We're still at our Shell Island anchorage this morning and are planning to stay until our ice runs out. It's really quiet as there are only 3 sailboats left and the wind has settled down a bit.
Yesterday we decided to head over to the beach for a run before breakfast. Coleen and I got ready and tried to head out in the dinghy. The wind/current was so strong I couldn't even make it past our boat. After a few minutes of a futile attempt I gave up, came back aboard and made bacon and blueberry french toast.
After breakfast we made another futile attempt at getting the dinghy motor to work - changed the spark plug, new gas, plenty of oil ---- but nothing no luck. Very, very frustrating! Some folks in a small motor boat came by and gave us a ride to the beach - towing the dinghy. We decided to hang out on the bay side beach as there were lots of children and the water was perfect for swimming. I managed to go for a run and one of our friends dogs came along - which totally made Coleen's day. She had a ball running with that dog.
After a couple of hours I needed refreshments so we headed back to the boat. It was no problem rowing back as we had the wind/current in our favor. We decided that I'd done a pretty lousy job picking a spot to anchor as we were just too far from the beach. We spent a few minutes raising anchor and repositioning so it wouldn't be so far to row the dinghy.
It was a great day at the beach, but were we ever tired. After rowing back and forth a few times, having a run, taking a long walk on the Gulf beach and swimming - not to mention the sun and wind - we were exhausted. We headed back to the Glass Slipper around 4 p.m. and thankfully had just enough warm water left to take a couple of quick showers.
Coleen was at the totally exhausted, miserable and crying stage that happens to little girls - plus she had a little sunburn. I made her some edamame to nibble while I cooked dinner - which brought her back to her usual cheerful self. We grilled a pork tenderloin with raspberry chiptole marinade, boiled some new potatoes, broccoli and french bread. We topped it all off with strawberry shortcake. By then it was 8:30 and we turned in early - a day well spent.
Sometime around 10:30 p.m. I woke up as the wind was really howling. We still had Mike's boat rafted up next to us and the wind was really jerking us. It looked like a storm was brewing. The NOAA guys were only saying a chance of thunderstorms... but the wind was at least 25 and it was clouding up. I woke up Mike and we decided it would be better if he dropped his own hook. It actually worked out quite well. We were bow to bow when he dropped his hook. He untied the stern line and then as soon as he untied the bow - the heavy wind pushed him back hard and set his anchor. It was a much smoother ride after that and I fell back asleep. I figured i my anchor was holding two boats in all that wind - it could probably handle one just fine.
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