We did take our time today, pulling the hook after a nice breakfast of fried potatoes, eggs, and datil pepper sauce. That part was nice. The “UN-NICE” part of the morning was going outside to pull the anchor in 24 knot wind, and 2 to 3 foot rollers coming through the anchorage, at Cumberland Island.

The worst time on the water was going through the main harbor here at St. Marys river entrance; wide open to the wind coming right off the ocean… with an incoming tide, tidal currents against us, and steep, and brief period waves bashing the boat around….

Normally we would have probably just “bagged” the day, but I had measured the fuel levels, and we hadn’t added any Diesel since Norfolk Virginia…. Now we’re in Georgia… It’s time to ADD fuel. We still had 40 gallons in mid-ship tank; 10 gallons on deck; and about 20+ in the V-berth tank… We weren’t about to run out, but I felt we needed to fuel up before sitting for a week at St. Marys. Plus we needed water, and a pump-out. The water in which we’ve been traveling has been so stirred up by the wind, and wave action all week… I Haven’t felt comfortable making too much water with our R.O. unit.

Anyway… Fernandina was just across the harbor…. (he said!!!!) well it’s 8 miles from our Cumberland Anchorage to Fernandina Harbor Marina, and then back north to St. Marys…

BUT…hey the boat handled it… and I feel better…. The dockmaster at Fernandina thought we were nuts for wanting to come in to the dock in that wind, and wave condition…. BUT the truth is everything was in our favor….(other than how the weather looked – i.e. nasty)… The wind at the time of docking was right on the nose, AND the current was also right on the nose… So all we really had to do was ‘drive the boat close to the dock…. Keep forward gear engaged and reduce the throttle until the boat just stood still where we wanted it…. Still motoring forward into the tidal current…. And Viola!!! Susan literally “handed” the dock line to the gentleman on the dock… for cleating…. Nothing to it…

;) So… we’re now full of fuel, and water, etc. and ready to relax and enjoy the week of Thanksgiving!!!

We waited out weather in NJ; Weathered Hurrican Sandy; and the nor'easter... to get here.... SO... it's Time to relax!

Morris and Elizabeth Thorpe on the s/v Viking Angel are also here at St. Marys (see photo).

That wasn’t the original plan, but they followed us in here anyway…. and they got to meet John and Ann from the triple masted schooner “Steel Away” tonight for dinner. GREAT TIME….