St. Augustine Fun

St. Augustine

October 19 - 21

Pretty sunsets at the fort

We had left north from Marineland at 8:30 AM taking some friendships along with us.  Can't get over how generous and friendly folks were there.  Motoring was our destiny as the wind was against us BUT the current was heading our way! Even with pondering and planning, going with the current on both sides of an inlet on the Intercoastal can be an elusive task. Gleefully, Sunny Ray arrived in St. Augustine 3-4 hours later and tied up to a city mooring ball, just south of the intriguing Bridge of Lions.

Lions on both ends of the bridge

Kathy & Frank showed up at Marineland & passed us on the way to St. Augustine in their Ranger Tug.  Glad we got the chance to spend two evenings with you! Hope our paths cross again!

Lighthouse at St. Augustine

Saturday, the day after we arrived, was tour the lighthouse day.  

We dingied around a peninsula that holds the lighthouse.

Lots of steps!

My cute guy!

Bridge of Lions

Dale feeding fish at the Santa Maria

 Ray in front of walls made of coquina

The architecture was amazing.  Some very old buildings still exist in St. Augustine.

 Dale near the fort

Fort from the water

Sunday morning came along and it was time to head back to Stuart, Florida to replace our shredding sails.  Just hoped that they sailed us back!  Dan had fixed the jib with rivets, washers and sail tape.  Dan had also put his foot through the nearly 20 year old trampolines 2 weeks before but fortunately didn't lose any teeth!

It was obvious that we couldn't go much further north with questionable sails and dangerous tramps, so sadly we missed those we planned to see in that direction. Plus, it's starting to get cold!! (for Arizonans anyway).

Soon after arriving offshore, Dan tossed in his hook and landed what we think is King Mackerel!  Wonderful meals ensued.  Thank you mackerel.

What we thought might be a 2 or even 3 night trip to Stuart ended up as a wild and crazy, lurchy but fun (if you were outside) 33 hour ride to Ft. Pierce!  Everyone but Dan (since he is a helm hog!!) felt a little queasy now and then.  We had a downwind run that turned into more of a beam reach with big waves on the beam.  First time we've seen our speed at 10 knots and the whole time we traveled over 8. The main was even reefed!

Ft. Pierce inlet looked to be the best place to tuck inside the barrier islands as we didn't want to get caught in the dark at Stuart.  There are some shallows that are easier to avoid in the light. It was a relief to get out of the waves but the wind was still conducive to pushing us towards our destination in the Intercoastal.

Nettles Island

October 22 - 23

The Marina at Nettles Island was very inviting after the exhilarating but tiring run from St. Augustine.  But, wow, what a strange island it is...... a person-made island of boats and RVs, dogs and cats and manufactured homes!  Not sure what it is made of and not sure that I want to know!  Everyone was sweet to us, however, the winds from Sandy were starting to build (Frank - you called it!) and the slip was not very protected so we sailed on to Stuart, only another 9-10 miles to the Loggerhead Marina.  We felt being tied up here like a spider would be more stable than anchored in the ever-changing current of the St. Lucie River.  We've drug anchor before here!

Stuart, Florida

October 24th - present

We felt winds with gusts to 40mph that Friday the 26th but by Saturday afternoon, it was calm again.  My heart goes out to those less fortunate, whose lives Sandy is still affecting now, a month later.

Hope you are all well.  I'll tell you more about our new, fast sails later!  Marty