Kedging

Yesterday, I learned a new word--kedge. To 'kedge' means to remove your boat from a sticky situation--such as being stuck aground in the middle of a bay---by throwing an anchor and maneuvering the boat out of the sand. We went aground yesterday on our way to Caladesi Island during an exceptionally low tide. We turned out of the channel as directed on the signs in the bay and wham, we hit ground. Thank goodness Barry has a 'can-do spirit' and doesn't give up. After three attempts, he got us floating again. Three separate times, he had to put the anchor in the dinghy, motor out to deeper water, throw the anchor, and then yell directions to me in the the helm to rev up, go to port, go to starboard. Kind of like getting out of a Missouri snowbank! We still had a bit of fun amid the problems--we took the dinghy over to the northern end of Caladesi and after wading almost waist high in rather cold water, we walked the beach and found some fabulous shells! Rt'd back to Tarpon Springs last night, cold and bone weary--but there is always something fun to see down here, from ospreys eating their catch to hundreds of shells to beautiful sunsets and DOLPHINS!