Hot day in Saint Augustine
22 May 2017
• Saint Augustine FL
by Mike/sweaty
Big decisions were made today. We were looking at the long range forecast and saw a succession of T-storms beginning late tomorrow and continuing pretty much all week with an occasional 24 hour break. With strong winds this isn't the best time for us to be offshore. We could nip up the coast today as far as Fernandina Beach and then we would be sitting there for three or four days, or continue a little ways up the ICW into Georgia to where before it gets too skinny. Or we could stay here in Saint Augustine for another day on an inexpensive mooring ball, and go up the ditch tomorrow. We have elected for the latter. We can stop tomorrow night at Cumberland Island and then either wait out the weather or continue to crawl along and make northing the slow way in the ICW or in day long outside hops. I was just thinking that if this keeps up we will be able to buddy boat with our friends aboard Moonlight Maid when they come down to put her back in the water at the first part of June.
I was looking over last night's post and realized that I was remiss in one thing - our experience in the Matanzas Inlet. Good news for cruisers! When we came through I never saw less than 10' under our keel in the centre of the charted channel. In fact, the channel was deeper, after the recent dredging, than the approaches.
Anyway, we deployed the dingy and Susie performed well and we went into the dock instead of calling for the tender. Besides giving us a little independence it has the additional advantage of allowing us to stay ashore until after 1800 since that is when the tender service stops. At least it might also be cooler I guess in the evening. Our walk around morning showed that some things have changed, for instance the little French patisserie that we liked so much last time we came through is closed. Too bad. That was where Barb wanted to go for dinner. Instead we found a little Mom and Pop Polish/Greek restaurant that we heard good things about so we will try there.
We went into the AC in the lounge/laundromat to do a laundry before heading on up the ditch tomorrow. Yours truly was running out of socks and I don't feel comfortable about running around on the deck in bare feet - too many things to stub your toes on. I did take an eight block walk up Bridge Street to an old fashioned marine supply store which was the closest place in Historic Saint Augustine that I could buy a lock to be able to secure the dingy to the dock when we go ashore. I have walked further but not in heat like this for quite a while. The last time was a forced march in CFB Valcartier. Back at the laundry there was a mid to late twenties lady in there at 0830 sleeping and was there until 1200. She clearly had a marina supplied swipe card and was able to get into the lounge and the showers, so we weren't quite sure what to make of it when she began trying to bum "a coupla bucks" from people. I guess it takes all kinds. It just doesn't seem right since she has to be at least crew for someone's yacht.
It's funny to be staying somewhere when you're not really intending to visit. I mean, here in Saint Augustine we have no intention of visiting or doing the touristy thing, we have already done that on a previous visit. I have just figured out that we are actually here to be able to do a laundry and have a promised diner out. Very little else. I did, however, up myself two new shirts to wear. When we came down dumb old me forgot to bring some of my summer shirts, the ones with collars. As a result, all I had with me were t-shirts which left me considerably under dressed when Barb and I would go out for dinner. That problem has been rectified.
At noon I was once again wondering if we had made a mistake, staying here today for another night, the winds for the morning and up to 1500 were about 10-15 knots and just out of the south. We could have gone out the exit, popped the asymmetrical and giddy-up and away.... but by 1600 the winds had increased quickly to 30 gusting 40+ knots out of the east providing small whitecaps and a chop in the river, so if it keeps up it would have been a bumpy ride. As it was, in spite of the current north to south, with the strong east wind, Nelleke is sailing back and forth over her mooring. I am glad that they are really strong, very well separated, and that the ball is plastic. Still, it's a little nerve wracking hearing the thump, thump, thump as she moves back and forth over the mooring. I would have thought that the current would have held her but I guess that shows the strength of the wind. Barb has even attached the underway bungee cords to the hurricane lamp that hangs over the seton table. That's how much things are swinging about.
This is the first time we have taken a mooring north of the Bridge of Lions and I am watching the behaviour of the other boats. They are more or less doing the same with those closer to shore seeming to be more stable. I looked over the other side of the bridge to the south mooring field and they all seem to be doing the same there too, although they are much closer together.
Right now I am trying to figure out where we will go after Fernandina Beach. We could carry on up the ICW but the notorious Little Muddy River is within 40 miles. That piece if the ICW always seems to be very shallow with e best you can hope is maybe you can get through at high tide. I would rather go offshore, even if only for a daylight sail, to one of the inlets further up and then tuck back in if we have to. We will call TowBoatUS for local intel again once we get to Fernandina tomorrow.
The mom and pop Polish/Greek restaurant turned out to be a real discovery. It's only problem is that at present its hours are 1100-1800. We only just got in, fortunately. Its name is Gaufres &a Goods and we would recommend it highly. They are considering changing their hours to 1100-1400 and 1700-2100 or so. Regardless it is a very short walk from the dingy dock at 212 Charlotte Street and can be telephoned at (904)829-5770.
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