Best Life

 We left Fort Matanzas early this morning headed towards St Augustine.  What a beautiful, calm morning with almost no other boats.  There were plenty of dolphins and manatees.  And I saw my first sea turtle as he cruised by the port side of the boat!  What an absolutely stunning creature!   We traveled approximately 11 miles north and anchored just south of St Augustine.  The ICW wound its way through really narrow areas.  The houses and docks mostly on the eastern side with natural areas to the west.  The last bend before our anchorage site was baffling.  The sea grass was so close to our starboard side I probably could have touched it.  And looking ahead there was no discernable channel.  It looked like we were headed into someones backyard. We arrived just before noon and settled in.  These photos are taken from the four sides of the boat.   A little intimidating to see but after hours of swinging we are ...

 We stayed put today in a beautiful spot with little to no boat traffic for several reasons.  First, the anchor alarm went off twice last night.  There wasn't a real reason except when we swung with the tide we went outside the parameters I had set.  Even though I adjusted the distance, I apparently still set it too low.  So we slept late.  Every 6 hours we spin 180 degrees and even though disconcerting at first, I now look forward to watching the landscape change quickly. During our morning coffee we decided to spend the weekend anchored outside St Augustine.  Which means we are in no rush to get there and sit in their boat traffic just yet.   And then Scott informed us that he and Rebecca are coming down to join us in Jacksonville.  So we spent time planning a tentative itinerary with potential anchor sites, things to do, provisioning spots and plane tickets.  So excited they will be joining us! I spent time organizing photos....

 We left Daytona early this morning.  We were so eager to leave and start on our way north.  Low 60s with wind, it felt chilly and required long sleeves and a sweatshirt.  It didn't matter.  I felt free!  There was the excitement of the unknown mixed with trepidation that we were going to traverse the shallowest section of the ICW during low tide.   The waterway still amazes me with the varying widths, camps, houses, mansions, wildlife and scenery.   Catching fish with nets. I thought for sure this was a dead end.  But no, there was a turn. You want me to drive my 21 foot wide boat down here? How is this still standing so close to where boats and their wake pass by? We gave this barge the right of way. Sharp zigzag turns through this section.  On the ICW the red markers stay to our left and green on our right as we head north.  Opposite for south bound vessels.   A bridge over no water?  Good for the birds!...

 Gale force winds.  That's what was predicted so we stayed put another night and day.  What do you do with an extra day?  And no car?  Walk.  So we walked to Beach Street and checked out the stores we have been driving by all these weeks and have not had a chance to visit.  The best part of gale winds means a cold front pushed through and the temperature was an awesome 63 degrees this morning! First, the post office to mail a package home.  What an amazing building with intricate architecture!  And the clerk was super nice and helpful! Then, Nicole's Beach Street Mall, a collection of oddities and antiques (emphasis on the oddities!).  I'm just sorry QT is too small to add anything new at this time.  I may regret not buying the snowshoes (necessity) and the bikini (shame I already have too many bathing suits). Then the next obvious stop was Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory.  I purposely ate lunch before leaving knowing I s...