou near Freeport, Florida

 The marina called us on our morning walk to say that they were initiating their hurricane plan ahead of Hurricane Zeta and we had until the next day by noon to vacate our slip. So Glenn filled up water tanks and got our diesel jugs since the fuel dock was where they were hauling all the boats out into the shed. By the time we got the boat loaded up with groceries  and fuel all three of our neighbors were gone. We headed out Boggy Bayou across Choctawhatchee Bay to Hogtown Bayou in the rain. This turned out to be a calm, quiet anchorage with one local boat and surprising row of docks. The only life around were the pelicans.

A gray day as it rained on us the entire trip

Boats docked off from the anchorage

Our pelican neighbors

Emerald Coast Marine, Valparaiso, Florida

 Leaving Rocky Bayou, we headed towards Destin Harbour but the wind picked up in our face so we decided to turn back towards Postal Point and then do a tour of Tom's Bayou before heading into Emerald Coast Marine. We had our slip assignment so we were happy to see a dock hand to help us with our lines. Emerald Coast Marine is into yacht sales and boat club rentals. With our monthly transient slip we have  access to the yacht club facilities with our photo club pass. There is a comfy nautical captain's lounge, spa like showers, laundry room, a covered second story deck overlooking the slips, the Locals Restaurant and Bar and a pool.  We are surrounded by power boats and no sailboats in the marina.

In between two sportsfish motor yachts

Empty slips heading off the dock toward boat storage shed

Plush upstairs yacht club facilities

Captain's Lounge

Private sun deck on upper level

Swimming pool

Outdoor seating

Beautiful art in yacht club

Fishy motif

Freeport to Rocky Bayou

We left Freeport Marina behind and went under the mid bay bridge on Choctawhatchee Bay and around to anchor in Rocky Bayou for several nights before heading around to Emerald Coast Marine. We anchored across from Blue Water Bay Marina and enjoyed watching the sailboats circle the bayou and fishing boats come in and out.   It was peaceful being the only boat anchored out.

Leaving our slip at Freeport Marina behind

Under the mid bay bridge across Choctawhatchee Bay

Destin high rise buildings in the distance

Anchored across from Blue Water Bay Marina

Local fishing boat headed out

Rocky Bayou

Sunset over Rocky Bayou anchorage

 

Freeport Marina at Hammock Bay

 Freeport Marina is located at Marina Village part of the Hammock Bay development on LaGrange Bayou. We ended up in a shallow slip between a houseboat and a large powerboat with liveaboards. Hurricane Sally caused damage to the boat docks on Choctawhatchee Bay along Highway 20 on the way from Valparaiso to Freeport and damage to the docks at Bluewater Bay Marina and Niceville Yacht Club and only flooded the dock at Emerald Coast Marine.  We only had a few planks come loose during the storm and with the high water and with a south wind, the boat ramp floods normally and you have to wade to the dock.  With a slip now vacant at Emerald Coast Marine, we will move the boat closer to our home base.

Convenient stop at Hammock Bay for cold beer while doing boat work

Finally got the lettering on both sides after selling our sailboat

Wading from the dock

Hurricane pushed stump in slip neighbor is making table out of