Finally in Florida

     We left Port Royal on Election Day and traveled all the way to the Herb River, Laura and Graeme went to Turner’s Creek.  They wanted to see Savannah and we thought we would wait to visit this city on our way back north.  From the Herb we went to the Wahoo River.  Great place for a Cleveland Indians fan, eh?  We received news that our nephew’s daughter was born and a good friend’s mother had died on the same day.  Funny how the world works, one life ends and another begins.  Spent a nice evening with two other boats and in the morning made our way to the mouth of the Fredrica River which is close to Brunswick, GA.  We have been here on other occasions and always have an enjoyable anchorage.  On the way to here we saw many dolphins and a Bald Eagle that was perched on top of a dead tree.

Natalie Elizabeth Brenner headed home from the hospital

     Next morning we motored through an area called Jekyll Island Cut which is noted for being very shallow.  We needed to catch it at high tide and we did.  We stopped for fuel, water and a trash dump at the Jekyll Island Harbor Marina and were greeted by the most pleasant people on the dock we have encountered so far on this trip.  We went about 10 miles south and dropped the hook right off the channel for a calm night.  In the morning we awoke to our boat covered by bird poop including undigested fish parts.  Not my favorite sight with my morning coffee.

     On Saturday, 11/10, we went to Cumberland Island to meet up with Sweet Chariot and their friends Jack and Donna on Kathrian.  Happy Hour was on board our boat and lasted too late for us to make a proper dinner.  We had an easy box dinner instead.  On Sunday we took the dinghy to shore and went to the Ranger Station.  Lynn sat and enjoyed the peace and quiet and I took off for a half mile walk through the woods to the beach.   On the way over and back I saw many campers but none of the wild horses that make this island famous.  We had a great dinner that night on board Sweet Chariot along with Jack and Donna. 

Lynn and Graeme with the Park Ranger on Cumberland Island

     Monday we arrived at Fernandina Beach, finally made it to Florida after leaving home 34 days before.  There we met up with our friends Bill and Terri Ellis from s/v Second Option.  They belong to the same sailing club as we do from the Annapolis area.  We went ashore later in the day for a fantastic dinner at the Marina Seafood Restaurant.  The wait staff are all sisters and they were a hoot!!!!!  I recommend this place to anyone while in this area.  On Tuesday we had a small flotilla of 4 boats making our way towards St. Augustine.  The current was so strong that at one time going under a bridge we were only making 1.9 knots at almost full throttle.  We stopped for the night at Pine Island, a small creek, with 11 other sail and power boats.  The winds kicked up and howled through the rigging all night.  Not the best evening we've spent to say the least.

     We are now on a mooring ball in the harbor at St. Augustine and the rain and winds have not stopped since we arrived 6 hours ago.  Winds are a steady 20-25K with higher gusts.  The dinghy was full of water as I forgot to pull the drain plug when I lifted it up on the davits.  We had plans to go into town but have decided to stay on the boat until tomorrow with hopes of better weather.  We will meet other friends from our sailing club for lunch and socializing sometime in the early afternoon.