Archimedes Project: Waiting out the weather, Pensacola, Florida

April 2nd - 4th

Upon our arrival Tuesday night, we anchored just out from the Pensacola Naval Air Station at the lighthouse with the intention of waiting out the predicted bad weather at that spot.

After being tossed around in the waves all night long, Carter knew that it would not be sheltered enough for the weather that was coming so we pulled up anchor at 1st light Wednesday morning and backtracked just a little back into the Big Lagoon where he found us a nice, safe hidy hole and dropped anchor right next to the Coast Guard Saginaw, a Buoy Tender. And, you know you've found a good spot when you're right next door to the Coast Guard! Carter says those are the hardest working guys in the Guard because it's a never ending battle against the sea to keep all the aids to navigation serviced properly. And we're eternally grateful for their effort. You can see just how dark the sky was.

We beat the wind by only a few hours and settled in to wait it out. I actually went up on deck a couple of times during the day with a velometer and measured 45 mph as the highest gust with a constant speed of around 25-30 mph. Keep in mind that this is the same wind that blew the Carnival Triumph away from it's mooring in Mobile, AL with winds 65-70 mph. Yes, backtracking a mile to this little hidy hole was a good idea, even if we have to go back thru Robert's Pass when we leave!

Today is Thursday and the wind has died down but Carter has a few more things to work on so we are going to stay here one more day and "get er done". Seeing as Radar didn't get any shore leave yesterday I rowed him to shore this morning and let him run on the deserted beach we are anchored next to. He enjoys his shore leave. The poor little guy is neurotic about taking care of business on the boat but there was no going ashore yesterday in the gail. He finally gave it up around dark after several, "walks" on deck.