With a great trip without a storm, the day finally arrived where we used all of the technology to dodge lightning.  From Destin to Pensacola was a nice run and the gathering storm clouds upon an early departure from Harborwalk Marina signaled that the chase of ominous clouds was underway.  This was a three cabin day, meaning we would move from the boat’s flybridge down to the helm several times to avoid quick moving storms clocked at 15 knts.  By the way, our boat moves at 10 knts, so the chase was not really a fair one.  During this passage, we entered Santa Rosa Island area and the beautiful white dunes formed an eerie sillouete against the line of thunder storms in the distant. Occasionally, we came upon other pleasure boaters and a regatta of sailors clogged up the narrow channel often enough to have the boat too close to bottom for comfort.  Entering the last bridge into Pensacola Beach after nearly four hours, rain pounded our craft and we used electronics to guide our way.  We arrived at Palafox Pier Marina in the historic heart of downtown Pensacola, which we learned was founded in the 1550’s, a few hundred years before the nation was founded. The old city area is quaint, if unpopulated on a Sunday.  As with most stops, we found an art fair looking for customers who failed to materialize under the threatening skies. We picked up a souvenir from a local artist to add to our “tour” collection of T-shirts and memorabilia from our ports of call.  Today we would fast from any fried food, finding the Oyster House for lunch and a quick salad topped with local Grouper before hanging out at the boat and giving away Pierre the Pelican and Eddy the Eagle action figures to the kids anxious to hear about Louisiana’s vanishing coast.  The boat was cleaned up and readied for another week and it was off to the work world before returning for the Memorial Day festivities here along the Gulf Coast.  Happy Sails!

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