Friday 4-13-12
Palm Cove Marina – Jacksonville Beach
We got home Wed., then spent yesterday repacking the boat, then went to a pre rendezvous party last night at Phil and Sarah’s in Palm Coast. We got up this morning with the intention to only go to St Augustine but the tide Gods were with us. Since we were making record time we continued on up to Jacksonville. We had a fabulous dinner next door at Marker 32 restaurant. Tomorrow we only have about 30 miles to go to our final destination of Fernandina. The official MTOA rendezvous does not start to Tues. but most of our friends are headed up to start “rendezvousing” early !
Palm Cove Marina – Jacksonville Beach
We got home Wed., then spent yesterday repacking the boat, then went to a pre rendezvous party last night at Phil and Sarah’s in Palm Coast. We got up this morning with the intention to only go to St Augustine but the tide Gods were with us. Since we were making record time we continued on up to Jacksonville. We had a fabulous dinner next door at Marker 32 restaurant. Tomorrow we only have about 30 miles to go to our final destination of Fernandina. The official MTOA rendezvous does not start to Tues. but most of our friends are headed up to start “rendezvousing” early !
A peaceful start to the day - the ICW in northern Florida is just beautiful !
Bridge at Matanzas
And naturally the big power boat wakers
Low tide
Bridge of Lions - St. Augustine
St. Augustine marina
Fort at St. Augustine
St. Augustine
Dredging at the St. Augustine Inlet
Sat. 4-14-12
Hold on to your hats, Sundance hit 9.6 knots ! I was worried that the captain might not be able to handle her so unharnessed at her speedy 9.6 knots, but he rose to the occasion and skippered masterfully ! There was only a 20 % chance of rain, and it followed us the whole morning, but only light sprinkling despite the gray menacing looking skies. We arrived at the Marina about 11:30 AM, and were settled in, in under an hour. I hit the local stores for some shopping with Pat (I forgot to bring a few things in our haste like food). We attended a great dock party last night organized by Ellen for unlimited steamed shrimp right off the boat – Delish !!! After the party, Jon Crew and I wandered around town. Fernandina has a fabulous waterfront neighborhood, similar to Cocoa Village or a mini St. Augustine. We have one slight problem. I had turned our shower into my closet since we are marina rats, and flip flops and I are no strangers to the bath houses. Here they only have three showers for over a hundred boats, so I have decided to turn the closet back into the shower. I will let Jon know about my big plan tomorrow right before he leaves to help dock boats. I have found when I have a project that he will not be as enthusiastic about, that if I let it settle in a bit, he becomes more enthusiastic. OK, enthusiastic may be an exaggeration, but he does usually let me have my way – have I mentioned lately that I do have the world’s best husband ?
Hold on to your hats, Sundance hit 9.6 knots ! I was worried that the captain might not be able to handle her so unharnessed at her speedy 9.6 knots, but he rose to the occasion and skippered masterfully ! There was only a 20 % chance of rain, and it followed us the whole morning, but only light sprinkling despite the gray menacing looking skies. We arrived at the Marina about 11:30 AM, and were settled in, in under an hour. I hit the local stores for some shopping with Pat (I forgot to bring a few things in our haste like food). We attended a great dock party last night organized by Ellen for unlimited steamed shrimp right off the boat – Delish !!! After the party, Jon Crew and I wandered around town. Fernandina has a fabulous waterfront neighborhood, similar to Cocoa Village or a mini St. Augustine. We have one slight problem. I had turned our shower into my closet since we are marina rats, and flip flops and I are no strangers to the bath houses. Here they only have three showers for over a hundred boats, so I have decided to turn the closet back into the shower. I will let Jon know about my big plan tomorrow right before he leaves to help dock boats. I have found when I have a project that he will not be as enthusiastic about, that if I let it settle in a bit, he becomes more enthusiastic. OK, enthusiastic may be an exaggeration, but he does usually let me have my way – have I mentioned lately that I do have the world’s best husband ?
It was predicted to have 20 % chance of rain - leaving Palm Cove marina
We were actually rained on about 20 % of the day - that must be what a 20 % chance of rain means !
Beautiful cloudy skies
I did not get the 9.6 recorded - but here is 9.3 - about a record breaker for us !
Rainbows and dolphins good luck
A two finned dolphin - twice the luck
We had a stowaway on board
Pelican pool party
Don't think I would get too close to this green marker
or too close to this red marker
Bridge with railtoad swing bridge in background
Railroad tracks
Captain Jon
Dock shrimp party
Nothing says happy like Susan and a plate of shrimp
Kathy and George
Vern and Lee
Jeff and Karen
Outside dock of Marina
Crew, Susan and Jon
Sunday, 4-15-12 – Happy Tax Day
As I imagined the shower that I turned into a closet but now wanted back as a shower idea went over big with Jon, but the long and the short of it is, I now have a new and improved shower ! We started the day with Jon on the docking committee and he spent the day wearing a green vest and running around assisting incoming boats. I met up with the registration committee and we stuffed welcome bags. Second Star arrived mid afternoon, and party was planned for 5:00 PM. We did our usual singing dancing and talking pirate at the party, then hatched up some more plans for the pub crawl that we are in involved with tomorrow night. Tomorrow is docking committee all day again for Jon, registration for Susan, then we are pub crawl leaders starting at 5:00 – now tomorrow is going to be a fun day !
As I imagined the shower that I turned into a closet but now wanted back as a shower idea went over big with Jon, but the long and the short of it is, I now have a new and improved shower ! We started the day with Jon on the docking committee and he spent the day wearing a green vest and running around assisting incoming boats. I met up with the registration committee and we stuffed welcome bags. Second Star arrived mid afternoon, and party was planned for 5:00 PM. We did our usual singing dancing and talking pirate at the party, then hatched up some more plans for the pub crawl that we are in involved with tomorrow night. Tomorrow is docking committee all day again for Jon, registration for Susan, then we are pub crawl leaders starting at 5:00 – now tomorrow is going to be a fun day !
Organizing welcome bags for registration - Lee, Kathy and Pat
Mary, Elaine and Lee
John and Sarah
Crew giving Danette some attention
Here comes Second Star - party to follow
Popcorn,Cocktail - off to Second star
Mike and Dave
George
Jon, Mike and Danette
Jana, Lynn and Danette
Danette and Jon
The gang - Susan, Kathy, Jana, Lynn, Danette and Pat
Jim, George and Dave
Tues. 4-17-12
Busy, busy, busy….. Yesterday was a fun day with docking, registration, and then the Pub Crawl. Jon and I were leaders of one of the pub crawl groups – we went to three different pubs with our group of about 30 people. All the group leaders dressed up as Pirates – we started at the Dog Star, then the Palace, and ended up at O’Kanes. Today was the official opening day with some seminars, then a social hour where Lee and I hosted Speed greeting, similar concept to Speed dating – then we ended our evening at Jim and Danette’s.
Busy, busy, busy….. Yesterday was a fun day with docking, registration, and then the Pub Crawl. Jon and I were leaders of one of the pub crawl groups – we went to three different pubs with our group of about 30 people. All the group leaders dressed up as Pirates – we started at the Dog Star, then the Palace, and ended up at O’Kanes. Today was the official opening day with some seminars, then a social hour where Lee and I hosted Speed greeting, similar concept to Speed dating – then we ended our evening at Jim and Danette’s.
Crew on pirate guard
Vern - yes he is the man...
Still on guard
Busy docking committee
Sundance
and Sundance twin arriving