St Augustine & Escaping Tropical Storm Debby

June 22 - 27, 2012

Approaching St Augustine -- founded 55 years before
the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

St. Augustine is one of those great American cities that has something for everyone.  History, pirate lore, art, restaurants, shopping, beautiful architecture and it is right on the intercoastal waterway.  When we arrived, we thought that we would stay one night.  We pulled into the Riverside Marina and were told that it was only a couple of blocks to the trolley and about a half mile into town.  Ok, I can do that even though it is midday and the humidity is about 90%.  They lied…….. I thought I might have to lie down on the sidewalk and wait to be resuscitated.  After walking about ¾’s of a mile, we finally arrived at the trolley stop. What a relief!  We rode around the entire route to figure out the lay of the land (and, to let me recover). While touring we found the Municipal Marina which really is only a couple of blocks from downtown. Tomorrow we will be moving the boat.

Bob and Cheryl -- friends from Minnesota

As we were waiting for the next trolley, we heard someone yelling “Smillies, Smillies”. There were friends from our church in Minnesota. Cheryl and Bob had moved to Oregon and then Florida. We haven’t seen them in years. We asked if they wanted to come and see the boat and they offered to drive us. Yes, I’ve been saved from the return trek!  Glad to see Bob and Cheryl, but really grateful for the ride!

The next morning we moved the boat and planned to spend two more days exploring the city.  We promised Christopher that we’d go to the Pirate and Treasure Museum and to the fort.  Both were fun stops.

Castillo de San Marcos -- The Spanish fort

Spanish soldier

Having second thoughts about being shot
out of a cannon

People were defiantely shorter back then.
Watch tower to see incoming pirates and
invaders.

Blackbeard was the most feared of all the pirates. He never bathed, put lit fuses in his braided beard and laced his rum with gun powder lit it and drank the fiery potion. Apparently his girl friend wouldn't sleep with him because he smelled so bad.....imagine that!  I'm more surprised that he had a girl friend.

Monday was our expected day of departure, but our weather was now being influenced by Tropical Storm Debby -- 25 mile per hour wind with 40 mile per hour gusts and torrential rain. At that point Debby was on a track to go to Apalachicola. Tuesday morning we decided to make a run for it (at 8 miles per hour). Debby had changed course and was aiming for St Augustine and Jacksonville. Most of the day was calm and dry. About 4:30 the wind picked up along with the rain. In spite of the weather we wanted to push as far as we could. At 7:30 we dropped our anchor in Georgia completing 78 miles. We’ll be off early tomorrow --trying to put a little more space between us and Debby.

We sat on the front of the boat for two hours
in northern Florida looking for alligators.
Didn't see one-----
Saw lots of other critters including wild pigs!

This is sunset Tuesday night.  The dark at the bottom
of the picture is black clouds with blue sky behind. 
Very weird!

Brian and I were both up several times during the night to make sure the boat was secure.  The wind howled all night.  Our anchor held well in a mud bottom.  In fact, when we pulled it up it had a good fifty pounds of sticky mud attached.  We seem to have gotten beyond Debby’s reach.The sky is blue again and the winds are manageable.

     

 

Gotta smile - we're lovin the ride!