Going...

Well, we did finally get going. After the dinghy and motor were aboard, the hatch was reinstalled etc, we disconnected power, water …and internet and left Holland Marine at Green Cove Springs! It was just a beautiful sunny day with calm winds. Bill said too calm. We were able to practice putting the mainsail up and down and also unfurling the jib. All went well and we did actually sail for a while. but then took them down when the wind died down. We motored to Jacksonville with the current which was a quick trip. Decided to go to the new City Marina but at the third bridge which is a lift bridge we had to wait 2 hours because of rush hour. There is an area right before the bridge called The Landing so we were able to dock here, planning to wait for the bridge. Once we were in we found restaurants and a great walk all along the shore so we just stayed put left in the AM. This was compliments of the city of Jacksonville.



Wednesday headed toward the St. John’s Inlet and depending on the weather forecast we decided we would either go north on the Intracoastal or outside and go north along the coast. This is breeding season for the Right Whales along this coast and we have heard radio announcements of sightings today. Have to avoid all contact and stay 500 yards away from these big ones! It would be fun to see them, but can't see much from 500 yards away!

Happy St Patrick's Day. We headed down to the coast stopping for fuel at Mayport. That was more learning, but a pretty successful docking with a 5 mile current...no bangs to the boat.

With tank full Bill wanted to head out into the Atlantic. I did not. Agreed to go out the cut and see what it was like. It was raining and blowing and rough so everyone was happy to take to the ditch as the Intracoastal Waterway is sometimes called and head north. It is a tranquil peaceful place with marsh and water and wildlife all along the way.



Stopped at Alligator Creek near Cumberland for the night. Anchorage had some current and was noisy during the night as the anchor chain slid along the keel when the tide changed. Next day we continued on with almost no traffic other than a few fishermen or people tending crab traps which are plentiful.

Wildlife has been wonderful all along with dolphins every where dancing in the waves. Have added to my bird list and am not an avid birder, but enjoy what I see. Have seen sanderlings, sandpipers,and curlews along the shore, many cormorants and saw a common loon, a bald eagle sitting on a marker post(wonderfully magnificent), white pelicans floating in a group on the water...camera was down in the cabin, egrets, terns, skimmers, and a yellow crested night heron with plumes blowing in the wind. Even thought we saw some wild horses, but decided they probably were cattle!

Friday, after spending a lively night before with dinner out and entertainment by the Wharf Rats at Jekyll Harbor Marina, we were passing St Simon's Island in Georgia. Just before the bridge we made a wrong turn and ended up stuck fast and deep in the soft mud. We just had to laugh! Called Boat US tow service who came and said they could NOT pull us out until the tide came in!



We had to sit and wait for the tide to go all the way out and come back in. There was no water around the boat at all... no water for the toilets either! We stayed upright by some miracle. We learned to clean out the engine water filter thanks to some help from Andre who happened to call from Quebec and Joe from whom we bought the boat. Thanks!!!
We watched the birds and the sunset and about a million cars crossing the Brunswick and St. Simon's bridges. After pulling from 6:30 until after 9 PM they were finally able to "extract" us out of the mud, and guide us to a safe anchorage close by...next to the Golden Isles Marina. Thank goodness for Boat US insurance which Bill was talked into buying 2 weeks ago! A humbling experience but the boat and we were fine so off we went again.



We had 2 lovely warm days in a row and were able to roll up the enclosure.
Forgot to report that in Jekyll we had met 2 Finnish men who are rowing up from Key West to NYC in an open wooden row boat they had shipped from Finland. It did have a canvas cover. Amazing undertaking and amazing muscles!

Fun to see all these islands we have visited by car now from the water. Will do some more exploring on future trips. Anchored out in the Wahoo River, went past the original Moon River.



The river was originally called the Back River, but after Johnny Mercer wrote his famous song about it the State of Georgia changed the name officially to Moon River. We anchored last night in the Herb River south of Savannah with wicked winds blowing most of the night. The anchor held!

Today, we made it past the Savannah River which was closed until noon because of a diesel fuel spill in Savannah. Good timing, but just luck. We motored past Daufuskie Island and Hilton Head along the Calibogue and across the Port Royal Sounds. Arrived in Beaufort about 5PM, and we are staying at the Port Royal Marina. Internet again!!!

We really didn't sail except the first day, just motored, but feel very comfortable with the boat from that perspective as well as anchoring and docking. When we come back will do some day sailing in the Port Royal Sound for practice. Plan to leave tomorrow and head back to Atlanta. Need to make some more boat plans after Easter.

Getting Set...

Well, here we are at the Holland Marina dock in Green Springs Cove. We arrived here on Tuesday just at sunset, and there was Wind Spirit waiting for us. She looked just beautiful in the evening light. It was hard to believe that she was truly our boat even though we had visited her twice before. This time seemed more real as she was ready to take off as soon as we were!

We are comfortable and getting to know the boat. The boat yard and work were a little dusty so we have been cleaning, clearing out lockers and finding treasures Joe and Lyn have left for us. We are slowly getting organized, finding places for everything we think we might need. Part of the problem with finding places for stuff is that we seem to just keep bringing more and more onto the boat from Target, Walmart, the grocery store and of course West Marine!

Trying learning how the stove and fridge work has been fun...now if I can just remember to turn of the gas switch after I turn off the stove! This is the tiniest kitchen we have ever had, but am up to the challenge. Literally... I have a little stool so I can reach the back of the cupboards and the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer! Also we both are figuring out water as well as other systems like heat, and toilets which have been a little tricky. Bill is trying to learn how to work the SSB radio along with a few other things!!!

Bill has the dinghy inflated, and motor on it. He was able to recruit some assistance to get them to the water and attached. The little one is in the water tied up next to us like a mother duck and her duckling. Have to think of a name for the dinghy soon.

Have had a few extra things to have repaired this week...a leaky hatch over the bed, a cracked isinglass panel in the cockpit enclosure from the cold, and two shower heads to repair that were leaking. Am sure the outside one just got too cold too. The other one just needed some help due to old age.

We are both having fun and learning together. Even sleeping has been a bit of a challenge as we wake up at dawn, but are still staying up too late. Will be interesting to see how daylight saving will be.

The wind is blowing like crazy tonight as it has been all day up to and above 30 knots. Is it trying to tell us to get off the dock? Maybe it is, but we're going to wait until it isn't blowing quite so hard for our first venture.

Ready...

We had word on Friday that work was finally completed on Windspirit. She is in the water and ready for us! After waiting 8 weeks, thanks to extremely cold weather, we can finally get serious about staying on her. Feels a little real (make that scary to me) right now.

Taxes are almost completed. Insurance stuff has been taken care of as well as some finances for us and Mother. Bill found a motor on Craig's List, and bought a dinghy which is waiting for us with Windspirit. Maybe we are really going to be on the boat for a while. But... will be back here for Easter, and want to see grandsons around then, so are planning that far ahead at this point. I have to take this whole process of separating from our lives here in little bites!

Serious gathering and packing today. Lists are written. So far have done laundry, packed paints and art supplies, gotten DC charger for the Sony reader and downloaded a few books after sorting out the software. Imagine taking 100 books in the space of less than one. Oh, yes need to get the Spanish books together so I can be working on that too. With no TV should be more time to get stuff like that done. Still need to plan and organize knitting projects...never mind food, linens and clothes!! Will get to those tomorrow.

I just went for a short walk in the sun in the garden while I still can to have a look at what has been starting to grow. The cedar wax wings have been eating the berries on the holly. The daffodil, hydrangea and saucer magnolia buds are getting fat. The lenten roses are lovely.