CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2024-2025 (48)

CODA : Entering Florida

14 November 2024

Kingsley Plantation Anchorage, Fort George River, Fort George Island, Florida 

Coda anchored right out front of the Kingsley Plantation House.

Marc-  The past 24 hours have had us scrambling to change plans and make every effort to stay safe when a hurricane called "Sara" is developing in the Caribbean and all of the long range Spaghetti models call for it passing through Florida next Wednesday.  Instead of a laid back 9 days of meandering and exploring the backwaters of this part of Florida before we fly back up North, we need to get Coda to its hurricane hole in Palm Coast. Palm Coast marina is happy with us arriving early on Sunday.  En route, we'll stop in St. Augustine, where we've reserved a two-night mooring.  We decided to skip Fernandina Beach and went directly to the National Park Service's Kingsley Plantation.  They have an excellent dinghy dock on a side creek from the ICW.

We saw 6 dolphins coming down Cumberland Sound this morning almost like a goodbye escort.  The Paper mills in Fernandina Beach did smell like paper mills but the town looked beautiful nonetheless.  In the marshes just past the mooring field we saw several recently abandoned boats.  Around the next bend in the Amelia River we encountered a tug pushing a large crane on a barge for salvaging abandoned boats.  I always feel sad about these abandoned boats.  

If you look closely at the sailboat you will see that the mooring pennant and mooring buoy are still attached.  I surmise that the powerboat further in the marsh grass fell prey to a similar end.

Salvage boat.

A close up on what types of boats are being salvaged.

The scene looks so idyllic until you see the sunken sailboat's mast.

Nothing happened to Coda en route so we just anchored near the super strong National Park Service dinghy dock (the Park Ranger told us we could tie Coda up to the dock during the day). We ended up opting to just anchor.

Plantation buildings.

Many of the farm buildings and the slave houses were constructed of tabby.

Tabby was made from cooked oyster shells dissolved in water to make lime, and sand was mixed in to make cement.  The shells that did not dissolve gave some reinforcement.

We walked about 5.2 miles on various trails here.

We passed a gopher tortoise scooting off the side of the road.

Just before this sign.

We visited the Ribault Club building.  This is a french club named after a french explorer and settler who came here in 1562 and founded the French Colony of La Caroline.  The ill fated colony did well with the indigenous population butfell to the Spanish after fifteen months.  The Spanish colony held sway here until the United States took control in 1821.  

During the years of Spanish Control a freed slave could live in society, own a property or a business, and work without a white patron.  Kingsley had a Senegalese wife whom he had purchased as a slave in Cuba.  He freed her in 1811 and she became the plantation manager, a slave owner and a business woman.

Sunset on the Ft. George River this evening.

Lou- We got up at 6, had our cereal (grape nuts for me, honey nut Cheerios for Dad), pulled the anchor and set out at 7. The sunrise had a special magic to it! Soft purples and pinks with the gold sun. Dolphins popped up around us in seeming celebration: "You're awake too!" And at one point a whole crew of pelicans soared past us! Gosh, I love them. Definitely my favorite bird. They're so goofy yet graceful.

I love visiting places, but I love moving along just as much, if not more. 

Dad found us a great anchorage right by a national park. I got out with my umbrella to shield me from the sun (It looks silly, but it's so nice to carry shade around with me!).

A very cool volunteer greeted us and told us all about the people who used to live here. She also recommended a book about Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley, the princess turned enslaved person turned plantation manager. Dad bought it and I think it'll be a fascinating read.

My big feeling, especially on seeing the enslaved peoples' houses, very small and made of that seashell/sand cement, was sadness and horror. These people were trapped here.

There's something different about seeing these places in person, rather than just seeing pictures or reading about them. I glad we came here.