Friday, March 5, 2021

PARADISE ADVENTURES PCB EXPEDITION!

By the time I arrived in PCB (Panama City Beach), I felt like I knew Anne, at Paradise Adventures, because we had communicated so much before the trip!  She was very polite and prompt in all the interactions we had by phone, email, and FB Messenger.  Knowing I would be publishing a story about the trip, she let me step on board a few minutes early, to take photos of the boat before the other guests arrived.  Likewise, one of the crew offered to take a photo of me at the helm of the boat, as a "wannabe" captain!

This is the U.S.C.G. certified Catamaran, called the "Privateer".

It is very spacious, at 52 feet long, and licensed to carry 78 passengers.  However, I was in PCB when there were still COVID19-related capacity restrictions, so there were much fewer than 78 people, on the evening that I sailed.


After all the passengers were on board, the captain gave us a very helpful safety briefing, and an outline of our sail plan for the next 2-3 hours. 

As I kept my eyes constantly on the horizon to avoid motion sickness, it also meant my eyes were constantly on the couple sitting together at the very front of the boat (they have on blue jackets); and, when they would turn their faces towards me, it seemed they looked very familiar.  As it turned out, they were the newlyweds that I had photographed at sunset the evening before, when they were doing a photo shoot on the beach, in wedding attire, to memorialize their marriage.  I was standing on the pier above them, at St. Andrews State Park, as they posed below, for the photographer, who was standing opposite them, photographing them beside the water, with the sunset in the background.    

They knew they were being photographed by the professional they had hired that evening, but probably were oblivious to the fact, that lots of tourists were watching the happy scene unfold, from the pier high above them!  This social media post shows the two photos side by side:


The serendipity of this event is enhanced even more, by learning that the entire concept of the Paradise Adventures PCB business, was a result of a couple taking a catamaran cruise, who were ALSO on their honeymoon!  At www.ParadiseAdventuresPCB.com , you can read this about owners Donnie and Tracie Coker:  "We got this fun and amazing idea almost 19 years ago when we got married in Jamaica and took a Catamaran Cruise during our Honeymoon. ....we both agreed that, aside from the actual ceremony, the Catamaran Cruise was the highlight of our stay." So in February of 2013, they started operations of Paradise AdventuresPCB.  And, it has done plenty of business expansion since that first boat!

In addition to the seating option of comfortable cushions on the upper deck, guests can also sit on the "sunning nets" that are stretched between the two hulls of the catamaran.  As you would expect, sitting here is more likely to result in a few splashes of surf in your face!


It seemed appropriate to take a photo of this man's hoodie, since it told the location of the picture!


When the boat got out into the open water, and encountered some wind, the crew lifted the mainsail, kindly offering to let any of the guests help who wanted to give it a tug. 

In addition to the uncovered, upper-deck seating, there is covered and enclosed seating below deck, for those who desire it.  The enclosed seating is adjacent to the fully-stocked bar, offering not only alcohol to drink, but also alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get the COVID19 virus off your hands!


The Privateer has not just one, but two toilets (or "heads", as they are called in marine lingo).  There is a marine toilet at the end of each of the two catamarans.
 

As we sailed around the part of St. Andrews Bay that is the year-round home to several pods of dolphins, we waved to other boats and jet ski groups who were also hoping for a dolphin encounter. 

Paradise AdventuresPCB also has a center-console boat, similar to this one,  that is available for dolphin encounter charters.

The waving captain on this boat is a reminder to say that Paradise AdventuresPCB has a second catamaran, called the "Footloose".  It is a 40 foot boat that can take out up to 38 passengers.  

The Privateer has an attached slide off of the back of the boat, for a fun way to enter the water on hot days.  I was amused by the title "Slide Rules" at the top of the sign.  That is because I went to college back in the olden days before hand-held computers, so "slide rules" were gadgets engineers used to solve complex analytical equations---NOT guidelines for water entry!
 

In case you cannot read the phone number printed on this sail, it is 850-769-FUNN, and I can attest to the fact that it was indeed, FUN!


I think the big smile on this lady's face, as she exits off the boat, indicates she is returning with "songs of joy" at the end of a sailboat ride filled with great music tunes, that brought fun and joy.  People may have boarded the boat with burdens, but the upbeat music played throughout our journey, and the beautiful scenery we saw, elicited JOY!  In fact, it is serving as the visual aid for one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses that says, "Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them."  Psalm 126:6
 


I was returning with joy, because I was able to get some photos of another catamaran sail boat, at sunset, as well as several other water and sunset photos.  That made me happy!

Getting that distant sailboat perfectly positioned within the sun's long reflection on the water, made my day!



In addition to catamarans, Paradise AdventuresPCB also rents clear kayaks and paddleboards.  It was such a unique sight, to see the setting sun through the clear kayaks, as we walked along the boardwalk that leads back to the hotel.  I can assure you, I returned from this adventure with songs of joy, carrying "sheaves" of memorable photos, and "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia