Thurs Jan 30 - In which we come to the oldest city in N America

Jacksonville Beach to St Augustine Mooring Field

Hey! Look what I did - I made a little hammock for my undies so I can get to them easily!  It's the little things....

I couldn't sleep because I was so busy thinking of the logistics of moving from a home in Atlanta that we won't sell yet to a Jax Beach condo that we don't even own....  But the hammock cheered me up..

I spent the morning working and Rick spent the morning crawling all over the engine with a mechanic.  They were like pigs in s&@t.  It's so great for him to be able to brainstorm things like this with someone on his level.  I just can't feel the whole engine thing - I'll learn what I have to but I will never love it.  I'm too busy thinking of wall color for a hypothetical condo...

Long story short - tachometer is FIXED.  The world is SAVED.  Can I get a hallelujah and amen...

There was wind and current as we eased out of the slip, so there was less easing then scrambling - but we got there in the end and away we went.  We were cursing the cold, and then it got hot on the bridge with the wind behind us and encased in plastic as it is up there.  Like a green house.  But I'm not going to complain - I'm ready for sunburn.

It was a long, narrow canal past the expensive water-front homes of Ponte Vedra Beach, with not a single other boat in sight the entire day.  We know it will be a jacked-up traffic jam when we come north again with all the other pleasure craft, so we relish this time and the opportunity to learn when no one else is around. (There is a reason no one else is out - cold AF...)

The wind and waves picked up as we arrived at the Bridge of Lions that is the entrance to the St Augustine Harbor and the giant mooring ball field that was our destination.   So that made it super exciting for me to be at the helm while Rick attempted the mooring ball pick-up.  We've got some communication details to work out, and I can't tell you it was elegant -  but we did it on the first attempt - no one was hurt, Rick didn't fall overboard, we didn't hit another boat, there was no yelling, and we didn't lose or break any equipment.  We were a little cranky - but then we watched a sail boat come in after us and try/fail 5 times and finally give up and leave; and we felt a bit better and there was a small high five! It's the little things...

This is the most active, noisy boat - ear plugs mandatory - but she is ours and still afloat and we love her.