Independence Day!

    The long trips will be some time from now while we get a whole lot of necessary (and some just for fun) repairs done to Pau Hana. But today, July 4th we decided the Camano is perfect to view fireworks in King's Bay with friends.

    After a fun cookout of hotdogs & hamburgers, we loaded up Pau Hana and another friend of mine's boat and headed out the canal to anchor up in the bay before dark.  The City of Crystal River annually puts on a fireworks show which is set off from a barge in King's Bay. It is always the best time, there is just no way to get a better fireworks show than up close and out in the open like this. Apparently the City cancelled the fireworks but some local businesses stepped up, bought the fireworks & put the show on. I love this town! 

    The flybridge on the little Camano makes a great place for lounging and easily held 6 of us and a few teenagers (who spent quite a bit of time diving off the top). The show was by far one of the best, there were fewer boats than usual but I attribute that to the word not getting out that the show would go on.

    Making our way home was easier with fewer boats and a full moon. I was a little apprehensive since the tide was dead low. When we turned into the mouth of the Indian River (a man-made canal for barges from an old rock quarry in the 50's) the entrance was less than 3', we draw 3'4", I could feel the keel sliding over the mud bottom but the protected keel ensured our prop was safe, a very important aspect of this boat and one of the reasons we bought it, you see, the Crystal River area is notorious for being shallow and treacherous. I have whacked more than a few props and lower units, a couple times with very costly results. The "prop tree" in Homosassa at Riverhaven Marina is testament to the unforgiving nature of our seabed, it's made from destroyed boat props!