Palm Coast for Frontal Passage

Last night we got to see the launch of the Space shuttle from our anchorage in St Augustine, FL. . We were about 100 miles away but you could clearly see the fiery exhaust plume. Way cool but I would have loved to have felt the power of those rocket engines.

Today we got an early start to try and beat the forecast thunderstorms. It was time to leave ST Augustine. The anchorage is okay but it can get rough and with so many boats there, there is always a lot of anxiety.

We left at 7am with thick clouds and mild breezes. We expected to get wet . We had a favorable current and made a good run down to Palm Coast Marina. It is very sheltered but as I write this we are heeling in the slip from an occasional gust of wind. It just started to blow hard about 3:45pm.

This has got to be the friendliest marina. Just about everyone you meet on the docks wants to stop and talk. Everyone has a smile. Could be because of the reasonable slip fees here -- $1.32 per foot for Boat US members. Then again may just be a great community.

This Palm Coast area has been a developers dream. Unbelievable buildings and themes run through this place. We took a short walk over to a new European Style village and it was beautiful. We just walked around but didn’t buy anything. It was very nice but for a Saturday afternoon there was little foot traffic there. With all the different places to eat it probably does a better business in the evening.

The rest of the afternoon has been spent relaxing a bit, laundry, and top off the 200 gallon water tank. Takes awhile to fill.

If this system blows itself out pretty much tonight we will be on our way tomorrow. Time to get further south QUICK.. They actually had a freeze warning in the forecast for this area tomorrow!!

Today it was 87 degrees at 2:30pm and we have the AC running. I’m sure that will end in a few hours.

Enjoy some pics from the European Village and a shuttle plume.

Coasting in St Augustine

Well just another day in St Augustine. We wanted to go to Daytona for today and Saturday but there is no room at the Halifax Marina there. There is a strong cold front coming in tomorrow actually delayed till tomorrow night so we will move along to a Marina In Palm Coast. I want to be tied up to a dock for strong frontal passages. Once we get further into Florida with less current and smaller tides it won’t be an issue but when you have 8 foot tides and equally strong currents coupled with opposing wind from frontal passages I want to be tied up and not swinging on the hook where I might or other boats might break loose in the middle of the night. I constantly remind my self that I’m not a “grey beard” sailor but a “pleasure boater”.

So we thought we would explore the city by BUS today on the famous Sunshine Bus Service here in St Augustine. Unfortunately most routes run on a 2 hour cycle so be sure to find things to do to occupy the interim time. We took the Blue Line bus from the Flagler Auditorium to a shopping center that has both a West Marine and a Winn Dixie grocery store. They also had a Checkers fast food place for lunch.

At West Marine I finally bought a folding bike for Karen. I didn’t think we would need it but my aching knee has convinced me differently. We paid for it and then asked them to hold it till the bus came back. We had lunch at Checkers then did some light shopping at the Winn Dixie. Ohhh discovery discovery – they had some Kalik beer from the Bahamas. I had to have an early six pack and it is cheaper here than in the Bahamas!!

Then it was back to wait for the Bus which showed up about on time. I kidded the driver that I had his “competition” when I loaded the bike onboard.

Back to the boat to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and enjoy the wind and current in sync for awhile. That will all change later when they oppose and all the boats start swinging any which way. Last night there were a couple of calls of folks though boats had broken loose but actually only one small one had the rest just danced like they were loose. I hate it when I’m sideways to my anchor or pushing forward on it. Fortunately we don’t “dance” on the anchor but the full keeled IPs do. They need a lot of space when swinging to a single hook.

Tomorrow we will leave early and check into the Palm Coast Marina around noon – only 30 miles. Great place for Karen to practice riding here new bike and a sheltered spot to wait out this coming frontal passage.

Tonight all eyes will be on the SE!! Space shuttle should launch at 7:55 PM EST. Hopefully we will see the plume but too far to feel the launch though.

It has been a nice day so far with none of the predicted showers and looking forward to Grilled chicken from the grill tonight.

Sorry – no interesting pictures taken today because of all the stuff we were hauling – bike, groceries, oh and Dunkin Donuts!!

Living Easy in St Augustine

Just Enjoying St Augustine. Trying to do it without being a tourist which is tough. Most all the attractions have either a price of admission or something to sell. We are trying to do it on the cheap.

We did go out to lunch today at the A1A Brewhouse and had one of their microbrews – the Bridge of Lions Lager – sort of like Newcastle. Very good. The lunch was just so so. I had a Cuban sandwich and some Nachos with Karen but just wasn’t that good.

This morning when we hit the showers we ran into Jeff and Brenda from Silver. They arrived last night. We will visit with them later this afternoon.

The thunderstorms have held off today so far and it has been a very nice weather-wise day. We walked the Pedestrian mall and visited from old Fort. We did not go in since there were several school groups touring and in line to begin a tour. The fort is in very nice condition considering its age.

I think we will push on tomorrow for Daytona to try and get as close as possible to Canaveral for the night launch of the Space Shuttle tomorrow night – weather permitting of course.

Ohh I had fun with the camera this morning. I got a nice shot of the near full moon over the Harbour, a low tech boat, a couple of high tech IPs with Large Screen chart plotters, (note one of the IPs has a surprise that I didn’t see when I snapped the photo – a dolphin in the bow wake), and a peaceful anchorage shot. Enjoy

Finally Warm in St Augustine, FL

Nice and easy day today… We had a short 3 hour run from our anchorage behind Pine Island to the St Augustine South Anchorage. That anchorage proved good holding – I had my doubts because of the way the boat hung to the anchor but it was fine. Difficult to get it out this morning. We had some strong gusts from 180 degrees from how we anchored but the big ol claw did not lose its bite.

It would have been 2 ½ hours except I had a despicable bridge tender. Just as I announced I had the bridge in sight and called the bridge he said he was only allowing the 2 waiting north bound vessels through. I told him I was there and would enter immediately on their departure. No as soon as the second boat was through he dropped the lift on me – what a BOZO!! I had to wait another 30 minutes to get through.

The anchorage was pretty full but I found an outlying g spot and took it. I wanted to wait for a tide change band swing through all points to check my swing room with the other boats. Darn took till 3pm but all was fine. I needed to check it since there are thunderstorms in the forecast which will move us through all points.

Ohhh today was the first day since Wrightsville Beach where we could spend the whole day with bare arms. Since Wrightsville it has been cool to cold and we have had to layer up the clothing to keep warm. It is supposed to hit 80 degrees here tomorrow but then again – could be thunderstorms too. There is no free ride.

We went to town and got oriented. Didn’t do much other than view the Flagler College campus and the Lightner Museum. Looked at a few shops then back to the boat and got rained on!! Ohh I like our full enclosure. It is so comfortable in a rain storm.

To dock the dinghy here you need to register with the marina and pay $10. It is good for a day (noon to noon) and gives you access to the showers and laundry.

We plan to stay tomorrow and do some sight seeing. Maybe meet some cruisers. There is a large concentration of cruisers here but most are just moving on after a day.

Slow Running!!

WOW it has already been a month since we left Matthews Point. Boy time flies.

Oh -- last night on my way back from the showers I met Jeff and Brenda from Silver. They had just arrived and were going to spend 2 nights in Fernandina Beach. Now where is Dan on Marianne Claire??

Ohhhh a L O N G day. Not in miles but in speed (lack of) and time. The current between St Mary’s River and St John’s river and for about 10 miles beyond is HUGE!!. We averaged less than 5 knots today. Going through a couple of bridges on the South Side of St John’s we had SOG less than 3 kts!! It was torturous. I should have got a few pictures of the current under two bridges. It was so strong that there was actually turbulence in the water. It took both hands on the wheel to get through those areas and I did apply the “Turbo” power a couple of times.

The whole day has been tough. I slept “wrong” last night and my back hurt this morning. Then when we left the dock the exit was not quite as planned. Always an embarrassment.

I asked a dock hand to come and help us away. There was a slight forward current which is good but the wind was setting us against the dock and the current. I explained I wanted to take the stern line off last so that the rear of the boat would swing out away from the dock and the wind would catch it and I would just back up and then forward.

Well She pulled the line off as directed the stern did not swing out. I gave it some reverse and held the helm over and the boat backed and brought the bow out away from the dock – hmmm that will work so I just motored away. Only I and the dock girl knew this wasn’t the way it was supposed to work but it did..

The rest of the day from 8pm till 4pm was just a long motor. The wind was blowing hard from the NE at 15 – 20 with gusts to 25 but all was aft. It helped but the current killed us. We left 2 hours before low tide and arrived at 1 hour after low tide here. What a catawampus day. Fortunately we are less than 20 miles to St Augustine and should have a nice run in the m morning with less wind. I did not want to be in that anchorage with 20 –25 kt winds – quite exposed. Tomorrow will be less wind.

This anchorage is new to me. There was already a trawler sitting in the sweet spot when we got here and a sailboat in the second choice – damn!! I surveyed a bit and anchored between the trawler and the green mark – mouth of the creek. It seems okay here but the wind and current are opposing and I’m sitting forward against my anchor rode. Fells very odd but we do not seem to be moving. I’ll feel better in a couple of hours if we maintain this position. Going to be a light sleeping night I’m afraid.

Another Day at Fernandina Beach

Just another day at the docks. Wasn’t all relaxation though – I changed the oil in the main engine today and did another load of Laundry – did 2 loads last night – well with a little help.. I don’t care how careful you are or what measures you take – changing engine oil in a boat is always a messy job. Anyway after 100+ hours – she is clean again.

I finally met a “real cruiser” last night or I should say he met us. He just came up and started a conversation with Kourtney and I in the cockpit of Temptation. Hmmm maybe it was Kourtney that really attracted his attention rather than me. A young man named Robert Doty living aboard a 38 foot Hans Christian here at the Fernandina Harbor marina. The boat is called Candide.

Robert has found that elusive mix of being able to live aboard and work at the same time and occasionally take a fine cruise. He had a 30 minute video he had composed of a trip to Cuba some 7 years ago. Done very well. After watching his video I’m more inclined than ever to try and make that trip someday. I certainly hope they open free access to Cuba soon so I can get there before the developers get there. Such a shame to be blocked from visiting one of our closest foreign neighbors because of stupid political reasons.

I’ve attached 2 photos tonight to give a feeling for the “2 faces” of Fernandina Beach – an industrial and an Elysian field feel.

Got to run – the ladies are calling and want to go out to dinner AGAIN tonight. This will end soon. A cruisers budget doesn’t support too many nights like this. Well excuse me I must confess last nights dinner at a Robert suggested Chinese restaurant called Jade’s Bistro was excellent and on Kourtney – thank you Kourtney – it was great.

Enjoy..

Ohhh Robert has a cool web site www.SleepingWithOars.com

Just Sitting on the Dock

Sitting on the Dock in Fernandina.

It was time for laundry and LARGE HOT Showers and a good Battery Charge, so we came into Fernandina and took a spot on the transient dock. Karen and Kourtney want to do some shopping and browsing.

Once showers were had they took off and I remained to clean the boat and watch for and aft for other boats that might dock while we are here. This is a tricky place to tie up. The current can run 5 – 6 knots through here. That is very strong and bad things can happen quickly. I timed our arrival today with slack tide and thus my landing was fairly easy. Want to keep a wary eye on other boat’s docking abilities.

The weather is nice but much stronger wind than predicted. It’s blowing 15 – 20 this afternoon. This is what Chris Parker alluded to in his report this morning and differs from the official NOAA forecast of 5 –10. How do they get it wrong so often??

Plans are just to hang at the dock and let Kourtney come and go as she pleases. I’m not a shopper but I can use the break from anchor watch. I found some more Clive Cussler and it reads great on the boat. I find his novels difficult to read at home but when sitting on anchor or the dock they read just fine.