11/25/15

Maintaining a site online may seem like such a simple task – take some pictures, write some narrative and post online.  I have pictures!  I can write words but the online part is more difficult.  In today’s modern times I suppose it’s hard to imagine no internet.  But we have no internet access onboard.  When we’re ashore, visiting with family and friends takes precedent over logging online words and pictures.  Sorry.

Our new jib!

After spending 10 days or so on Donna and Jerry’s dock in Oriental, NC (yup – visiting with friends and family) we motored to Beaufort, NC and enjoyed a fast sail to St. Mary’s Inlet in Florida.  The northerly winds started out at 25 knots settling down to 18 knots as we rounded Frying Pan shoals on the first night.  The second night saw the winds drop even more.  We ended up starting the motor coming in the inlet and anchoring in Fernandina Beach.  Our short stay in Fernandina was spent visiting my (karen’s) relatives  Walt & Brenda Pakkala, Aunt Lorraine, and 6 year old Christian.  A lovely lunch, apple pie made with NY apples, conversation, and tours of their homes.  Our reminiscing and discussions of Florida, family and boating turned toward more serious matters of sharks and Legos when Christian arrived after school.  It was nice to visit and a delight to share how we live onboard.

Walt, Brenda, Lorraine

My cousin Teneel's son Christian.

From Fernandina we motored down the ICW and at the intersection of the ICW and St. John’s River we turned starboard and headed towards Jacksonville.  With fond memories of discovering the Jacksonville Zoo on the Trout River a number of years ago we anchored to take advantage of the “arrive by boat visit the zoo for free” deal.  Sadly, we learned they no longer offer the free pass to boaters so we stayed aboard Persephone and changed the oil and flushed the cooling system on the engine instead. 

In the past we could turn on the computer and find an unsecured wifi while at anchor.  That’s no longer today’s experience.  All networks that pop up need a password.  No computer updating here.

Next stop – Jacksonville Landing where there are free docks along the downtown Jacksonville waterfront.  Six sailboats were already tied along the floating docks making our arrival lucky 7.  We tied up, walked 2 blocks, hopped on the monorail to cross the river, another walk about 3 blocks to the Bistro Aix where our friend Chris is the head chef.  We were handed menus by the attentive waitresses.  Chris told us we were welcome to read through them but he already had plans.  They were delicious plans!  Warm bread, tuna & crab sushi wrapped in sliced cucumbers, grilled tomato salad, coq a vin, red velvet cake and an éclair.  Every bite was divine – full of flavor, freshness, texture – exquisite. 

Chris, Amy and 3 year old Andrew came to Persephone for dinner that night and then for sailing on Saturday on the St. John’s River.  Perfect partly sunny 10 knot breeze day.  Chris took the wheel and Andrew, with Amy’s eye at all times, went from the table playing dominoes to the cockpit and back and forth and back and forth.  “Can we have a snack?”  Ah, to be young with so much energy and curiosity.  What fun!   After dinner we said goodbye to the Jones family as they walked down the dock with their bags and Andrew asleep in his father’s arms.

Yum!

Chris, Jerry, Karen

Chris at the helm

Andrewand Amy

Andrew, Amy with Jacksonville in the background.

I should have had time to update the blog at the dock!  But, alas, there were more people to talk to instead.  We met Leandro who recently bought his boat.  A 35’ Malo built on the same island in Sweden as ours.  We were fascinated learning about his childhood in Brazil and his career in Russia and Germany.  His Russian girlfriend, Maria, flew in for a visit from………Binghamton, NY!  Where she is studying American History for two years.  Docked in front of Leandro was Fabio, also from Brazil, who recently bought his boat.  It was refreshing to spend time with such intelligent, enthusiastic beginning cruisers who both have plans to sail all over the world.

On Sunday we pulled out the jib and headed south on the St. Johns River to Green Cove Springs.  Our friends Dale and Ronnie from Stuart, FL were driving north as we sailed south to meet at Green Cove Springs Marina.  We anchored out and came in to meet Dale’s friend Mike who had just purchased a beautiful 45’ Shearwater schooner.  More visiting, boat tours, dining together, meeting people working on their boats at the marina – who has time for the internet?  Dale and Ronnie stayed overnight onboard.  Our plan was to take them sailing in the morning.  The 40 degree temperature and brisk winds put a halt on those plans.  (Did I mention Jerry fixed the diesel Webasto furnace that came with the boat?)  Jerry promised to take them sailing in Stuart, FL when we get there.

In order to continue south on the ICW we actually have to go north about 25 miles, back to Jacksonville, and another 20 miles or so along the St. John’s River that flows out to the ocean.   I’ll try to find the time and place to log on to the internet!

One last note:  Our Spot gps lost its signal for a bit when we were traveling on the ocean recently.  We keep it down in the cabin, not out in the cockpit, where it probably would receive better service to the satellites.  This is not a safety device for us, just a way friends and family can keep track of us.  We have EPIRB devices on board if we're ever in any danger that will relay our position to the Coast Guard.  Use our Spot device for your curiosity only.   If it doesn't show our track it may have lost a signal temporarily.   The link for the SPOT can be found in the previous post below.