Destin Area to Orange Beach AL

Ambler Isle
V and S
Tue 14 Jun 2011 12:18
Awoke early, maybe becoming early risers after all.  This may be the last sandy anchorage, so we let the anchor chain all the way out to clean it.  Then we checked the air conditioning:  the forecast was heat indexes 105-109 degrees today.  We rarely use the air conditioning, preferring to acclimate to the heat slowly so we can continue to enjoy the outdoors.  We never use it at night as the temperatures drop to the low 70s.  Restricting the generator use to 2 hours in the morning, and 2-3 hours at night saves diesel fuel, wear and tear on the generator and noise abuse.  Lastly we washed the sea mist off the windshield, weighed anchor and headed west.  This is our first ICW run in a long time.  Similar to running the river, it requires close attention at all times.  The channel was bordered  by rows of green and red buoys and markers that reached out as far as the eye could see.  At Navarre Beach, we noted a big new city dock across from a Winn Dixie Market.  We needed nothing, but was good to know.  There was also a Waffle House there, and that set the menu for our breakfast.  We'd enjoy sweet potato waffles with pecans.  The bay was dotted with houses on both sides and flat calm.  The route was so straight, only minor corrections were required.  There was no other boat traffic as the party goers from yesterday went back to work, or stayed home to recuperate from all the fun. Approaching Pensacola Bay the waterway opened up and  deeper, so we set up the chairs on the bow and took ice water, towels, and the auto pilot remote control to enjoy the view.  Past the Pensacola Inlet it narrowed down again so we went in to consult the chartplotters.  We continued on past rows and rows of beach houses.  Perdido Pass in Orange Beach was opened in 1906 by citizens who dug through the narrow spit of land with picks and shovels to the Gulf of Mexico.  Before this they had to use Pensacola Pass 15 miles to the east.  We got to the cut, but turned back to the northwest heading for Johnson Cove.  The intersection is shallow and the tide roars through the narrow pass.  To add more interest, a bridge connects the tow sections of land.  We entered our cove and anchored in 12'.  Valt did not like the position, so we re-anchored a bit farther from the commercial docks.  The anchor set immediately in mud.  The cove was busier than we remembered, jet skis, wake boats, even tour boats.  We'd spend the morning doing chores, then dinghy into the town for a look around.
 
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