FLORIDA!

On the van ride back to the marina last night, our driver said he would pick us up in the morning for breakfast in the grand dining room.  He was true to his word and picked us up at 0915.  We enjoyed the drive through the grounds is the light of day and got a better look at all the "cottages" and the main club house.  I didn't remember my camera, so I had to resort to finding a picture of the grand dining room on line,

The atmosphere, service and food were all excellent!

We had hoped to take a tour of the whole property after our luxurious breakfast, but the forecast for this evening predicted gale force winds that are expected to continue through Thursday morning and Dan was worried if we anchored out for two days (as had been the original plan)  we would have problems with our battery charger.  We have a new inverter/charger waiting for us in St. Augustine, but currently the only way to charge the batteries is to run the engine.   So the best solution was to leave after breakfast and push on to Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina where we could plug in and hunker down for the next day and a half.  

The trip past Cumberland Island was going smoothly until we got to the southern end of the Brickhill River.  There was much discussion about this area and sure enough it was a problem.   The magenta line (for the first time) was WRONG.  Luckily for us (if not for the other boat) the boat in front of us ran aground so we slowed to a crawl and attempted to go around him and the shallow area, but bumped, but only lightly and were able to turn around and ignore the magenta line and follow the buoyage instead.  Oddly enough the buoys that were in question were #60, #60A, and 61...just like the last buoy problems back in NC!   We were sorry to miss Cumberland Island, it sounds like a great place to visit.

As we neared the Georgia/Florida we went past the Kings Bay nuclear submarine base which looms for quite a while as you approach from the north.  There is always a navy security boat on station to keep anyone from getting to close.  We traveled by at a slow pace and kept to our channel, so we didn't get challenged by the security boat.  We're not sure what the large structure that stuck out almost to the channel was for, it reminded us of a car wash (keep those subs shiny??)

We made it to Fernandina Beach at 1445 and they put us on the inside of the face dock.  They didn't want anyone smaller than 60' on the outside, and as I sit here writing this I can agree with that decision!  The wind is already howling and we are listing a bit even though we are well protected by the cement dock to windward.  It isn't supposed to really blow until nearer dawn.  Can't wait!!

Aurora came in right behind us, but only stopped for fuel and headed off....I wonder where she'll be during this weather.

~~~_/)~~~M&D