St. Augustine to Fort George River

Even with the tide against us we made good progress today. We pumped out before leaving the St. Augustine Municipal Marina a really good place to stay. It is located right in the action of historic St. Augustine close to shops, has clean bathrooms and showers, a giant laundry and a very courteous staff. The pump out was no problem as an attachment was directly in front of our boat, plug it in a pump like mad and the tank was empty. Our first stop was at Inlet Marina for fuel Jay Myers is just great fuel for $3.86 and lots of help at the dock, he even gave us a little gift. We met Barb and Barry on Iffen at Inlet Marine as they were getting fuel as well, Barb is the president of MTOA so we will see them next week.

Inlet Marina is named because it is close to the St. Augustine inlet and there is quite a current as we approached the marina, but I could see the current diminished as we approached the fuel dock. All went well and we departed with the fuel we needed to continue. I can highly recommend Inlet Marina to all Loopers in the area.

Castillo de san Marcos from the Intracoastal

Juan Ponce de Leon Cross

Our last look at Castillo de san Marcos and the tallest cross in North America 218 feet high marking the spot where some believe Juan Ponce de Leon first landed. Then up the Intracoastal past marshy areas and tidal plains toward Jacksonville and the St. Johns Inlet. Lots of activity in the St. Johns River since there is ship building and repairs to military vessels. Then back to the marsh and a quiet anchorage in the Fort George River near the Kingsley Plantation National Park. Lots of tidal flow here in the river and the tide will change a bit after 8:00 PM and again at 3:00 in the morning.

Tidal marsh

Palm Valley Community

Ship rebuilding, St. John's River

St. Augustine, FL

Magnolia Avenue from the Red Train

St. Augustine is a great place to spend a weekend or a week, but you can’t see it all in one day.  We started the morning with a town trolley ride, to see what we had to choose from.  Then we got off at the Lightner Museum.  It was originally a magnificent “destination hotel” before that concept was known, but Henry Flagler thought there should be a wonderful place to go, and ways to spend money in St. Augustine – so he built the railroad this far.  Then he put up a few grand hotels, built a bridge to the beaches on the eastern shore and threw in a few beautiful churches and homes and businesses for good measure.  Once again we see Florida development linked to Henry Flagler.

The courtyard at the Alcazar Hotel now Lightner Museum

His fortune came from being co-founder of Standard Oil, along with John D. Rockefeller.  Fortunately for Florida, he used it to fund development that would change the face of this state, and did it in a style that would last longer than himself – using only the finest architects, designers and artisans.  We saw Tiffany glass windows in Spanish inspired architecture, with complex mosaic floors and the finest of mahogany woodwork and carvings in all of the buildings.

Courtyard entrance Hotel Ponce de Leon now Flagler College

A second hotel was built across the street, and in 1968 that hotel became Flagler College, a liberal arts school on an inspirational campus.  Across from the campus he built the landmark Presbyterian Church as a memorial to his daughter Jenny, who died as a young woman in childbirth.  He is buried in the church with Jenny, her infant child and his first wife and mother of Jenny.

Finally, we walked across the Lions Bridge, right above the marina where Reunion is slipped, and took a photo of the Spanish Galleon ship that hosts tours.  Also in the marina are a day cruise ship, and a fine pirate ship that can be chartered.  Tonight we can hear music from the shore where a wedding party is celebrating on the rooftop of a historic building.

This is definitely a “don’t miss” experience for Loopers and a great stopping place for anyone traveling this way.  We will come again to visit St. Augustine.

Glass displays at the Lightner Meuseum

A Louis Comfort Tiffany Window

The Church to memorialize Flaglers daughter

Bridge of Lions

Reproduction of a Spanish Galleon

Fort Matanzas to St. Augustine

My Sweeties!

We woke up this morning right next to an old Spanish Fort on the Matanzas River.  It was small by Fort standards, but it was put there to prevent attacks on St. Augustine.  Seems to have worked, they never had to fight a battle and only fired the cannons once to warn off approaching British ships.   After that interesting tour we left for St. Augustine and arrived mid-day at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. 

Ft. Matanzas 50x50x30, 4 cannons

The Marina is a great place, well situated near all the historic and tourist destinations and it has nice clean amenities, floating docks and helpful dock-hands.  I would highly recommend it for a Looper stop.

St. Augustine is fabulous, much more than I expected.  We toured the Castillo de san Marcos, a fort that has been protecting St. Augustine since the 1600’s.  It has been under 5 different flags, including Spanish (twice), French, British and American.   Much larger than the first fort, it could protect 500 soldiers and harbored 1300 townsfolk during a British siege of 38 days in 1740.

Then we took off wandering and found narrow streets lined with shops, restaurants, inns and all kinds of beautiful architecture and ambience.  Old Town St. Augustine is a real treasure and it would be easy to spend several days exploring.  We found art shops and galleries on Avile St. We finished the evening at  an Irish Pub restaurant, with a Caribbean Bar outback.  Under the trees and among the fountains were all kinds of mermaid sculptures, fish art, Guinness Beer and several enticing tropical drinks.  We enjoyed it all and look forward to more of St. Augustine tomorrow.

 

Irish Pub with a Tropical Backyard

New Smyrna Beach to Ft. Matanzas Inlet

Today was a travel day, many of the transient boats had departed by the time we left at 8:15. Our destination is an anchorage at Ft. Matanzas (pronounced like Kansas) 54 miles north. We have moved from south Florida through Central Florida and now to North Florida. Each region has a particular climate different from the others. This morning after the front past last night the temp is 57^o partly cloudy with the wind from the northwest, it should warm into the lower 70’s today and the wind will shift more northerly. I miss the Keys.

Sprawls a little

The route today passes Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Flagler Beach, Palm Coast to just south of St. Augustine. A mixed group of communities with several large condo developments, some places that need renovation and some grand homes.

A little different, creative!

We arrived about 3:30 this afternoon and set the anchor near the fort. I needed to finish my dinghy project so we could use it tomorrow to visit the fort. The transom is straightened and strengthen and the broken brace repaired. Testing in the morning.

A very nice quiet night so far, we are close to an inlet to the Atlantic and at 5:33 this evening the tide reversed. We are anchored with 3 other boats, we were all facing south east, then when the tide went slack two boats faced NE and two SW, as the tide changed we all fell back into place and now face NW.

The sun is about to set on a cloudless evening. 

Ft. Matanzas Anchorage, notice long sleeve fleece

A bridge with enough clearance

Carol on the sundeck holding the bimini top

Under we go

Passed through

New Smyrna Beach Day #2

The rain came yesterday evening and was present most of today so we decided to stay here in New Smyrna Beach for another day.  Dennis worked on a wiring project and did some repairs to the dinghy.  A few days ago we caught the dinghy motor on the edge of a pier piling and he needed to reinforce and strengthen the structure. So he worked outside in the rain all day.

Carol, on the other hand, read a good book and then went out for a very nice lunch and some shopping with friend Linda.  The Norwood Seafood restaurant in NSB is a new favorite – we had a Salmon salad with cranberries, fresh figs, goat cheese balls and other yummy stuff.  It was the best salad of the year without a doubt.  Then we ran some errands and finished up at an art gallery where local artists do their work and display art for sale in a big commercial building right in the middle of town.

We don’t have any other photos today but the one I do have is a shot of the beautiful print I bought from an artist named Joyce McAdams.  It was exquisite in person and is very pretty even on a cell phone photo.  I have been collecting small prints and local art from places we stop along the Great Loop.

Very Nice!!

New Smyrna Beach

Carol, Linda and Bob Wink

Last night it came to me in a flash – I think Linda and Bob Wink have a winter home in New Smyrna Beach and here we are!  So I called and they were here too.  Linda and I were best of friends in high school and have seldom had the chance to get together over the years but it never seems to matter.  We pick up the conversation right where we left off.

Bob and Linda came to see Reunion and then we walked to the island part of New Smyrna Beach.  We stopped for some refreshments, walked and talked and pretended to shop a little.  We found ourselves at the beach and then at a charming Italian Restaurant.  After dinner we went to their beautiful condo and had some Key Lime Pie for dessert.  What a great surprise to find them here, and great way to spend the day.  The best friends never really go very far away.

Dennis installed a battery monitor on the boat this morning – to get some real data before we worry more about batteries that might lose power.   We are watching the weather carefully.  There was a downpour this evening and we are waiting to see if the storm has passed or if it will last a few days.

Linda and Carol, on the beach

Titusville to New Smyrna Beach City Marina

Sunday adventures on the islands

Interesting cruise day past the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a group of barrier islands and a coast line set aside for recreation. Since it was Sunday many people were out enjoying the beautiful weather and fine shoreline. We observed about a dozen Manatee in the canal between two of the islands, they were at times so dense we were concerned about disturbing them. Fortunately the canal was 22 feet deep and they could quickly dive to avoid our keel.

Boating Florida Style

As we traveled closer to New Smyrna Beach we began to see trailer homes and manufactured homes and then the start of a city. New Smyrna Beach has a downtown on the mainland and a nice beach town out on the barrier island. Really cute shops I expect Carol will want to peruse tomorrow. Josie drove over again today with Gabe and delivered the packages that arrived at her house yesterday while we were touring. We drove to the beach to check out the little town and they showed us a home with a guest house, pool and boat dock very nice place, wrong coast and I think wrong price range but fun to look at. 

Campers and trailers on the AICW

Reasonably sized homes