Memorable

For today we left "The Bar-B" behind at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.  We untied at our usual time just before sun up.  We didn't want to have as long of a trip to our next stop over so we split it up.  We weren't underway very long when we heard tows talking to each other.  The one coming from the east stated that going across Pensacola inlet was a little bumpy but mentioned they did not get their butts kicked like some did.  That made us wonder if that's why four tows were sitting still at Gulf Shores last night when we dinghied to Acme Oyster for dinner.  The bartender remembered us from the spring.  Imagine that!
About two hours after departure we were in Florida.
Just before we got to Pensacola inlet another west bound tow, "Ashleigh" had just come through and told the tow behind us that it wasn't bad at all.  It was nice to see "Ashleigh".  They made our trip up the Tenn-Tom during flood stage a memorable one.  We had mentioned earlier in the trip that we had not seen that tow as we usually do.  Whew, no we can go on!
Getting through Pensacola cut was not too bad.  We sure slowed down, making the rolling last a little longer, but not a big deal.  The Coast Guard was sitting at the inlet.  Come to find out they were training with a Coast Guard helicopter.  Ray got to see them drop a swimmer.  We also got to listen to them on the VHF radio.  They didn't invite us to come along though as they discussed owing the swimmer lunch after refueling the whirly bird.
In the east north east winds we continued farther today than we original planned to, but wanted to try to find the most protected anchorage we could.  That ended up being in a cove just east of Navarre after 51 miles and eight and a half hours.