"North 2001 - Vicinity of the St. Johns River" Top 5 Page for this destination Jacksonville Beach Travelogue by grandmaR

Note: These pictures appear to have been taken around the 8th or 9th of December in the St. Augustine area, excpet for the last one which may be from South Carolina. They do not particularly go with the narrative.

The piers - another view

When we left St. Augustine, Bob had it in mind to make Fernandina Beach, but that is 62 miles and I know we'll never make it as we have current to contend with (sometimes with and sometimes against us) and the wind is too brisk to put up the jib. Eventually he puts up the staysail and we do go faster.

Single Bascule Bridge from a distance

We came to the Palm Valley Bridge (bascule) which opens on request and we can see that they are building a new fixed bridge next to it. We also went through the McCormick Bridge OK. We went into Pablo Creek Marina and got 25 gals of diesel. Both the dock guy and I thought he said 45 gallons.

Waterside restaurant with free dock

We tried to get onto the T head of C dock, but the wind was blowing us off the pier and we could not get in behind the power boat that was there, so we went back and he put us on the fuel dock. (This dock is posted every 5 feet that it is for fueling only and violators will be prosecuted but there were 3 of us there.)

We did 37.5 miles at 5.1 mph (322 nm total since Miami) by 3:30 pm.

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Dock of restaurant pictured doesn't have any water at low tide.

Double bascule bridge

There was supposed to be a live country band which would be noisy at Hurricane Hatties, but we didn't hear a thing. Fuel dock was also a floating dock. Got ice. They said they had an internet connection in Building 6, but I didn't get a chance to test it. We ate there and had a Maine lobster dinner (they spelled it Main) with two little lobsters for $16.95. [Unfortunately this restaurant is no longer there as it went bankrupt and the marina has been leveled to the ground to be made into condos.]

Waterside restaurant

I looked up the tides and currents for the St. Johns River and determined that the later we left the better. Bob did not get that information out of what I said, and started getting ready to leave at 7:30 when I had 8:30 or 9 in mind. But it worked out OK.

When we went to cast off, Bob said he'd untie the dock lines and jump back aboard (because I am unable to flip lines off of the dock to his satisfaction), but the wind blew the bow out while he was untying the stern, and I almost had to leave him there.

The Atlantic Beach bridge was right past the marina. When we went through before there was so much current in it that there was a permanent wake. This time it was a slack water, and was easy to get through.

Another bridge

We crossed the St. Johns River just a little current against us, and only had to dodge one big ship. Got an opening of the Sister's Creek Bridge right away (actually he opened a little too soon).

Next Fernandina Beach