Washington D.C. had fireworks. St. Augustine had a parade - Veteran’s Day. So today one could tour the fort for free. Amazing fort made out of stone unique to this area (coquina stone), which does not shatter or break when fired upon. It compresses and absorbs the blow. Coquina means shell, because it is stone formed from shells. Because the fort was well designed and well armed, it was never defeated in battle.

I was not planning on leaving just now, but the weather has me socked in anyway. Some folks are leaving Monday, but they are going down the ICW. I was told by a dockmaster that he would only go through the inlet to the ocean on Monday if he really had to, but if it were optional, he wouldn’t do it. There is a narrow channel to get out the inlet, but it is several miles long and just north of it is shallow water with breaking waves from the strong north winds. Add current to that and it could be tricky. I will post some photos of the conditions to my gallery. So I am watching the weather to see when I can get out of here. Hopefully Tuesday, or Wednesday at the latest. In the meantime, my quiet river has been replaced with something quite choppy. Down below in the boat, one can hear the wind. Sometimes it gets very still and quiet, but the wind has not stopped, it has just dropped below the “noise making, howling” threshold.

This is a town that caters to tourists. I spent the afternoon walking around. I found an Irish Pub in this very Spanish town, so to carry on our tradition from the Erie Canal, I need to make a visit. Tari said so.