We've never cruised this lower part of the US east coast before. We are quite familiar with parts and places north of Norfolk but south of that is all new. Locals call it the "Deep South" which in itself is something of a misnomer as the waters seldom get deeper than ten metres and more likely just two or three.

I'm not entirely sure where the borders between the North, South and Deep South are but I think the "North" is, traditionally, those parts north of the Mason Dixon line, named after the two guys hired by that era's super wealthy to agree where their respective gardens should end.

The "South" and "Deep South" are from points south where in conversation people refer to "y'all" and its plural, "all y'all." It's Southern speak for the Glaswegian or Australian, "youse". When you hear it, you immediately know where you are, or where the speaker is from, give or take a continent or two.

Anyway, we've been sailing on south for the few weeks since we got back from South America and a couple of days ago, after New Year(s) (?) in Fernandina City, we pitched up in St Augustine, another "America's oldest town."

While we could have saved a lot of time, effort and money over the years and just stayed home on our Stressless recliners learning about such places on the National Geographic channel or Wikipedia, we've been fortunate to experience the likes of South America and this Deep South first hand.

It was therefore something of a surprise to learn that, no sooner had we mounted up on our motorcycle and left the silver mines of Potosi, Bolivia behind us than we inadvertently find ourselves in the primary staging post for all that loot as it made its way to Europe, whether in the hands of the Spanish who nicked it from Bolivia in the first place or, Sir Francis Drake and his ilk, who in turn, nicked it from the Spanish.

The city of St Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565 although I suspect the indigenous Native American peoples might have said the area was already founded. The Spaniards kept possession for about two hundred years while they pillaged South America, the silver and gold being transported by llama trains numbering up to five thousand (the last couple of thousand in the line must have been knee deep in s?!t.)

The bullion was then shipped up the Pacific coast, transferred across land to Cartagena where it was reloaded onto Spanish galleons to make for St Augustine.....if they got past the English galleons waiting just offshore.

Anyway, here we are in St Augustine, and just like the galleons we're replenishing supplies before heading out into the ocean in our quest to find warmer weather.

Just a shame that unlike the galleons we don't have four hundred million in silver in the bilges.

Meanwhile, I'm catching up on our motorcycling videos from South America. If you're inclined, here's the link.... More Two Hulls coming soon.