November 6 - 9, 2014
Armed
with knowledge to combat tides, DST and shoaling this gray and humid Thursday
morning, SaSea Sally departed Lang's Marina East in St. Marys, GA, at a bright
and early (for us) 8:15 a.m. Note: Just being 'armed' doesn't insure our safe
passage. We crossed the Georgia-Florida 'line' and entered Florida waters,
cruising seven hours to arrive at the Metropolitan Park Marina in Jacksonville.
Without dock help, it was an ugly landing. I freaked out as we pivoted around
the spring line pivot point and wedged into the dock slip on a diagonal. But
all was righted in due time, and 'no one was hurt.' (Lady's Island friend Steve
always says, "If no one was hurt, it was a good landing.") In like
manner, most of us women non-drivers-exept-when-called-into-service say,
"We could dock this boat. It might not be pretty, but we'd get her docked!
NOTE: Clay said the spring line's purpose is to serve as a pivot point. Maybe
that's why I don't like spring lines!
Only because we've docked here before did I know (kinda) where I was. This location brings back memories of friends Kerwin and Barb Rohr who traveled this area with us some months ago. Following dinner, I amazed myself staying up as late as I did this Thursday night. Telephone tag and catch-up phone conversations made dinner late and a shower even later.
What sane female
washes, dries, and styles (kinda) her hair at 9 p.m.? Only the one who has
boated a full day of wind and weather which started with no-see'ums biting her
scalp! Idiotic, but necessary!
Each
morning of the past 14+ months, I lie in wait until the light dawns as to where
I am and how the boat is positioned (starboard or port tie or anchored). I
won't get up until I have those things figured out. Heaven forbid the day I
can't figure it out; Clay would be crewless!!!!!
Clay
chose our early-this-morning walking route, probably because he had heard there
is 'civilization' nearby (promoted in one of his guidebooks in the form of
restaurants, shops, etc.), and we were clueless as to how that was possible. We
were at one of Jacksonville's municipal marinas, quite near the
football/baseball stadium which hosted the FL/GA game only the previous weekend.
There was evidence of tailgate partying along our route as we stepped among
baubles, bangles, beads, and of course candy wrappers, discarded cups, bottles
and trash of various sorts. I perked up as we approached a huge building,
sniffing a pronounced aroma of coffee. The Maxwell House/Kraft factory, where
coffee beans are roasted, ground and packaged, guaranteed a smile on my face
and a spring in my step; I swear the aroma was so intense that I absorbed
caffeine thru my skin! Sus, here was Lucy Swindoll's 'little pop of joy' for
today!
Returning
to the boat for a quick bite of breakfast, we launched quickly (and easily) for
the 9 a.m. bridge opening to Ortega Landing. As we crossed under the bridge, we
encountered our friends Jim and Belinda (Rickshaw); the eagerness in our arm
waves and enthusiasm in our voices over the radio conveyed our delight in
meeting. So near, yet so far. Belinda highlighted some of their week on the St.
Johns River which was upcoming for us; nice to be armed with some first-hand
knowledge.
Ortega
was an easy hour cruise where we were docked before 10 a.m. Nice to have the
day ahead and plenty of tasks to fill the day. Because the cupboard was bare,
grocery shopping was high on our list of priorities. But not before a lap swim (heated
pool, thank goodness), a shower and two laundry loads (also high priority). At
check-in dockmaster Shawn briefed us on the activites ahead of us this party
weekend (we'd picked a good time to dock at Ortega), so my grocery list was
amended to accommodate Friday night's carry-in/surprise birthday party.
Saturday's morning walk in bright and beautiful sunlight circled us over both St. Johns River bridges and back to Ortega by way of a nautical flea market where Clay did the shopping...and buying...a deal on diapers. Yep guys and gals, boats wear diapers! Breakfast was late which made lunch late which made dinner late this day (Sus, we're on your schedule!) Interspersed between meals I managed to swim (a productive time-killer awaiting an available washing machine), to cycle a wash cycle, to hang in lieu of a dry cycle (a festive boat decor...I use the term 'festive' loosely!), to lunch with Clay at nearby Panera (by now it's 3 p.m. and Clay's tummy was none-too-happy), to squeeze in a bit of shopping, then to pick up/pack up/put away before late dinner leftovers. Weird day!
Sunday
was drop dead morning for our Dahon bikes. Kinda reminded me of the Sound of
Music words: "So long, farewell...Goodbye!" We had heaved the two new
boxed bikes aboard (affordable, certainly not Dahons) and stowed them in the
fly bridge for later assembly. It was kinda bittersweet as we deposited our
bikes for recycling/disposal. That done, we departed Ortega, bound for
adventure on the St. Johns River.
More
later as we hunt alligators on the St. Johns.
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