November 18-24 Georgia -Northern Florida

November 18 Walburg Creek Ga anchorage mm624 . Leaving the Charleston marina for our next stopover at Walburg Creek at mm624 was accomplished in a light breeze and very little current. The day was sunny but cool. Walburg Creek is wide and exposed to northerly winds. Silver Foxes and Our Time try to raft up (tie up to each other at anchor). The effort proved futile as John on Our Time tried to land next to us with the wind blowing 25-30 knots. That did not work. You can imagine the scenario. Our boat blowing back and forth and the current also influencing its course and John trying to land the boat also with the wind and current trying to do its thing but certainly not in unison. Like a plane landing on a moving aircraft carrier. So we anchored separately. A very windy evening on the hook. As always the wind and current have a dog fight and as usual the current wins and the boat always points into the current.

November 19 Frederica Creek Ga mm 672. Fredrica Creek is 48 miles away. The trip is uneventful except for the constant stream of boats southbound. Sailboats are numerous. A few trawlers like us and then there are the big sport fishing (go fast) and occasionally a mega yacht (very big boat). Every one tries to be courteous and when passing they slow so they don't rock you with their wake. Most of the time it works. Fredrica Creek is an offshoot of the ICW. Very peaceful night at anchorage compared to last night. Light winds. We are anchored very close to the remains of Fort Fredrica (Google it if you want to know more)

November 20 Cumberland Island GA mm 711. I promised John of Our Time that he would see a submarine in Kings Bay on our way to the Cumberland Island anchorage. Not a sub to be seen. They weren't evening working on one at the Naval sub base. A peaceful night on the hook. Both boats nestled together. The next morning we saw one of the wild horses on Cumberland Island near the shore

November 21 Pine Island Anchorage (Florida) mm765. After leaving our anchorage we quickly cross into Florida at Fernandina Beach. After travelling 54 miles Silver Foxes tied up next to Our Time. A lovely evening that later turned into the evening from hell. As we retired the wind was dead calm and we expected to get a good nights sleep on the hook. As usual, I set the anchor alarm on the GPS before retiring. The anchor alarm goes off if your anchor is pulled out and your boat is adrift. About 2:30 am I awake to the sound of the anchor alarm and the wind howling. Bolting to the GPS I get the signal indication that we have violated our anchor radius and we also have set off the shallow water alarm. The depth sounder reads 3.3'. The draft of the boat is 3'10". With a little tolerance built in to the depth sounder I knew, after surveying the situation I find the tide is now rising-that is the good news-but the bad news is we are being blown farther into the shoreline. We may or may not be close to being on ground. Since we are tied to Our Time, a knock on the outside of the boat brings John quickly to his feet. It is very dark and the wind is howling. We decide the best course of action is to try and pull us off with the anchor. We believe the anchor is now set so we pull both boats forward with the anchor take up mechanism on Our Time. The anchor windlass groans and moans but it eventually pulls both boats into deeper water. After the shallow water frees us from its grips, John moves both boats with his engines fired up to deeper water avoiding several anchored sailboats in our path.. The rest of the night both Captain's Jim and John stayed up watching for further anchor drifting. Judy and Gail didn't sleep too much either. By morning the wind calmed somewhat and we pulled anchor at 7 am. Another day in this adventure!

November 22-23 St Augustine FL. mm 778 It was a short 12 mile trip from our anchorage to the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. The Marina is right downtown St. Augustine which is the oldest city in the U.S. John and I walked to the Sailors exchange store which was a good hike away but after being at anchor and no exercise it was a brisk walk on a very blustery day-high in the low fifties. The City was having their Holiday lighting ceremony that evening which included song and festivities. After turning the switch the City was awash with Holiday lights. A very fine meal at Harry's Seafood restaurant finished off the evening. On Sunday Judy and i went to the 9am mass at St. Augustine's basilica. The church was founded in 1565 and burnt down several times but the current church was built in 1797. Later on a tour of the city was taken on the trolley. Judy and I did that when we were here in the Spring but John and Gail had not been here so we went on the tour again. A slightly warmer day but still chilly

November 24 Mosquito Lagoon Anchorage mm 860-Finally a warm day-For a little while I could have worn my shorts but as the day wore on it got cool again. To give you some idea where we are we travel through Daytona Beach. Thankfully not many mosquitoes in Mosquito Lagoon. It is very calm and peaceful night on the hook where we anchor just off of the ICW in 7.5' of water. The Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly building is within view of our anchorage. A long day today as we travel nearly 85 miles in ten hours.

November 25 Rock Point Anchorage mm925. A sixty mile day today traveling in the Indian River. We pass Titusville and Cocoa. Sunny part of the day and very light sprinkle. Very little wind. Our goal is Ft. Pierce FL by Wednesday afternoon.

Pictures--Top photo-sunset at Mosquito lagoon. Judy Jim & John on the streets in St. Augustine then Christmas lights in St. Augustine. The Brunswick Ga River bridge and the bottom photo is the commercial waterfront in Brunswick nearby the commercial fuel dock.