Nov 27 Update

Hello All - - We have been here at The Wharf in Orange Beach, AL for the last 10 days or so We have decided to leave tomorrow and begin our move to warmer climes in Florida. We plan to leave Carabelle for the Gulf crossing around December 5 or 6 depending on the weather, of course. We won't go straight across due to the short days. We can't do 130 miles in the daylight this time of year. We'll stop in St Marks, Steinhatchie, Crystal River, Clearwater and then to Palmetto for December, January and February. This should be an interesting crossing. The "armpit" if Florida is very shallow, especially in winter which could take some time as weather is
critical.

We have really enjoyed Orange Beach. We've had a car for the last 10 days so have been able to see a lot of the area. The hurricane Ivan damage is mostly cleaned up. Except for the state park on the gulf. It has not been touched yet but I think the plan is to tear it down and completely rebuild. We took the ferry across to Dauphin Island and looked around there. Drove to Bayou la Batre, a small fishing village close to the Alabama Mississipi border. There used to be a really good diner with piles of oyster shells around. All that is gone with no evidence of oysters at all. We did not drive any further west.

One of our boat neighbors gave us a 20 lb redfish the day after Thanksgiving. We had no way to filet it or even cook anything that big so . . . we had noticed a restaurent on the beach with a sign that said "you hook it, we'll cook it". Took the fish there and had the best seafood meal in many years. What a neat experience that was.

We're planning to be home for a week or so mid December. We are still speaking to each other so feel that we have accomplished a lot. Heard about "Boat Sex" at the meeting in October - all women at this particular meeting. Boat sex is when he stands on the bow of the boat and she stands at the stern and they yell "---- you" at each other. Pick your own 4 letter word.

Keep in touch - see you out there somewhere.
Love to all
Ann & Rob