After three plus weeks of rainier, cloudier, and colder weather, with occasional teases of warm, sunny days, and then a several day upcoming forecast with the "s" word and not the "c" and "r'" words included, we decided to push on as far as we could each day toward hopefully more consistently warm weather. So, with first light starts most days, and motor-sailing each chance we got, plus the bonus of riding favorable currents, we crossed the Florida state border yesterday.

Here is the re-cap:

We departed South Santee River at 7 AM, passing by Charleston, and making the 2 PM Wappoo Creek Bridge opening by the hair on our chinny-chin-chin and the gracious kindness of the bridge tender. Although there was only a half knot of current before entering Elliot Cut, that quickly increased to a knot and a half in the cut. We ended the passage at 4:45 PM, in time for a colorful sunset (pictured above) with a total of six anchored vessels in Church Creek.

The next day we departed at 7 AM, stopping for marina services and a quick hello to fellow Chipman Point boaters Ginny, Gene, and their dog Skipper on m/v Free To B at Port Royal Landing Marina, before continuing on to anchor at 3:45 PM as the only boat in Cowen River.

The following day's departure at 7 AM was perfect for passing through Hell Gate at mid-tide or better, ending the day's passage as the only boat anchored for our first time anchoring in Kilkenny Creek, Georgia at 4:45 PM, followed by a Smoked Turkey Breast and Sweet Potato Casserole Thanksgiving Dinner for two onboard.

Friday's 8 AM departure was successfully timed to pass through Little Mud River at mid-tide or better. The passage concluded with a sunset anchorage to ourselves at 5 PM on the north side of Lanier Island, Georgia.

Yesterday's 7 AM departure was successful in allowing us to pass through the Jekyll Creek Cut before mid-tide. We saw a submarine docked at Kings Bay Naval Base and some of the wild horses as we passed by Cumberland Island. After seeing a half-dozen boats anchored near Sisters Creek Bridge, we rode a favorable current on the St Johns River, to anchor as the second boat, but for our first time on the south side of Blount Island, near Jacksonville, Florida. A Carnival Cruise ship was departing for sea as we were entering about 4:30 PM, and after nightfall there were fireworks from the Jacksonville Landing viewable.

Following this morning's 10 AM departure we rode a favorable current on the St Johns River, then pushed against a four knot current at the Pablo Creek High Rise Bridge, and peeled off some layers of clothing as we got closer to our 3:15 PM anchorage just north of St Augustine, Florida, where we were able to enjoy the afternoon warmth lounging in the cockpit; we were joined by one other sailboat (from Colchester, Vermont).

During these passages we have seen many birds including herons, egrets, gulls, terns, black skimmers, american oystercatchers, ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, osprey, cormorants, pelicans, plus eight bald eagles in one day, and numerous dolphins (including several jumping completely out of the water today).