February 25, 2007

On Saturday night I was anchored on the north side of the Bridge of Lions in Saint Augustine, Florida. Today they were forecasting severe thunderstorms for the area and it looked like we really might get them. They fortunately slid off to the north of here but I moved around to the south side of the Bridge of Lions to St. Augustine Municipal Marina where I am tied up currently for Sunday. After some checking around I found out that they will service engines at the dock. So tomorrow morning I am having Shorty’s oil and filter changed at 80 hours because after doing some research and talking to more people going north this is the best place to have things like this done. The service store is within walking distance of the docks.

After arranging that and getting a new cellphone as my first one checked out at two months of age I played tourist. Saint Augustine is a beautiful old city to be in if you have to get stuck for a couple of days. I walked as far as I could stand and probably still only saw just half of the things. I am always fascinated by old architecture and the Flagler College, City Hall, Churches and other buildings are there to be toured and investigated. The city was founded or settled by Ponce De Leon and the day before I passed the inlet to the Atlantic which was named after him.

Boating wise yesterday was cleanup day as usual when docked the first thing is to wash the salt off of everything and then polish the stainless steel parts because they start getting rust spots on them. On Monday I have to do some cleaning inside. The floor needs a good scrub down with fresh water after getting salt tracked in on it. Sure glad I don’t have carpet. I just put some water on the floor and then mop it up with a sponge.

I want you to know that the dock people in St. Augustine have been the nicest friendliest and helpful of all so far that I have stayed other than the Jones Dock in Wabasso and in Moore Haven. It’s probably because I am flattered to be called captain all the time. They also have floating docks here because the tide changes from here north become more pronounced and the currents much stronger when they tide is coming in and going out. Sitting here this morning writing and looking out the window you can see it flowing out past the dock. You want to leave here when the water is preferably flowing toward the ocean and continue on north when it is coming in from the ocean. Since that is hard to do you try to catch it when it is ebbing. With powerboats however you just burn a little more fuel and go pretty much when you want, sail would be different unless they are also under power.