St Simon to Sisters Creek to St Augustine
November 16-18, 2019
Mile marker 677 - 778
Mile marker 677 - 778
When we last left off we had been in St. Simons Island, Georgia.Our first night we were at anchor and the second night we stayed at the Morningstar Marina. Nice to be on land, get a long, hot marina shower and dinner out at Crab Daddy’s recommended by my Dad. Yummy scallops for me and a seafood pasta dish for Eddie.
We left there on Saturday, November 16. It was another rainy, windy morning as we headed across St Simons Sound and then Saint Andrews Sound. Saint Andrews was very sloppy until we entered the Cumberland River. We were headed to Fernandina Beach but decided to extend our cruise. The weather was terrible and we didn’t think we’d feel like touring Fernandina in cold rain. Instead, we cruised to Sisters Creek.
That’s where the real fun began. We were headed to a free dock that already had a sailboat and an American Tug on the dock. The Captain wanted to dock between them. It was windy with strong currents. Our stern got pushed as Eddie angled to the dock and we scraped along the side of the beautiful Emerald Lady. You know if you’ve ever had a car accident, yes it was like that. Eddie you’re stern is too close, stern to starboard. Eddie, you’re going to hit that boat and then screech.
Fortunately the owners were as kind as could be, from Annapolis, share the same insurance agency and also shared that they had hit a boat before. It was a tense, rough night. I must have played it over in my head a million times, not much sleep for me. The Emerald Lady is headed to the Bahamas and will have their boat repaired in Annapolis in the spring. Thank God for insurance.
Seaquel has some damage to the bridge support which appears to be fiberglass damage, not structural. Hard lesson.
On Sunday, November 17 we left Sisters Creek. Eddie was up early and wanted to get the heck out. I on the other hand, wanted to wait and be 3rd off the dock. I really wanted to avoid any further drama as it was still super windy with strong current. I won!
We sprung off the dock with a mid cleat, I couldn’t hold the line but we got the stern far enough out to turn the stern into the creek. Another lesson learned.
We had a beautiful cruise to St. Augustine. Lots of pelicans, dolphins and million dollar homes. We anchored out across from the fort and dinghyed to shore to walk around town where we found beach shops, hippy stores, cafes, restaurants and the Cathedral of St. Augustine.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
On Monday we bought tickets on the hop on hop off trolly. I called it the old folks boogie!
We first jumped off with the couple in front of us for a tour of the Castilla de San Marcos (fort) It is a National Park and Eddie has a lifetime senior park pass. He and 3 guests can get in for free! I’m glad we stopped.
There is a dry moat surrounding the fort.
It is the oldest and largest masonry fort in the USA, built in 1672 when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. I thought it was interesting that it was originally built from Coquina stones which were so porous they could absorb enemy cannon fire without breeching the walls!
By far the best part for me was the view from the top of the fort.
You can see Seaquel in the harbor over Eddie’s shoulder.
Over the weekend they shot cannons off seemed like every hour! The first time it went off we were both like what the heck was that?!
A girl and her marshes!
After the fort we jumped back on the trolly for a little more touring.
This Ripley’s museum is housed in the old Warden Castle, a residence constructed in 1887 by William G. Warden of Philadelphia. Warden was a partner of Henry Flagler and John D. Rockefeller of the Standard Oil Company. He built this home as a winter escape for his family.
We were told this street was named one of America’s prettiest street by a travel mag. Works for me!
Funny to see this Carrara marble replica of the David after seeing the real one in Florence this summer. It’s outdoors and surrounded by tall hedges to provide modesty for his nudity!
We had enough trolley and after stopping for coffee we grabbed the beach shuttle to Anastasia Island where we had an ocean side picnic lunch, waded, watched the surfers and relaxed. Ahhhh!
We picked a spot in the dunes and after sitting down I looked up and this is what I saw.
So that’s what happened to red 26!
In my happy place! 🧜♀️
We loved St. Augustine. After a long day, we came home to yummy leftovers and early bedtime!
We left there on Saturday, November 16. It was another rainy, windy morning as we headed across St Simons Sound and then Saint Andrews Sound. Saint Andrews was very sloppy until we entered the Cumberland River. We were headed to Fernandina Beach but decided to extend our cruise. The weather was terrible and we didn’t think we’d feel like touring Fernandina in cold rain. Instead, we cruised to Sisters Creek.
That’s where the real fun began. We were headed to a free dock that already had a sailboat and an American Tug on the dock. The Captain wanted to dock between them. It was windy with strong currents. Our stern got pushed as Eddie angled to the dock and we scraped along the side of the beautiful Emerald Lady. You know if you’ve ever had a car accident, yes it was like that. Eddie you’re stern is too close, stern to starboard. Eddie, you’re going to hit that boat and then screech.
Fortunately the owners were as kind as could be, from Annapolis, share the same insurance agency and also shared that they had hit a boat before. It was a tense, rough night. I must have played it over in my head a million times, not much sleep for me. The Emerald Lady is headed to the Bahamas and will have their boat repaired in Annapolis in the spring. Thank God for insurance.
Seaquel has some damage to the bridge support which appears to be fiberglass damage, not structural. Hard lesson.
On Sunday, November 17 we left Sisters Creek. Eddie was up early and wanted to get the heck out. I on the other hand, wanted to wait and be 3rd off the dock. I really wanted to avoid any further drama as it was still super windy with strong current. I won!
We sprung off the dock with a mid cleat, I couldn’t hold the line but we got the stern far enough out to turn the stern into the creek. Another lesson learned.
We had a beautiful cruise to St. Augustine. Lots of pelicans, dolphins and million dollar homes. We anchored out across from the fort and dinghyed to shore to walk around town where we found beach shops, hippy stores, cafes, restaurants and the Cathedral of St. Augustine.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
On Monday we bought tickets on the hop on hop off trolly. I called it the old folks boogie!
We first jumped off with the couple in front of us for a tour of the Castilla de San Marcos (fort) It is a National Park and Eddie has a lifetime senior park pass. He and 3 guests can get in for free! I’m glad we stopped.
It is the oldest and largest masonry fort in the USA, built in 1672 when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. I thought it was interesting that it was originally built from Coquina stones which were so porous they could absorb enemy cannon fire without breeching the walls!
By far the best part for me was the view from the top of the fort.
You can see Seaquel in the harbor over Eddie’s shoulder.
Over the weekend they shot cannons off seemed like every hour! The first time it went off we were both like what the heck was that?!
After the fort we jumped back on the trolly for a little more touring.
This Ripley’s museum is housed in the old Warden Castle, a residence constructed in 1887 by William G. Warden of Philadelphia. Warden was a partner of Henry Flagler and John D. Rockefeller of the Standard Oil Company. He built this home as a winter escape for his family.
We were told this street was named one of America’s prettiest street by a travel mag. Works for me!
Funny to see this Carrara marble replica of the David after seeing the real one in Florence this summer. It’s outdoors and surrounded by tall hedges to provide modesty for his nudity!
We had enough trolley and after stopping for coffee we grabbed the beach shuttle to Anastasia Island where we had an ocean side picnic lunch, waded, watched the surfers and relaxed. Ahhhh!
We picked a spot in the dunes and after sitting down I looked up and this is what I saw.
So that’s what happened to red 26!
We loved St. Augustine. After a long day, we came home to yummy leftovers and early bedtime!
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