Moving sand around at the narrows of Robertson Strait

Colourful pastel shades, similar to many we saw along the Atlantic ICW.

Slightly tall structures tend to stand out on the low coastal areas of Alabama and Florida

We're reminded that the Gulf ICW is still a commercial ditch

The Blue Angels make smoke. Can you see them?

There's Angels on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow, Preston!

The Angels are tucked into a delta formation

Rosie was the only one to get this low pass... but only the solo guy. The formation had passed.

This was a familiar sight for us on the Atlantic ICW. The old bridge remains as a fishing dock.

Day 35: Orange Beach, Al to Shalimar, Fl

November 7 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

We're away from the excellent Wharf Marina before 0900 and are soon crossing the lower end of Wolf Bay. We'll then traverse the length of Bay La Launch (yes... truly, 'La Launch'!) and then Bellville Bay and the Sunset Pass canal to Big Lagoon. We'll pass the U.S. Naval Air Station Pensacola (maybe we'll get to see the Blue Angels again), then the outlet of Pensacola Bay, and we'll be into the Santa Rosa Sound for a 40-mile run before we turn up toward Ocean City and Shalimar, our destination for today.

Well, we do indeed get to see our own aerial display by the Blue Angels. As we motor along Big Bay, and through Robertson Strait into the lower end of Pensacola Bay, and past Fort Pickens Strait--an opening to the Gulf--a group of three in formation sneak up from astern and blow us away with a raucous exhaust cacaphony. After that, we're treated to a lengthy fly-around as another group join up and a couple of soloists too. It's noisy, they do a bit of smoke, and we're thankful for seeing them. "Teamwork, Professionalism, and Precision" is their motto... I'll pay that!

We continue on a broad sound, in calm, if humid, conditions. On the Gulf side, the scene along the narrow string that is Santa Rosa Island alternates between high-rise condos and sand low dunes. The dolphins visit again and take up station of varying sides for a while. The broad Santa Rosa Sound eventually narrows and requires some 'steering' as we follow the channel, still mostly in 20 ft of water.

The bridge carrying Hwy 98, the Miracle Strip Parkway, slips overhead and with that we've entered the wonderfully-named Choctawhatchee Bay. A left turn takes us up towards Shalimar and our dock for the night at the Two Georges Marina.

Yesterday, returning to the marina from Pensecola, we stopped at a church stall and bought a 'used' (probably a Halloween decoration) pumpkin. Tonight we're having homemade pumpkin soup, cold roast chook from the fridge, and hot roast veges from the air-fryer. It's all good, but the pumpkin doesn't have the same flavour profile that we're used to. Interesting.

The rain arrives as we settle down. It'll pass.Read more