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Another CSY anchored south of the Bridge of Lions

April 7, 2004 - Coming into St. Augustine

I thought I'd save some money by anchoring off St. Augustine, and I hoped that the predicted showers would not be too bad. But when Bob told someone for the second time, "SHE wants to anchor in St. Augustine", I remembered that he didn't like to anchor in St. Augustine. So I made a reservation at the municipal marina, which is expensive and has no email unless you pay which I'm not inclined to do. Anyway that's where we are heading tonight.

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Stealth boat from Canada (dinghy covers name)

After we leave Daytona, a big Carver named NIGHTSHIFT from Canada passed and later I heard someone yelling "Thanks for the wake you Canadian NIGHTMARE".

There are lots of dragonflies around in this section of the ICW

Passed Marineland and the marina is indeed still not open, and went through Matanzas Inlet. It was high tide and most of the channel is 16-17 feet although there was one 7 foot place. They have 7 floaters - i.e. floating buoys that they move around so that the deepest part of the channel is marked.

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Low tide in St. Augustine

We got to St. Augustine and they put us next to WORTH DOING and SOLARIS came in on the other side of us.

I went up and registered (At low tide, you have to climb up steep ramp to the dockmaster's office by the gas dock.) and got the magnetic bathroom keys - one for the women's bathroom which I kept, and one for the men's bathroom which I gave to Bob.

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Wine and cheese party

We met our friend Norm at the Wednesday wine and cheese party with a costumed 17th century sailor giving out the wine and cheese. Jan wasn't off work yet. The marina has been having these Wednesday wine and cheese parties all winter.

Bob was having trouble with his key. I wouldn't open anything for him, so they gave him a master key, and that worked for at least a couple of times.

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Brew kettles under red lights at A1A Ale House

After the wine and cheese party, we walked around town, and then went to the A1A Ale House. When we went up to the restaurant, there were so many people in line that we decided to eat downstairs. You seat yourself, and the bartender takes your order and runs upstairs to put it in and then has to go back up to get it. Norm and Jan come in later and eat at the bar. We told Norm that we wouldn't be back next year, and he was very upset about that.

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RosalieAnn with the Bridge of Lions in background

April 8, 2004 -Leaving St. Augustine

There's a lot of current in St. Augustine and Bob wants to leave after 8 when the Bridge of Lions doesn't open and go through the 8:30 opening. The current is pushing us into the slip and the wind is pushing us out of the slip, so the result is that we can maneuver OK.

Bob has me take the wheel while he takes care of the lines etc. Since the boat does not back well or accurately (especially with me at the wheel), and the current is pushing us toward the bridge, I turn around, and I am almost at idle going with the current away from the bridge as I wait. We do go through at 8:30.

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Airporft north of St. Augustine

The forecast showers did not happen yesterday, and it is overcast today. We passed the little airport north of St. Augustine - there is a big lighted flashing X sign which Bob says must mean that the runway is REALLY closed.

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