I was heading to Fort Pierce but the wave action started to become uncomfortable so I decided to go in at West Palm Beach access. As required, I immediately called the border patrol to inform them of my arrival and they provided me with a control number and requirement to get to the Immigration office within 24 hours. After the call I found a good anchorage and because I was too tired I just dropped anchor and got dinner and rest.
May 9, Anchorage to Riviera FL, New Port Cove Marina. Cruising Time : 1 Hrs
Had to move to a marina as I discovered that my high pressure oil hoses were leaking thru the fabric and required replacement. It took a while to get someone to assist in the manufacture and repair. In the meantime I had to clear customs and remove the hoses. As it was the first priority I walked from the marina to the customs office (1.5 miles) to satisfy that issue. Once again, I'm dealing with an official thru a plexiglass partition and communication for me was difficult as I couldn't hear all that was being said. However as I was taking my passport out of my holder I flung out several $20s which were stuck to the cover of the passport to which the agent stated that I couldn't bribe her. (Joke)
This stop was strickly utilitarian for the customs visit and fixing my oil leaks, I stayed at the boat each day working the repair or doing the logistical things to get the job done. I also changed my oil and filters in both generator and motor.
This is a statue in the marina which was the most colorful part of the stop. I guess you could sit in the mouth for a picture, if I had a selfie stick I probably would have done so.
May 12, Riviera FL to Fort Pierce. Cruising Time : 7.2 Hrs
May 13, Anchorage @ Fort Pierce to Anchorage @ Eau Gallie Cruising Time : 7.4 Hrs
After several attempts at setting my anchor in silt sand/mud I was finally able to satisfactorily set my anchor. I was anchored near Squid Lips restaurant/beach so I dingy'd ashore for diner and music. Their Naked Turtle White Rum bucket drinks will sneak up on you.
May 14, Anchorage @ Eau Gallie to Patrick AFB (Manatee Marina) Cruising Time : 2 Hrs
I decided to spend the weekend at this facility as it was reasonable priced and I was curious as to the layout of the marina with relation to the base. I was pleasantly surprised that the hospitality and welcoming of the marina as a whole. Everyone was helpful and willing to share a yarn or two. The marina and access to base facilities is very favorable.
Had a fish fry the first night.
May XX, Patrick AFB to Blair's Cove Dock & Boat Ramp: Cruising Time : 6.5 Hrs
I didn't plan to stop here but a storm came up rather quickly and the radar image was scary so I sought shelter in the cove tied to the floating dock. My timing couldn't have been better, as as soon as I was tied up the storm hit and bounced me around but there was no danger. I soon discovered there were many manatees in this cove and they were quite friendly and use to boats in their cove.
May 18, Blair's Cove Dock & Boat Ramp to Cement Plant Cove: Cruising Time : 8.3 Hrs
Another place to anchor and spend the night, several manatee were here also. The Sea Ray plant and boat yard is here also so it was quite industrial but after 5 PM very quiet. No water movement at all except for rising and lowering with the tide.
The water was murky but I got some pictures of the Manatees as they came over to inspect the new arrival.
May 19, Cement Plant Cove to Saint Augustine: Cruising Time : 4.5 Hrs
The Bridge of Leon (Lions) The 2 lions on this end were part of the construction costs when they replaced the wooden structure with a modern bridge. However on the other end a wealthy donor provided the lion statues. They are reports to contain a time capsule to be opened in 50 years.
Fort Castillo de San Marcos
Flagler College was originally the Ponce De Leon Hotel built by Henry Flagler. It was eventually turned over (donated) as a building to house the college The college gives regular tours by the students, obviously not in the class rooms but around the public areas. The students stay in the original hotel rooms and dine in the majestic dining room originally built by Flagler. I asked a student what tuition was per year and she stated 26K for tuition, room and board. Not a bad price for this Liberal Arts College, I believe it is listed as one of the top 100 best college buys in America.
You can read the plaque, if hard to do just double click to make bigger, that applies to all the pictures.
Across the bay was a nice restaurant and bar, these are small Tiki hut dining areas for an evening diner
May 24, Sister Bridge to Jacksonville NAS (Mulberry Marina): Cruising Time : 5.1 Hrs
From this point on I added pictures because of WI FI access. I will return to put a narrative at some point ; Joe
Jacksonville Stadium
Jun 8, Jacksonville NAS to Fernandina Harbor Fl: Cruising Time : 7.5 Hrs
Jun 9, Fernandina Harbor to Cumberland Island: Cruising Time : 2.4 Hrs
I stopped at Cumberland Island as it sounded
interesting. It is the largest barrier
island in Georgia and I believe on the east coast covering 36000 acres of
pristine maritime forests in its 20 miles of length. There are salt water marshes, forests, sand
dunes and ocean beaches. I anchored for 3 nights here and walked extensively
around the lower (southern) half of the island.
The Dungeness Ruins are here as well as remains of an old
plantation. At the southern end of the
island you can easily walk to the other side to get to the 20 mile long beach
as it is only ½ mile wide. In the north
the island gets to about 4 miles wide at its widest. The southern path has
boardwalk which makes it less work going thru the sand dunes and also helps to
keep down traffic in the grasses and plants holding the sand from erosion.
On my first walk across the southern end I went by the
Dungeness ruins onto the boardwalk and saw an alligator slinking along and saw
its tracks where it crossed the mud.
There were raccoons, deer turkeys and wild horses (I’m told there is
about 120 horses counted each year). The next day I saw an armadillo.
How did the horses get here? I understand that when the Spanish arrived they brought with them some horses. They lived with the native Indians called the Timucuan (who were very peaceful and friendly) in harmony for several years but the natives started dying off because of the diseases the Spanish had. One night the Indian council agreed that the Spanish were the cause of so many untimely deaths from unknown illnesses and decided to eliminate them. The next day they killed all the Spaniards and having no use for a horse let them go to fend for themselves. There has been a herd of horses directly descending from those original Spanish horses on the island for 400 years.
Interesting tidbit about the Timucuan Indians: The men were all over 7 ft tall and the women were all over 6 ft tall according to Huguenot observations and documentation.
Carnegie name has a lot to do with this island
Jun 12, Cumberland Island to Brunswick Landing Brunswick GA: Cruising Time : 6.2 Hrs
Jun 13, Brunswick Landing to New TeaKettle Creek GA: Cruising Time : 6.6 Hrs
What do you do when you are up a creek after six plus hours of cruising? You set your anchor, have diner and go to bed. This sight greated me the next morning. Not much else to say about the creek except to say that it was peaceful, good hold and resonably protected.
Jun 14, New TeaKettle Creek to Beaufort SC: Cruising Time : 9.1 Hrs
Interesting tidbit: Beaufort was planned to be the first settlement in South Carolina but the settlers who were heading there learned of a planned indian attach and instead went to where present day Charleston is and settled there. Beaufort is the second oldest city in South Carolina.
One of the things I like to do when in a new interesting place is to take a tour and get the guides input on what is interesting in the area and then if time allows I would go back on my owne to visit those things that piqued my interest. So the following pictures were from the Tour of Beaufort:
The culmination of the tour was at the Chocalate Factory where we could get a free sample and purchase what we wanted. Not needing anything else to make me feel guilty, I wandered around the store and spotted this wall board with past visitors and customers.
June 16; Beaufort to Charleston SC Anchorage, Cruising Time 9 Hrs
June 17; Charleston Anchorage to Georgetown SC, Cruising Time 10.7 Hrs
June 19; Georgetown to Barefoot Landing North Myrtle Beach SC, Cruising Time 7.3 Hrs
For those thinking of cooling off in the lake , be advised that there are friendly greeting waiting for you.
This little guy was floating and what appeared to be scratching the back of that big carp just below him. He better look out as those carp are bigger than him.
From here I will move on to North Carolina which you can follow in #25.
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