A Special Escort

March 13 2012

We left this morning at first light.  We are heading to St Augustine.  St Augustine is 59     nautical miles from Fernandina. So we had to leave early.  It was low tide, need I say more.  We ran aground but did not stay aground long.  We learned later that about 5 other boats leaving at about the same time with 4 feet draft also had the same fate.  We draw 6 feet. It was a beautiful trip.  We saw some beautiful homes that face the ocean on one side and the ICW on the other. I always wonder what in the world those people do for a living.  They were not canners or Speech Pathologist that is for sure.  The highlight of the trip was when two dolphins decided to escort us for a while.  They stayed with us for at least an hour and a half. One would jump up on the port side and then the other would jump up on the starbord side. Several times he sprayed me as he was that close to the boat. Even when I made a turn they stayed with us.  It was really neat knowing you would get a picture of them because they would just come up every few minutes and splash us. We gave them a names, Romeo and Juliette.  Right before they left our side Romeo jumped up several times in a row we thought he was showing off but now I think he was saying, “good bye and have a good trip”. 

This boat sailed under the bridge under full sail......Show off!

We docked the boat at the St Augustine Maribecause we needed to have our refrigeration checked.  This Marine is right after you pass through the Lions Bridge.   This bridge is a bascule bridge, which means it is a draw bridge.  We had to wait 30 minutes for it to open.  Some bridge open on request and some are opened every half hour.  While we waited I took my shower so I was ready to go when we docked.  John, Carolyn, John B and Jan were on the docks to catch our lines, but the dock hand told them to stay back.  I always like to throw the midship line to the dock hand and that  gives him better control of the boat.  This person had a different idea.  Anyway we got docked just fine.  John B and Jan ate on their boat and we went with Carolyn and John to a really nice outside restaurant.  I had blacken redfish. Great day, great food, great friends, great memories!