St. Augustine

Wednesday, March 27 - We left New Smyrna anchorage for St. Augustine at 3:30 and went under the Causeway bridge to the George E. Musson drawbridge, and tried to take the Ponce inlet out to open water. However, once we got to the inlet, right by the lighthouse, the waves picked up and fog became dense. We decided to abort, mostly due to the fog. We went back a little way and anchored in an area with two other boats. It became very windy and we had a lot of trouble with our anchor going under the boat. At one point we heard a loud clunk as the anchor hit our keel. We immediately went up and tried to maneuver the boat and re-anchor. The problem is our chain was twisted starting after 75 feet and we need a dock to fix it. Also the current and winds were fighting each other, making unstable conditions. Kevin eventually changed from a double snubber to a single and that helped. Plus the winds died down later making for a calmer night.

Thursday, March 28 - After reviewing the various weather, tides, and wave apps the previous night and in the morning the decision was made to stay on the ICW and see if we could make it under all the bridges. We left the anchorage at 7 a.m. Within the first hour we went under 6 bridges, 5 fixed, in Daytona Beach. It was raining lightly and hazy. For each bridge I was on deck with binoculars trying to read the minimum height on the tide boards to ensure we could get under. It started to rain a little harder as the morning went on and became cooler, enough that I changed into lightweight foul weather gear. It stopped around noon and sun was out by 1:00 p.m.
We motored the whole way and made great time. Originally we didn’t think we would make it to St Augustine before dark so we canceled that nights mooring and extended another day on the back end. When we called back asking if it was still available there was not one but we were able to get a slip at the marina!
The view along the ICW was nice, a lot of beautiful homes, pelicans, a few dolphins and people fishing.
We docked around 6:00 and set out for town to go to an ale house for dinner. Afterwards we walked around town a bit and got ice cream. This is an interesting town with lots of things to do.

Friday, March 29
The plan this morning was for me to Uber to a grocery store while Kevin cleaned the boat before we had to relocate to the mooring ball. That didn’t work out because I didn’t get up fast enough! It was chilly and I just wanted to stay in bed! I did stuff downstairs and prepared to get some laundry done at the marina later. We moved to a mooring ball at 11:30, the line on this one was actually light and easy for me to pick up. We’re still struggling with the easiest way to get both lines looped through the mooring ball. We need to watch a few utube videos! We spent the afternoon doing laundry in a real washing machine and dryer, and took showers with nonstop running hot water! Blissful!

Saturday, March 30
I walked to Winn-Dixie in the morning, google maps said 1.3 miles but as I was walking it kept saying “.07 miles”, “.08 miles”, “.06 miles”. It was definitely more than 1.3 miles! But I got my steps in. Empty when I got there and crowded by the time I left, it was Easter weekend. I took an Uber back. In the afternoon we took the dogs ashore and strolled around the historic downtown area, which is also where the marina is located, very convenient! We had a light lunch at a Mexican/latin restaurant, then stopped at 2 other establishments for drinks and an appetizer at one where we also listened to live music. It’s a great town and the marina is amazing! Aside from its convenient location to downtown they have free pump outs, including for those on the mooring ball, and they come to you! For those anchored it’s only $5. Laundry is only $2 a load ($4 total). Showers are very clean. Definitely one to come back to, we’re considering coming for the month of December. Only downside is all the tourists, since it is a public dock they can’t control people wondering down the piers.

Sunday, March 31 - Happy Easter! We did another load of laundry this morning, after watching Easter Service online. I am becoming one of those holiday Christians. If we’re not on the move I don’t realize it’s Sunday. The day was spent prepping for a long day to go to Fernandina.En savoir plus