One Helluva Day
07 November 2019
Becky
Thursday, Nov 7,2019
We left our anchorage at 5:55. It’s DARK!!
Thank God for our chart plotter! Many unlit markers ahead of us. We go very slowly, and I try to illuminate the markers with our spotlight. This is one of those nerve-wracking jobs! Robert does a great job of maneuvering, and finally the sun comes up!! Can’t help but think of that Rascal Flatts song Praying for Daylight!!
There’s very little wind, so we motor along.
As we come under the Sisters Creek Bridge, there are 2 navy warships under maintenance. Security boats have a 200 yard security zone set up. The channel is 300 yards! We hug the red markers as instructed, and pass with no problems.
Just after this, a huge ship (659 ft long) is entering the channel from offshore; AND the channel has been moved since we last transited these waters. However, the new channel is well marked.
WHEW!! All that will make ya pucker!! Robert, as always, is cool as a cucumber.
We’re fighting a 2 knot head current, and only making 4.5 knots. The current finally let’s go of us, and we’re back to 6 knots.
It’s really warm today, and NO wind.
Lunch is leftovers.
We are almost to St. Augustine, and the Port engine starts vibrating like hell.
We shut it off and motor along on one engine. UGH!!! Things were going so well!
Now we’re down to 3.5 knots. We miss the 3:00 opening of Bridge of Lions by 10 minutes, but now Robert has to maintain position on one engine. AND, he’s conducting a work meeting. AND, only one span of the bridge is functioning.
We make it thru the at the 3.30 opening without incident, and we catch some current to push us along. WooHoo!!! We’re making 6 knots!!!
We get to the Matanzas inlet, and they are dredging!! Holy smokes!! What the hell else today!!!! They need to dredge; we have 0.9 ft under the keel.
The sun sets, and we still have 8 miles to go to make it to Marineland Marina.
We pick our way through, me again with this freakin spotlight, and make it in the marina entrance.
Robert “parks” SeaQuell between 2 big-ass yachts— our 40 ft boat in a 45 ft spot. I struggle with the tall piling to get our lines on, but finally manage it as the jerk on one of the yachts stands and watches; never offering to catch a line.
We are safe; we are tired; and we are hot and stinky!!
I make cocktails, Robert orders pizza delivery, and we catch an episode of Jeopardy on TV while waiting for our pizza.
A shower is going to feel like heaven! Right after I finish this drink!!!!
As I’ ve said many times, this life is not for wussies. We both may be a little
insane to keep doing this.
However, they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I feel like WonderWoman!!!!