St Augustine - at a dock

 

There’s a section missing  next to the bridge and all the docks are empty awaiting the repair barge

The current at the Sister’s Creek anchorage was really ripping. We backed out into it and proceed south. The current was foul until we crossed the St Johns River after which we topped 9.4 kts! However, the event of the morning was that I finally got the Genset to run. The secret, I found, was to put the battery closer to the Genset with thick cables and not twenty feet away on smaller than spec cables. The original installation left many things to be desired. My first Genset only needed 100 amps to start, this one needs. 220 amps and the starting battery wiring was sized for the old Genset. Live and learn, I guess. 

Always, there’s wildlife around in Florida

The St Augustine Marina is undergoing major repairs to its docks. A long section is missing on the side towards the bridge. A barge is due tomorrow to start the process. To allow room for that, there are no boats docked on the northern side of the docks. Even with those docks missing, there are still open docks. We remain far ahead of the migration crowd. 

We’ll be here until Thursday morning when we move on to the Bethune Park anchorage. The weather is unseasonably cool. It’s not forecast to even reach 70 tomorrow. I can’t remember a past trip down with such cool weather! Hopefully, it’s not a sign of a cool winter in Florida. We were expecting temps in the 70s during January and Febuary. 

Jacksonville Free Dock - At Sisters Creek

 

We got the catbird seat - the end dock. There were only two boats tonight

Nothing unexpected along the way as far as depths are concerned. The Bob423 track was fine. However, when we were approaching Fernandina, we heard a Coast Guard announcement about a railroad bridge that was inoperable in the down position. It was located at “static, static” and would be closed until further notice. We listened again 15 minutes later with the same “located at ‘static, static’!” Since we were approaching the railroad bridge just south of Fernandina, we were concerned. So I asked Ann, “what were the Lat/Long coordinates they announced (along with the name of the bridge)? (The Coast Guard always gives the Lat/Long). I got a scowl for that question and a suggestion that I listen to the next broadcast and write down the Lat/Long myself. “But you already heard the Lat/Long, just tell me what they were” - I could see this was going nowhere and shut up (best move I made all day). 

This is the bridge we thought might be closed - but it was open as usual.
We ate at the Down Under restaurant right by the bridge

As we rounded the curve in the channel, we peered ahead through the gloom and could see the bridge was not closed. Upon that observation, the third Coast Guard announcement was crystal clear - the bridge in question was on the St Johns River. Oh well, the Coast Guard had us going for a while. 

Strange sunset tonight. It was like a fire on the horizon illuminating the clouds

Terri and Larry met us at the Jacksonville free dock and we all went out for dinner. They are a great couple and fun to visit. Of  course, we talked boating for several hours over dinner topped off ny a treat at Dairy Queen, I hadn’t been to one in years for a cone. I related that if I divided the cost of my Genset by the number of times I used it, I’d be lucky if I got the cost down to less than $500 per use. 

We’ll leave for St Augustine in the morning for a three day stay. It’s always a fun place to explore before moving on to the Bethune Park anchaorage before reaching Titusville. 

Jekyll Island - Last day

 

Any time there’s a body of water, there’s a threat of alligators - so signs are always posted

On the last day at a marina, we do “last day” things. First, there’s laundry - it’s always nice to leave a marina with clean clothes. Second, it’s good to have empty holding tanks. Third, we do last minute provisioning for things like milk, OJ, bananas, etc. We are now ready for our last leg to Titusville. 

I used three sunglasses together as a filter. This was late during the eclipse, just a chunk taken out

It’s an early start on Sunday so we can reach the Jacksonville free dock in the early afternoon to be sure we get a spot - although we’re so far ahead of the migration that I’m sure there won’t be a problem. We will meet up with Terri and Larry at the dock for dinner and trade boating stories. 

Yeah, fireworks 

It was mostly cloudy today and so we seldom saw the sun which was going through a partial eclipse in our area. It peeked through a couple of times and I took photos as best I could. It did grow dark in the early afternoon with the reduced sunlight that was compounded by the dense cloud cover. 

Then the sun set whole - the sun devoured was driven back

When I took Hoolie ashore, someone was setting off fireworks even though it was not dark enough for a good display. We wondered what the occasion was and why when it was still light out? We’ve been here a week, good rest, for now it’s time to move.

The peaceful end to a busy day

Jekyll Island - the rains finally stop

 

Zachry’s Riverhouse Restaurant has a swimming pool right off the porch - free for those docked

We saw the sun this afternoon for the first time in three days. It was not a good time to head south but since we don’t plan on leaving until Sunday with full sunshine, that’s fine with us. So what do you do when it’s raining outside - clean house of course, ugh. It wasn’t on my list of things I wanted to do but it needed doing, oh well. 

We are far, far ahead of the fall migration. Jekyll Island Marina is mostly empty of transients

With all the rain, I didn’t get to further debug the SeaTalk1 network, maybe tomorrow. It involves making yourself small and getting down into the aft starboard locker where the autopilot is located. I’ll have to practice my yoga to curl up small enough. I’ll jiggle a few wires with calls of “is it working yet?” to Ann in the cockpit. Wish me luck, I’ll need it.

What blog would be complete without a photo of my boat?! They have nice slips here.

I updated a survey of dockage prices that I had done for 2022 and, guess what, almost every marina raised prices over the summer with the average price increase being 19%. They are not falling behind in keep ahead of inflation. Our slip in Titusville for the winter is looking more and more attractive! Key West is out of sight. Just getting there is much more expensive than last year. However, I can imagine every boater of the last 50 years must have made the same complaint at one time or another, inflation never rests. If you can afford it, you do it, otherwise, sit in a rocking chair and watch the world go by - it’s much cheaper but has certain drawbacks. 

Jekyll Island - Rain and wind all night and morning

Another look at Driftwood Beach, huge trees scattered across the beach. 

It’s good to be tied up at a dock with electricity when the wind is howling 25 to 30 kts with a driving rain! There have been times when were hit with stormy weather when at anchor. Hoolie and I would jump in the dinghy (Hoolie never minded, I had on full rain gear) and motor into shore, usually a sandy beach, sometimes mud. I’m not quite as adventurous now as in the past, I prefer a dock in bad weather. 

We have more of the same Friday and some on Saturday before we leave for Jacksonville on Sunday morning for the Sister’s Creek free dock. Meanwhile, I’l still trying to get the SeaTalk1 network to fire up but so far to no avail. Tomorrow I’ll check the autopilot where the power for the SeaTalk1 buss is supposed to come from. Maybe it’s a loose connection?

A 20 year old cat finds a sunbeam (yesterday)

The marina cat that was featured in a previous post is 20 years old. He’s doesn’t move much anymore but he’s aging like the rest of us. He’s provided for, hopefully us too in the future. 

Jekyll Island - Rainy Weather on the Way

 

For such a small store, they have some high-end offerings. Chocolates anyone?

Three days of rain is predicted, starting this evening but we’re holed up here, no worries. I’m currently deep into debugging my SeaTalk1 network. It’s not working and that’s a problem since I use Aqua Map’s ability to embed depths into my track. No SeaTalk1 network, no embedding depth data. When we came through Jekyll Creek on Sunday, it was back with Ann recording depths as I called them out - effective but time consuming. 

Pick up a “Happy Bag”! A good selection of happiness. 

The local market is like one you might find in a small town where there’s no Walmart or large supermarket. It was a little of everything. It seems we go by there almost every day to pick up something we forgot. The golf carts are just the thing for short trips around town. 

Golf carts are a popular mode of transportation on the island - even on T-shirts

The marina is mostly empty on the long dock, the one used for transients. Starting out from Brunswick, we are far, far ahead of the migration south. Next year will be more normal with us leaving from Beaufort, NC. For now, we’ll let the rain pass and then head out again Sunday. Hopefully, I’ll get SeaTalk1 working again. 

Jekyll Island - The Live Oaks

 

The live oaks sort of bend over the roadway

There was a time, early in our ICW adventures when we were docked at Vero Beach when Ann had an asthma attack requiring an emergency trip to the hospital. It was caused by live oak pollen which is plentiful in Vero Beach. Ever since then, we’ve been leary of live oaks. They are prized for the strength of their wood which was used extensively in wooden war ships in the early years.  

Looking at live oaks in marina grounds, Ann is no longer affected. The trees are noted for their long, horizontal limbs that seem to defy gravity. They can be  quite pretty as along as you’re not affected by the pollen. 

Even the parking lot is well represented with live oaks

We are due for four days of rain, starting Wednesday afternoon so I spent the day getting ready. The bimini  received a coat of water repellent and I repaired the forward hatch where the handle decided it had enough and departed from its station attached to the hatch.  Hopefully, regluing fixed that. 

With the rain, all the inside chores are now waiting for attention. A woman’s work may never be done but having a boat is pretty similar.