Captain's Blog

  TRAVEL DAY 19 - Fernandina Beach to Jekyll Island March 22, 2023 4.37 Hours/30.6 Miles     We are back to those beautiful boating days that make this trip so much fun. What a difference a day makes! When the weather is forecast to be iffy or poor, we stay in a marina.  Jekyll Creek Anchorage     Today's "daytrip" was to a place we have visited in the past by car. Jekyll Island is one of the barrier islands on Georgia's coast. Developed during the late 19th century and is home to some beautiful cottages. Many of these vacation cottages were built by America's wealthy industrial tycoons, like Goodyear. This is also the place that in 1910 five of the country's leading financiers met secretly to put together what is now the Federal Reserve System.  The Jekyll Island Club     When we first visited here years ago, there was virtually no commercial activity on the island. That's not the case today as the island has developed with more shops and a ...

    TRAVEL DAY 18 - Jacksonville to Fernandina Beach March 21, 2023 4.37 Hours/30.6 Miles        I have been trying to improve my skills as a captain and one of those skills is communication. It has been a struggle for me to convert what I am thinking into direction for my crew and those on the dock. I have found that by clearly communicating what is in my head makes the job go much easier. I have also found that the best dockhands wait for those instructions and don't take it upon themselves to decide what needs to be done. That is a good thing when I communicate and a bad thing when I don't.  Palm Cove Marina, Jacksonville     This morning was a perfect example. We had a pretty stiff wind blowing us directly off the dock from our port side. I wasn't too worried as there were no other boats downwind but I knew it would be a challenge getting the boat away from the dock and turned 90 degrees and into the 15 knot breeze. I took a few minutes t...

  TRAVEL DAY 17 - St. Augustine to Jacksonville March 20, 2023 4.45 Hours/35 Miles     Some days are just travel days and not much else. With a 50 degree morning we were glad to stay in the salon and motor out of St. Augustine and north to Jacksonville. As we moved across the St. Augustine Inlet I couldn't help but wonder how many cannon balls were laying on the bottom, fired from the many guns that lined the Castillo de San Marcus.  Castillo de San Marcus from the St. Augustine Inlet     Lady of La Leche cross    Goodbye to the Bridge of Lions     We knew there were not many options to anchor on this leg as the waterway is narrow and the wind was projected to pick up in the evening. Still chilly temperatures, running the heat from shore power seemed like the best option.     We made our way along the Tolomato River towards Palm Cove Marina just off the ICW. The Tolomato River extends from the inlet at St. Augustine to the St. ...

 St. Augustine Part 2     We spent 9 days in St. Augustine. This week was spring break for our daughters (and every college in the nation apparently) so we used this time as the last time until mid summer when we'd be able to get together with them again. This stop would also give us time with other family members that were close by.  The Ancient City     We went to downtown St. Augustine and explored with my parents. Wow is this place crowded. Parking is at a premium and the streets were packed with cars, vacationers and college students, but it's always a fun town full of history and cool things to see and do.  Mojo's BBQ - Awesome!!     We walked the narrow streets of a town we had been to before. There is so much to see here and there are little gems hidden in every alley and side yard.  Shady Spot     A walk to the Matanzas River and  Castillo de San Marcos  the old Spanish fort built in 1672. We didn't pay the a...

  TRAVEL DAY 16 - Palm Coast to St. Augustine March 11, 2023 3.75 Hours/24.9 Miles     It's Saturday. We try to avoid traveling much on the weekends as the boat traffic tends to be heavier. but the extra lost day at Titusville made yesterday's run longer and today shorter! Still, we know Saturday will bring more wakes.  One of several rowing teams we saw   Mantanza River     As our time on the water increases, so do our skills and our confidence in both our boat and equipment. The Volvo chugs on everyday without a hiccup. We are chasing 70 degrees but 70 degrees is winning. Today it stayed in the 60's and operating from the flybridge was a bit uncomfortable so except for the initial departure and final docking, we spent the day in the salon at the lower helm.  Neptune guards the Sportfisher    As we moved north we passed by Marineland.  Marineland was built around 1938 and was a Florida tourist attraction with dolphins, fish and ani...