Light and variable winds, gusting to 25 knots

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, Panama City Marina

We like Panama City Marina. It is operated by the city and they do a good job. Michael has observed however, the marina is not quite up to the standards of the Yacht Clubs. Itis clean, the people are friendly and we can understand them. They sound like us, not like some guy from New York. It is one of our favorite marinas to visit. Since I am cheap, one of the better features is it is actually less expensive than the yacht clubs. Since the yacht clubs are significantly cheaper than the other marinas in south Florida, it is quite a bargain.

The marina is right at the end of the street in downtown. It is an easy walk into downtown with lots of neat little shops and good restaurants. Michael and I did our best to keep Carole from spending her monthly allowance from the retirement system. We failed! Most people head to Panama City Beach and never see the downtown area. It is quite a shame. Then again, maybe it is a blessing that the beach crowd doesn’t make it to downtown.

Norma came for a visit and lunch. Norma and I worked together for 25 years or more. It is always great to see her and catch up on families and happenings. After she retired, she left Pell City and became a beach bum at Panama City Beach.

We are checking with NOAA to see what they are thinking about heading back. Yesterday they were saying 30 knot winds on Wednesday, this morning they are saying winds out of the east early and shifting to southwest later building to about 15. I guess we will just go out there and see what happens. To quote Cap’t Ron “If is going to happen, it is going to happen out there”. You have to remember; these are same people who gave the forecast last week of “light and variable winds, gusting to 25 knots”. I am still trying to figure out what that meant.

Paul is coming to join Michael and me for the trip to Pensacola. Carole will driving Paul’s car. She is planning to spend part of the day with Norma and the rest of the day at the Outlet Mall. There goes the rest of the retirement allowance. We should be out at daybreak tomorrow for a late night arrival. Either wish us luck or say a short prayer for southeast winds at 8 to 10 and 2 foot seas. I know that is a precise request. Well if you are going to say prayer, you might as well ask for exactly what you want.