ST Augustine to Jacksonville

There was a bit of a hiccup this morning. We had to spend another night at the Marina because the Alternator wasn't back from the Engineers. This didn't please us in particular, because each night costs money.
We got up ready to move on, this morning, and prepared the boat per usual. When we went by the Boat Store, the Alternator wasn't there...again...we had been told last night that the paint wasn't dry...so we walked the mile down the road to the Winn Dixie, to check the Lottery tickets...no luck:(

Anyway, we got our walk in, and on the way there, we got the call to say the Alternator had arrived at the Boat Shop and we could pick it up, which we did on our return.

Waz noticed that the regulator hadn't been changed out, yet they charged us exactly the same amount for the repair, as they did for the first Alternator, which was good as new! How so???

He installed the Alternator, fired the engines up...all good! Turned the engines off again, to enjoy a cup of tea, before setting sail, as it were.

On firing the engines up again, the battery voltage fell, indicating that the new alternator wasn't working! bah!
We went back to the Boat Shop and the owner (a boat mechanic) came down to the boat to see for himself. The job had a guarantee, so there was no problem fixing it if it wasn't right.
He told Waz to take the Alternator out, again, and we would be held up, possibly another night. Not happy!!!

While Waz was in the engine room, he tried something he hadn't done before (even though he knew what it did)....and it worked!!! yay!
So, we finished our tea, started the engines again, and left the dock!
So good to be on the water again, moving forward, and north.

St Augustine from the water...while waiting for the Bridge of Lions to open for us.

 Leaving the city behind...the bridge going down again, after letting us through.

We knew there might be some bad weather on the way, but we had plenty of places we could pull over if necessary. We watched the clouds gather, the sky get darker, and darker, and finally, we got a Coast Guard warning on the radio to say there were extreme conditions present. We didn't want to put ourselves in potentially a difficult situation, so we pulled into a marshy river area, and put down the anchor. We put the curtains up at the back, for weather protection, and hunkered down to have a cup of tea...as you do:)
Here it comes!!
See how wild the water looks here! The wind came up and stirred the pot!

 As you can see...it was warm..80.6F...and damp!

We got a bit of heavy rain, but nothing like we expected, and then pulled the anchor and moved on. It meant we were a bit past our agenda, but that didn't bother us too much. As long as it is light when we dock!


We motored for about 15 miles along a man made channel with houses on one side and marsh/forest on the other. One the way, we were joined by three dolphin who played for the longest time, in the wake...first up close, like this one, then the three of them moved to the larger waves at the back of the boat. I video'd them for about 5 mins, jumping and having loads of fun.:)

Some of the homes were lovely, and what a great place to have a home...with access to the ICW at your doorstep.

This was by far the largest home we saw, just before going under the Jacksonville Bridge.

  On the other side of the bridge, signs of civilization!

 As we approached the turn off to our overnight dock...the public docks..with no services tho!, this large boat crossed in front of us and went up the adjacent river. It looks a bit like it is sitting in a field!lol.

The boat above is the triangle on the right of the screen. The markers were a little confusing to begin with, then we sorted them all out...it is when there are lots of convergences and too many red and green signs!

 We had fought the currents for half the journey so it was nice to have the current with us for the last part of the trip.

Your tax dollars at work...this is a new Navy boat.

 and the Security Boat that went back and forward in front of the boat...boring!

Finally, we went under a bridge that was a bit borderline, and which we debated asking for an opening, but Waz put the antenna down, and we sailed under without a problem.
Our fellow boater on the dock, a Canadian in a Sail boat, helped us tie up, and we are happy to be settled down for the night. This place is quite remote, strangely.

The view out back of the boat...with the pink sunset just beginning.

 

We may have more bad weather tomorrow, so we are watching that on TV right now. Not a problem but we don't like the wind...rain, not a bother tho!.

 

So, we are about to put the genset on again for yet another cup of tea...and maybe some more dessert:) There is just enough left to two more servings:)

 

We may stay another night if the weather is going to be bad, other wise we will pass through Jacksonville and Fernandina, tomorrow.

 

Ciao for now :)