Crystal River for the winter!

We departed Hudson after 10+ days of waiting for the small craft advisory to be lifted. We spent the next night anchored out off Homosassa before heading to Crystal River. There is a nice little sheltered cove just inside the Crystal River mouth behind Shell Island where we spent the night.

Power Station at the mouth of the Crystal River

Sunset off Shell Island, Crystal River

Heading further up the river the next day to Kings Bay we found a spot in 4’ of water with good holding. The surroundings are just too beautiful with great wildlife. There are lots of birds such as ospreys, spoonbills, wood storks, ibis, pelicans, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, pileated woodpeckers, grebes, anhingas, and ducks. There are also hundreds of manatees in the bay and several raccoons on nearby Buzzard Island.

Pelican

Manatee coming over to eat some algae on our boat

The gentle manatee still has barnacle from spending the summer at sea

Two days later we set off for the Withlacoochee River which is only 6 miles up the coast in a straight line but 17 miles by boat. Two long canals dredged for the power station are in between the Crystal River and Withlacoochee River and run several miles out to sea. They have substantial spoil areas and the first safe gap is about 5 miles out. The Withlacoochee River mouth is accessed via a narrow well marked channel. We anchored about a half mile up the river in a small bay with good holding and nice surroundings. Many shrimp boats came by just at dark and returned in the early morning.

Shrimp boats on the Withlacoochee

At sunrise we departed for Cedar Key. We had a great sail, arrived in the early afternoon and dropped anchor behind Dog Island. We tied up at the dock the next day to stock up with food water and gas.

Dolphins playing near our boat off  Dog Island, Cedar Key

Sunset at Cedar Key

Cedar Key

Cedar Key from Atsena Otie Key

 Our plan was to cross Appalachee Bay overnight to Alligator Point. Our engine decided it had had enough and to make a long story short it was cheaper to buy a new one. 

Waiting for our new engine

Pelicans at Cedar Key

A few days later and $2000 poorer we were once again ready to go but now the weather had turned bad. Day after day strong winds blew from the west with back to back small craft advisories. The winter fronts were coming too frequently and after many days of waiting we decided to take a break for the winter.

White pelicans heading south for the wnter

We headed back to Kings Bay in Crystal River to our previous spot. A local marina, Pete’s Pier (really nice owners and staff), gave us a good deal on a place to dock our dinghy and take showers.

The warm water of Kings Bay gives off steam on a cold morning

Mom and baby manatee

We have really enjoyed our time in Crystal River but it is time to move on. 

Next – Cedar Key, Appalachee Bay, and on to the Panhandle.