Many fishing shows I've watched highlighted this section of Florida's coast from time to time, so I was excited to see it with my own eyes. Unfortunately, we were so bent on moving because of schedules and weather and fraught with mechanical issues, that there would be no wetting of lines as we passed through Haulover Canal. We played with the idea of staying at the boat ramp or anchored up nearby for a few days while Mike went away for business but the place was swamped with people, it was a tight fit for our big boats and the wind was relentless. Not to mention the currents that rip through there! So it became apparent that I could not be expected to care for both Good Times and Kon Tiki by myself in those conditions. As this decision making process was being made, we were surrounded with small boats and kayakers and shore fisherman intent to throw their bait and tackle as far across the canal as possible. Mike and I had rafted up to assess our situation and determine where we could run to further North. At some point, Mike untied from me and drifted over my anchor line. There we were. A jumbled mess, precariously held by a single anchor in a torrent of moving water (probably 4 to 5mph of current) as recreational paddlers fought their way around us and fisherman crinkled their faces at the two cruisers parked in their spot. Both Mike and I had attempted to leave a few hours earlier only to have one of the motors on Good Times conk out just as we turned left out of the canal into a fierce wind. It was a south wind, which would help us along, but my buddy boat captain convinced me to turn and go back into the shelter of Haulover. As the day waned, more and more people arrived for the shrimp catching event and we had decided to leave. Again. But now we were stuck to each other in a potentially disastrous situation. I was starting to become numb. With eyes unfocused, I stood on the bow, leaning on the rail, oblivious to the crowds, scouring the insides of my mind for a solution to our current plight. I contemplated using the Bass Raider to twist Good Times away from Kon Tiki to free him from my anchor chain. It might've worked since Mike had not had his engines in gear when he crossed over and stuck. So, we decided to just let out more chain from my pulpit, hoping it would drop free. It was a hard decision because if my anchor were to start dragging and we didn't detach, we would drift up this canal and make quite a sight for everyone to laugh at. With a long dock pole in hand, pressing down on the chain, Mike pushed as I pressed the button to activate the windlass and chain poured out and down towards Good Times' stern. Then with a suddenness, Mike's boat began drifting. We fended each other off and he was away! He had two motors running (for the time) and got centered in the canal to wait for me. I shook off the desire to crawl into a ball and hide after that mess because we weren't out of the woods yet. We had hours to go to get to somewhere. The nearby boat ramp Mike points to on the map was WAY too small for us. We would have to push on, both of us down to one motor at certain points, along the I.C.W. North towards New Smyrna. It was late already and we pushed into the night. I had some footage of the mess I described inside Haulover. Lots actually. But this video was already long and it's wearisome for me to re-watch our blunders over and over. It probably would've deserved it's own video. But I am anxious to move along and show you some of the good times. And things do eventually improve. We just had to push through and get past the troubles as they presented themselves. So it goes on the Great Loop.
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15 май 2021
