CODA BACK IN THE THE USA 2025 (82).

CODA : Changes in latitude.  Exploring Georgia.

2 April 2025 

Kilkenny Marina, Kilkenny Creek, Kilkenny, Georgia 

Two Bros Island anchorage where we briefly ran aground leaving this morning.

Marc-  We allowed extra time before our departure this morning in order to have enough water present to get though the notoriously shallow Little Mud River.  This 5 mile passage is limited to 3 feet of water at low tide and we like to have 6 feet of water under us before going anywhere (Coda can get through with 5.4 feet).  Our only problem was getting started.  Once out of our little side creek anchorage we were fine.  No problems the entire day.  The water was mostly a brown except when we passed through "Sounds" with access to the North Atlantic Ocean.  The best part of the trip was going through Saint Catherines Sound.  First, we encountered an American Cruise Line ship that our friends Peggy and John Brewster have taken on coastal voyages.  Second, was seeing dolphins again.  The 10-15 knot southeast breeze was helpful motor sailing the entire day and it helped keep the bugs away.

American Independence

Plenty of room to pass.

Dolphins in Saint Catherines Sound.

Kilkenny Marina docks.  

Kilkenny Plantation grounds behind the Marina.

Live oaks and lots of color.

Excellent restaurant next door with amazing view of the Georgia salt marshes.

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CODA : Changes in latitude.  Arriving in Georgia.

1 April 2025 

Two Bros Island Anchorage, Altamaha River, Georgia

Not much to the place except that it's safely off of the ICW traffic route.  We learned last time we were in Georgia that commercial barge traffic, and the shrimp boat fleet,  travel at night.

Marc-  We left the Tiger Island anchorage of Fernandina Beach in a lifting fog at 07:30.  The first thing I noticed was that a large trawler anchored near us before last night's Thunderstorm was missing.  I went  back to my photos taken during the storm.  

Thunderstorm photo. Notice that the trawler on the right is broadside to the wind and waves.  The orientation of most of the boats changed when the wind exceeded 40 knots. Also note of the left of the photo may be a water spout forming.  Also note that the shore downwind of our anchorage is rather industrial.  Not good for a soft landing.

We passed by the trawler on our way out.  It was tied to the old commercial docks.  At least it did not end up at the paper mill waterfront.

This a screenshot of our anchor alarm and it shows that the anchor reset during the storm.  We are fortunate to have a Rocna anchor that resets on its own.

The morning travel mostly involved favorable water currents and light wind.  Coda went north up the Saint Mary's River then up the waterway west of Cumberland Island.  We did encounter one US Navy patrol boat as we passed in front of a nuclear submarine undergoing repairs at the docks facing the ICW.

The Saint Andrews Sound crossing was calm going across to Jekyll Island.  We skipped over visiting in order to take advantage of the high tide passage required to pass through Jekyll Creek on our way north.  All went very well as we crossed St. Simon's Sound over to St. Simon's Island.  The tidal currents turned against us as we turned to pass west through though the ICW west of Saint Simon's Island.  We went from traveling at 7.8 knots to traveling at 4.8 knots.  The other change was a completely brown water that we traveled in.  What a difference from Bahamian water!  We continued our travel until we could no longer proceed.  The Little Mud River shut us down as it is impassable at anything but mid rising tide or higher.  

Fort Clinch, a civil war era fort at the northern end of Amelia Island, Florida.

Passing through Jekyll Creek in front of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

Better view of the Hotel.

View from our anchorage this evening.

 

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CODA : travel and a stormy day in Fernandina Beach

31 March 2025 

Fernandina Anchorage, Fernandina Beach, Florida 

Iconic train station.

Marc-  Travel day today started at 07:20 to make the 07:30 opening of the Bridge of Lions in Saint Augustine.  There were three boats in line as we approached.  Funny that we were the first to call the bridge operator.  The northern migration has begun.  We sort of traveled in a pact of sailboats and slower powerboats that all ending up in Fernandina Beach.  No moorings were available.  No problem, about half of today's travelers, mostly sailboats, anchored.  We were careful in picking a protected location to anchor especially after the Marina manager warned us about severe thunderstorm warnings for this evening.  It all came to pass without any harm although it did get exciting when the wind, rain, thunder and lightning all came together just after we returned in the dinghy from a trip in town.

Northern boat migration.

We were faster than most sailboats traveling today so arrived early.

Smooth sailing between Saint Augustine Inlet and the Saint Johns River.

Music corner in Fernandina.  We were drawn to this friendly street corner bistro. 

They mostly played The Beatles and Jimmy Buffet tunes.  

The Main Street is looking good.

Luckily we were back on Coda before this front came through.

The front came through in about 30 minutes leavings a rather pink sky and a rainbow that seemed to be coming out of a sawdust mound at the Paper Plant.

The dull gray clouds were suddenly transformed into works of art.

And then it was all over with the sunset.  Our last sunset for this year in Florida.

We are anchored less than 1 mile from Georgia.

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CODA : Stormy day in Saint Augustine

30 March 2025 

Saint Augustine South Mooring Field, Saint Augustine , Florida 

Portrait of La Reina (the queen) at La Reina Restaurant in St Augustine.

Marc-  It has been a stormy day with rain and thunderstorms on and off all day.  We mostly remained on board Coda with two exceptions.  First was Mass at the Cathedral this morning and second was dinner at the wonderful La Reina Restaurant.  The cathedral was packed and is beautiful inside and out.  The restaurant theme is that "everyone is welcome at the Queen's table".  This beautiful 120 year old three story building was once the home of a Maine hardware merchant, Ferdinand Hamblen, and his wife of local Minorcan descent.  Antonia DeMedici Hamblen.  Settlers from the western Mediterranean Island of Minorca arrived in St Augustine in 1777.

It was also a good day to do laundry.  The Marina laundry is also the boaters lounge and open only to boaters.  I discussed the various routes for heading north from here and favorite stops with some the the friendly boaters.  Oriental, North Carolina seems to be one top stopover that we have missed so far.

My phone provides weather warnings for back home.  No hurry to get back to Vermont.

Local radar screen shot this morning at 08:00.  It only got worse.  

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 CODA : Still in Saint Augustine

29 March 2025 

Saint Augustine South Mooring Field, Saint Augustine , Florida   

This 208 foot stainless steel cross is illuminated a night and marks the Saint Augustine Inlet entrance channel.  It is a sort of beacon that directs modern sailors.  The site is the landing place for the first Spanish Settlement.   A Spanish Mission was established in 1565.  It remains a Catholic Mission. 

Marc-  It was a rather gray day today with moderate wind and mild temperature.  I was able to refinish another 6 foot section of the teak cap rail or gunwale on Coda.  After stripped the wood clean, I apply three coats of fast drying polyurethane finish.  I only sand between the second and third coat.  It is amazing how the warm and windy climate here allows the finish to dry in several minutes. 

My travels on shore were limited to walking over to the hardware store for more polyurethane.  I admired the huge cross noted above from the sidewalk.  I have also seen it from several miles out at sea at the St. Augustine Inlet.  I also walked through some of the downtown and always admire some of the Spanish architectural style found here in abundance.

Michael and I had some fellow boaters over for coffee and muffins this morning (we supplied the Coffee and they supplied the muffins).  Tim and Kim Graf, from Maine, are on a Morgan 40 foot sloop.  Sue and I had met them while snorkeling at the Thunderball Grotto in Staniel Key.  We have been crossing paths ever since.

Saint Augustine's Spanish Catholic Mission.

Flagler College

Flagler College

Methodist Church

Another Sunset.

 

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 CODA : Onward to Saint Augustine

28 March 2025 

Saint Augustine South Mooring Field, Saint Augustine , Florida   

We heard a lot of radio chatter on VHF 16 today as we approached Saint Augustine and most of it involved boats moving about after a day of sailboat racing.

Marc-  Our boat bottom cleaning was completed this morning by a local diver and off we went.  Coda reached 8.7 knots, with the help of favorable current,  and managed to pass every sailboat that we encountered en route.  I have to think it has something to do with a clean bottom.  The diver did report that we have a slightly bent propeller and the paint is getting thin in spots.  We should have no trouble getting home to Lake Champlain since this is the same "bent propeller"  and thin paint reported by another diver in January.   Most of the salt water creatures will drop off once in the lake. 

We were welcomed to the mooring field by the friendly municipal marina staff and made arrangements for a free launch to pick us up.  I was able to finish putting at least one coat of polyurethane on the starboard teak handrail while we waited for the launch.  Ashore, we met sailboat racers who invited us to join in their festivities.  Nice crowd.  Michael and I found a local ice cream shop named  "MayDay".  In nautical and aviation terms this means that the sender is in immediate distress.  It is an anglicized version of the French term "m'aider" which translates to help me.  The ice cream was excellent and the shop was filled with local college students (both staff and customers).  I did find time to visit our favorite used book shop in town named Second Read Books and found a book.  We did have a good walk about the old town.  There are plenty of people around with any some new shops, art galleries, and restaurants.  The place is quite clean and easy to get around with pedestrian friendly streets.

Coda is attached to mooring number 17 in the Menendez (otherwise known as South) mooring field.  Our Bahamian buddy sailors are directly behind us in #31.  

View of the Bridge of Lions from our mooring.

Cathedral of Saint Augustine

Nice place to stop.

Live music at the racing party tent.

There were lots of racers for the dinner party so three tents.

Cool looking boat for Michael. Note that the transom is a ramp to drive cargo on or off.  She is a Florida Bay Coastal Freighter.  https://floridabaycoasters.com/65-florida-bay-coaster/. 

Sunset from the mooring field and showing the finished starboard handrail.

CODA BACK IN THE THE USA 2025 (76).

 CODA : Still in Palm Coast

27 March 2025 

Palm Coast Marina, Palm Coast, Florida  

Beautiful manatee mural at Orlando Airport.

Marc-  Not much to report on today.  I spent part of the morning refinishing another 6 feet of teak handrail.  I picked up a rental car nearby and drove down to Orlando to pick up my buddy Michael who will crew for the next several weeks. 

 The airport had a few marine life displays that caught my attention with manatees and sea turtles.  We spent the late afternoon doing more provisioning for the trip to come.

"Sea World" has a store at the Airport and today had a display about its rescue efforts.  I spoke with a staffer who explained how sea turtles can be caught up north in cold waters where they cannot survive.  The condition is called "cold stunning".  In sea turtles this condition is similar to hypothermia, where they become lethargic and inactive due to prolonged exposure to cold water temperatures, often leading to stranding.  A team rescues them from the beach and brings them south after warming them appropriately.  They are released in the warm south Florida waters after a period of rehabilitation.