Made it!

Whew. 1200 miles.  

  15 bridges today  

The last bridge. Atlantic in lauderdale by the sea.  Our goal.  

More later. 

Passed MM 1000!! Palm Beach

We feel like that is a big deal-seems like it wasn't that long ago that we were anchoring in a rainstorm at MM 0.  Many bridges, sunsets, green marks, red marks, dolphins  and anchorages ago. Tomorrow the goal is Ft lauderdale - just 40 miles away. End of this leg of the journey. Wow. 

Good morning !

Windshield time 

Mm 1000

Cottages 

Oh, really?

Palm Beach 

Jensen Beach

SmallOur dolphin friends were especially active today. A pod of them called us out on deck to enjoy the sunrise, by circling around the boat with a lot of blowing and spouting off.  Well worth it. 

They hide when the camera comes out. 

Apparently there are some bugs down here.   Some houses have screened enclosures as big as they are. 

Small shacks. 

Progress!

Spoil island mm 925

Cruisin!  Feeling more tropical every day. Dropped sister sarah off today at melbourne harbour marina. Thanks for visiting- arrg shes a good mate 

When they dredge the channels they dump the spoils into spots adjacent to the channel creating 'spoil islands'. 

This one is called paradise island.   

Our dinghy gets to enjoy the sunset too

I am thinking about work about now.  

Titusville

Nice day today. Warm Florida sun sure feels nice. Did we hear something about a winter storm warning?  

Dolphins, manatees and turtles today.  Birds galore. Herons , eagles, ospreys, kingfishers.  Pretty special. 

Anchored in sight of space shuttle launch pad  just south of NASA Bridge. 

Sarah chillin before Coronado Beach bridge.  

Mission control. 

Jah Mon. 

Daytona beach

You'd think it would be MM500 but it is 831.  200 to go before ft lauderdale.  

Definitely getting south. More beaches more tourism.  

Assistant navigator. 

Ahh

St Augustine

Nice easy day with Sarah. Cruising along the ditch.  Lots of cool 'man cave' boat houses. Got to st aug by 2. Went ashore-historic town - a bit touristy but nice.  

Morning engine meditation

Reminded us of old San Juan pr. 

Jacksonville Beach FLA!

Wow! We made it to Florida! Seemed an impossible task a few weeks ago.  

Docked at beach marina. Jacksonville Beach Florida 

Anchorage at dawn

Welcome to Florida 

Grabbing a bite and a hurricane with sister Sarah 

Cumberland Island GA MM 710

57 miles today. Nice day, sunny, but darn chilly. More rivers and sounds.  Our course took us nearly to ocean out Jeckyl Sound. Beautiful islands with sandy beaches and dunes. 

Went ashore at Cumberland Island.  Incredible vegetation - huge trees covered with Spanish moss.  It was great to finally go for a hike!!!

 Path led us to incredible beach covered with dunes.  

And of course sunset:

Florida tomorrow - picking up my sister Sarah in Jacksonville Beach. - she is always up for an adventure! Yea!

Wolf island GA

Should be our last night in GA, but for engine konking out.  Still funny fuel issues, but got it resolved by 1.  So that pushed us beyond high tide- so we had to run opposing tide and 25 kts wind. No fun - but made it to awesome anchorage. 

All is well MM 653.

 Engine work

Wind and current 

Ahhhh

Wahoo River GA MM 630

A nice day, but rainy. Cruising through marshes and sounds. Very remote country after leaving Savannah. 

Beautiful anchorage - finally near some trees. A lot of these marsh river anchorages are like anchoring in Kansas with wheat looking fields all around us. 

Checking the anchor tonight, as it switches direction twice with tide:

A pod of dolphins blowing around me, the ocean crashing in the distance, an owl hooting, and phosphorescence streaming past with the tide.  Not bad. 

Sunrise

Progress- replacing old bascule bridges with modern 65' tall bridges.  Less elegant, but easier for all.  

Palm jungle - dolphins  playing around us at dusk. Herons and egrets squawking.  

Georgia on our minds

Had to say it.  Anchored up the Herb river, right? Thunderbolt GA outside Savannah  Mm 584.4. 

Dropped Ernie off - great to have him aboard - thanks Ernie.

Took the rest of day off to get work done, change oil, coolant etc. 

cheers 

J&P 

Wright River SC

Mm 573. Good day.  Moving along. Lots of canals and dolphins.  

Got to even sail a bit!

Nice anchorage last night.  In the land of currents and tides.  7' tide today. 3 kts! Of current 

Swing bridge at Beaufort SC

Navigation

Ernie is very helpful. 

Sunset over savannah GA! Life is good. 

Bull river

Special day with Ernie - only ran aground once! 

Excellent navigation!

Google says : Larry Ellison originally owned "Rising Sun" but now David Geffin does.  

Charleston SC

Another good day.  Good progress. A beautiful day, great sunrise, nature, dolphins and eagles. Major shallow spots we finessed thru near isle of palms. 

Docked at charleston city marina mega dock. Felt small but proud among the mega yachts. Good food at 'noisy oyster'. 

Successfully picked up Ernie.  

Larry elisions yacht

Big boat