We got settled in at Beach Marine for the month of March. It would provide a base of operations for cruising in the area.
 

Our first order of business was to get the bikes unpacked. They are one of the best investments we have made.  Benefits: basic transportation, exercise, sightseeing, and shopping.  Coupled with the small dock cart, which I tow like a trailer, we can transport a full grocery shopping, or several loads of laundry. They fold up into an easily stored package, and have a rugged nylon bag to carry them in. They are compact enough that we can carry both bikes, and the cart, with us in our dinghy when we go ashore.

We are located 1.8 miles from the Ocean beach, 3 miles from Ginny and Tom's beach side condo, and 1.2 miles from Terry's Country Store. There are large supermarkets about 3 miles away in three different directions. That's pushing the practical range for a big shopping load on bikes. Our visitors bring cars and we use them for heavy provisioning trips.

Also when we arrived the ice maker, which had been making ice intermittently, failed for good. It is still under warranty, and we were without it for two weeks awaiting a new controller from the factory and the repairman to return.

Tom and Sally Curran Visit

Our friends from Houston, Tom and Sally Curran, came on March 1.  Tom recently retired from his job at The Port of Houston so they can now travel a lot. We did three excursions with them.
 

St. Augustine First we went by car to St. Augustine and played tourist for a day. The tour trains are a great way to get a quick overview and briefing on the city. You get a pass that is good for three days.  The trains have regular stops around the route and you can get off, do a sight or eat lunch, and reboard the next passing tour train. Marion learned a new trade >>>

On the tour we stopped at Castillo San Marcos. The fort was started by the Spanish in 1672 and completed 23 years later. That was 100+ years after the founding of  the city in 1565. It was attacked twice by the English but never fell.  We had a marvelous guided tour by one of the park rangers. He has been featured as the spokesperson for the fort on several PBS presentations.  St. Augustine should be high on your list for tourist attractions in Florida. <<<  Ed is a bona fide tourist. After the tour we strolled into town and had lunch. We then visited Flagler College and the Alhambra hotel. There the ladies spent a half hour shopping in a boutique for a dress for Sally to wear to a coming wedding. No Luck. Marion bought a shirt instead. I had free coffee and watched the Nasdaq go up on CNN.

Tom and I bought Potato guns at the local toy store. They are like popguns.. They shoot potato pellets. Tom and I shopped for a russet as ammo.  We caught the train again and went to the car. By car we went to our next attraction, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. The Lighthouse at Dusk   >>>>>> The museum is sort of minimal, but the Lighthouse is Awesome! Especially, if this is the first lighthouse you have climbed.  Everyone should do at least one lighthouse in a lifetime... I have fulfilled my quota,and here is the proof: A panoramic collage of the harbor below.

For dinner we returned to the fabulous Gypsy Cab Co. I have previously reviewed this restaurant. We went early on a weekday. This time there was no problem with a crowd. Supper was delightful. **** $$$.
We drove back to Jacksonville Beach to the music of Ed snoring in the front seat.

St. John River Excursion

The St. John River extends Westward from the Atlantic Ocean about 20 miles to Jacksonville. Then it broadens considerably and heads South for almost a third of the length of Florida. Our objective was to go upstream for three days, and then return to Jacksonville Beach.

The trip to Jacksonville introduced me to marina's with currents flowing through them. Usually marinas are located in coves or harbors or behind breakwaters. You may have to worry about tides, but most are protected from currents.  We decided to put in at River City Brewing Co. & Marina for the first night out.  What a mouthful that is to say on the VHF.

 "River City Brewing Co. & Marina,  River City Brewing Co. & Marina , this is Remedy." I called as we were passing under the Main Street bridge going 10.3 kts.

"Remedy, go to 18." answered the harbormaster.

We discussed slip availability, power, duration of stay, and locations. He recommended the end of the T head.

His instructions were clear and firm. "You will be docking Port side to the dock in front of the 48 foot Bluewater. You will be going into a three knot current as you dock. Stay on VHF 18 and I will meet you at the dock and talk you in. Meanwhile get four lines ready bow, stern and your two mid cleats."

As we approached, Marion took up the bow line, Sally had the forward mid ship line, and Tom had the stern line. The Harbormaster had his assistant along.

On the first attempt he gave general instructions, suitable for a more experienced captain. I got close, but not close enough to make the docking. He waved me off, and instructed me to make a wide circle and approach again.

"Don't worry, its tricky coming in on a current, I will talk you in. You can put down your mike to have both hands free."

From that point on, I was his remote control. "Steer right at me... Starboard to neutral... Now Port to neutral.... Port forward to match the current... let the current ease you over... Yellow shirt, toss your line... pulse the starboard just a bit... Blue shirt, toss your bow line..."

While this was going on he and his helper were securing the lines and we gracefully came to rest along the dock.  The boat was straining on the spring line and the knot meter was still indicating 3 kts as I shut down the engines.

Wow! That was a thriller.

It was mid afternoon, so there was plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular view of Jacksonville Landing just across the river.  We took the water taxi across. The ladies went shopping, and Tom and I went to Hooter's for some liquid refreshment. (and to enjoy the scenery).

That evening we dined aboard Remedy on Standing Rib Roast. It was a bit overdone (med-well) due to my careless math.  Afterward we strolled down the Riverwalk to the Chart House Restaurant for Irish Coffee. It's a very fancy place... said to have been designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright disciple.... certainly captures his avant garde style.  From the outside it looks like it was born on the ocean bottom... Captain Nemo would love it... Inside the free form curving ceiling and walls are done in heavy laminated woods of many colors and textures. We enjoyed the bar so much we decided to have a second round.

The next morning we moved to the gas dock to fuel up. Again we were docking in a strong current but this time there was no other boat on the dock. We thanked Lee, the Harbormaster, for his excellent tutorial on boat handling in currents.

The wind picked up as we headed up river. Small Craft Warnings were announced by NOAA Weather.  It was not a pleasant cruise. The river is so wide that there is room for seas to build up. There were two Maydays heard and we listened as a sailboat with inexperienced crew was saved. We attempted an entry into a small marina near Doctor's Inlet. Unable to raise the harbormaster on VHF, and with no obvious open slips, we backed out. Next we moved off close to the windward shore, dropped anchor and had a relaxed lunch in a howling gale.

After lunch we decided to head for the Ortega River Marina, and spend the night there. We had dinner at a Harry's restaurant nearby. It's a formula kind of place... like Outback Steakhouse or Steak and Ale...  high priced drinks, good food at moderate prices, but very predictable.

The next day we called off any further exploration of the St. John river. We returned to our home base at Jacksonville Beach.

Cruise to Fernandina Beach

Around mid day Marion's sister Ginny, and Tom Curran went with us on our short Cruise to Fernandina Beach. Sally drove their auto, so they could leave from Fernandina the next morning.

The trip introduced us to the big tide and current swings that we will find along the Georgia Coast. The ICW winds through creeks and rivers and marshes for 30 miles on our trip. There are so many turns that I did not attempt to enter all the GPS way points it would take to describe the route.

Sally arrived in Fernandina about an hour before us. She called on the cell phone. "You can't get into this marina," she said, "the boats are all sitting on the bottom."

"But Sally," I said, "the harbormaster said he could get us in there somewhere. We will be there in fifteen minutes."

Fernandina has a very long floating dock that is in deep water along the ICW. Behind this long dock is a basin in much shallower water. It has several floating docks coming out from the shore. In that area the boats, and the floating docks, were all sitting high and dry. Many of the boats were floating in their own muddy little bathtubs, which they had worn into the bottom from going up and down so many times on the tide. I certainly would not want to be a live aboard in that marina.

We were assigned a spot on the shore side of the long pier. There was enough water for us even on the low tide, if we drove in very close along the dock. We stirred up a tremendous amount of mud as we slithered in along the long dock.
 

Once settled, we had a stiff drink and  headed for town. The ladies resumed their customary shopping mission. Tom and I found a novelty store and struck pay dirt first. I bought a hat for the Forth of July and Tom got one for St. Patrick's Day. We wore them for the rest of the afternoon. They went over well in the Irish Pub where we waited for the ladies to catch up. You gotta buy a hat when the mood strikes.

That evening we had dinner at the Crab Trap Restaurant. It's a popular spot. My Grouper was good but the side dishes were ordinary. Marion had a Seafood casserole; it was so good she ate it all. The consensus was Food ** '  Price $$$.

The next morning we rose late and watched the fog roll in and out.  Tom and Sally had an appointment to make down the coast, so we said good-byes, and they headed for Cape Canaveral around noon. But not before we jump started their car.  The battery had died over night.

We were in familiar waters for our return trip to Jacksonville Beach. The currents and tides are not a novelty... They are reality!  We went through the Atlantic Avenue bridge against a 6 Kts current .. It was much like a white water experience.

At home I did a miserable job of docking under only moderately challenging wind conditions. Fortunately No Significant Damage. The next morning our next slip neighbor, whose anchor scraped our aft deck coaming during the incident, moved across the marina.  I felt bad.
 

Back home we resumed our daily bike rides for exercise. Ginny was in town for the week and we got to see her daily. It's a beautiful time of the year. Still a bit cool. The azaleas are in bloom and the local area has some lovely subdivisions. Must report on Slider's grill in Neptune Beach. We went for lunch. Glass of chardonnay and fish Tacos. They bring a platter of stuff and you pile them up to suit yourself. A great place  for lunch. Chase you blues away with Key Lime Pie.  Rating *** Only $$

On March 17,  I  put Marion on a plane for Norway. She is there as I write this report. Miss you Sweetheart.