June 22, 2015 Marineland to St. Augustine

We left Marineland Marina rather late, around 11:30AM.  There was a pretty stiff wind and Eric the dock master suggested we use a bow line to help swing the boat around in the tight space in front of the dock.  So we did that and it worked flawlessly.  We spun around and I had the bow facing out making it an easy departure.  We made it through the shallow channel into the ICW and headed north to St. Augustine.  It was a routine and short trip of only about 12 miles.  We are able to run under the Bridge of Lions without needing it to be opened which is a nice convenience.     

Stellar deck crew snagged the mooring ball

I called the St. Augustine Municipal Marina and they assigned us mooring ball #5 in the north field.  It was the only free ball in the row so I first tried to approach it with the current and wind pushing us from astern and the deck crew (Mary and Jack) couldn't snare the pendant.  So I backed off and went around and approached it facing the current and they managed to grab it on the first try.  We had both port and starboard lines attached in a few minutes!

That's us in the middle.  Great spot

We are moored in front of the Fort

The first of umpteen gift shops

Next we all hopped in the dinghy and drove into the marina office where we paid for two nights and then headed into town.  It was too late to get in the fort so we just meandered around St. George Street with Jack who was eyeing up the numerous trinket/gift shops.

Ice Cream!

We needed ice cream so we went to the ice cream place where we had stopped back last year when the Hagens visited us here.   

After ice cream we did wander over to the fort but it was closed so then we walked up Hypolita Street in search of a tea and herb store.  We found it.  And it was closed.  So then, using good old google, we found and then walked to an olive oil store, The Ancient Olive on King Street.  Bought a few bottles of olive oil and then walked up King Street to the marina and rode the dinghy back over to our boat.

On board, we started up the generator and ate dinner and made water.  The water maker ran just fine but we made water on an ebbing tide and the pre-filters got pretty dirty.  But they're simple to clean.  I just pull a line through their hollow center and tie a large knot it so they cant slip off.  Then toss them overboard after tying the line to the boat.  They get pulled through the water and clean up remarkably well.  I have seen sailors do this sort of thing with a mesh bag and laundry too.

We went into town the next morning to visit the fort.  The fort, Castillo de San Marcos, is a national park so I yanked out my seniors park pass and we all got in for free.

The Fort

Grandma pilfering the donation box??

We wandered around the fort for a few hours and Jack hit the gift shop for awhile before we exited and walked towards St. George street for, what else, ice cream.  It was lunch time after all.

We stopped in a few gift/t-shirt stores and in one I bought a hat much to Mary's relief because my beloved straw hat has fallen out of favor and I'm shunned if I wear it anywhere in polite society.

At another shop, like there would ever be a lack of trinket shops, we bought a decorative metal fish for me to hang somewhere.  I’ve pointed out in the past that boats move, sometimes violently thus making hanging objects potential flying objects.  No matter.  I have to find a way to hang them anyway.  So much for safety lectures.

We made our way back to the boat and debated whether to take the dinghy to Anastasia State Park or Vilano beach which borders the inlet.  Why?   Because we needed beach time! 

It was a bit windy and and the ocean swells were rolling a bit to high for a comfortable ride out to Anastasia.  So we chose Vilano Beach inlet.  

Not such a good spot

We approached Vilano Beach and pulled the dinghy to shore.  But the current was very strong and, combined with passing boat wakes, keeping the dinghy on the beach without it banging itself to smithereens wasn't possible.   So we packed up and, since there was rain moving in, went back to the boat.

After the rain passed the sun was peeking out so we decided to return to Vilano Beach, but at a


different location more into the river which is out of the inlet's strong currents.

Better Spot

The new location, was probably 10 feet deep only a few yards from shore and proved to have much smoother water.  We stayed for a few hours while Jack did his beach thing.  I talked with a few other people who were there mostly fishing.  Interesting group as always.

While I was talking with a group of fisherman we noticed dark clouds out in the distance again.  With a forecast of severe thunderstorms, people were slowly heading off the beach back to where they came from.  And we decided to leave too since the dark rain clouds seemed to be hanging right over our boat. 

Storm looking more ominous than it was

It rained, but only lightly.  And after it passed I took the dinghy in to the marina with the garbage and then fueled it up.  Once back on the boat we grilled pork chops.  Yummy.

Budding engineer

While Mary did dishes Jack helped me switch an antenna connection so I could test a radio to confirm  it had a bad transmitter.  Sigh ... another thing to replace.

Then Jack and I headed down into the engine room for a pre-departure engine room check.

We ran the generator and AC for a few hours and turned in early.  On towards Jacksonville tomorrow and an anchorage we’ve never used before,  Exciting!