May 29 Fernandina Beach

May 29

Another short day on the water.  Just 23 miles and we went pretty slow trying to time the tide and current and weather at the Fernandina dock to our advantage. Mostly just putzing along enjoying the scenic winding marshlands at an easy 1500rpm making anywhere from 6 to 7.5 knots depending on which way and how strong water was flowing.  Temperatures seemed a bit more reasonable today – maybe the humidity was down some.  Still plenty hot and afternoon thunderstorms were expected to arrive by 1:30 so we were glad to be docked by 12:30. Our friends Jamie and Trish on “About Time” are here for the weekend with their friends Scott and Christina onboard.  Russ and Jax on “InQuest” were here too but unfortunately got forced out.  After staying 3 nights they went to extend their reservations and it was a no-go as a boat club had reserved all the remaining spots for the weekend.  Just glad we were able to get in!

Loved the sign on  the windshield "This is not an abandoned boat". 

Sure looked it to me.

Dolphins were in abundance for several portions of the trip.  Seems like it’s been awhile since we’ve passed any interested in us, but these would head towards the boat and even came alongside playing on the bow wave. They wouldn’t stay long – certainly not like the playful ones in the panhandle area that would ride the wave for an extended time. Due to the cloudy brackish water they don’t take as good a picture either.

Dolphins Ahead!!

Checking us out

Jumping on the  bow wave.

Another item in abundance – big biting flies.  Kept us pretty busy with the fly swatter but we prevailed sending many dead ones “to swim with the fishies”.   Just another drawback to traveling this stretch of southern waters during these warmer days. It did make us consider the possible advantages to the next boat having a pilothouse to operate from inside while running the genny and A/C and avoid the heat and bugs.

Our only hold up on the trip was at the Kingsley Creek railroad swing bridge.  There is a high double road bridge for Amelia Island and right after it is the railroad bridge.  It’s normally in the open position. It is not permanently manned and has no radio communication.  As we approach the bridge is open.  But we hear a train whistle blowing and can see through some trees a slow-moving train going from right to left approaching the bridge.  We slow down to figure things out.  Looks like the train has stopped.   So we start moving closer to the bridge.  No signals, no lights no radio chatter – nothing to help us.   As we’re getting closer, we start thinking the bridge may be turning.  But it’s VERY slow if at all.  Possibly an optical illusion??  NO!!  Just as we’re getting even with the bridge fenders we can tell it’s closing.  Quick stop and full reverse out of the tight quarters between the fenders. Thankfully, the current was also in our favor and helped push us away.  I’m just glad the current wasn’t running full in the opposite direction pulling us towards the bridge or it may have gotten very ugly. Train starts up crosses the bridge and it reopens.  As we pass by we see the bridgetender walking down the railroad tracks.  Not even so much as a look back at us as we went by.  Just another little adventure to add to the day.

Approaching the hiway and railroad bridge. 

 Looked good right until we got to the fenders at the hiway bridge

Slammed shut on us 

We made it just fine to Fernandina.  Got all tied up at their nice new very substantial docks.  Huge mega yacht on the outside.  We’re with the small boats on the inside which is fine since any wave action gets taken by the outside boats.  Dockhand tells me Bella Vita has a crew of 22.  It’s a 246’ long 2009 Lurssen with an ice rated hull.  Available for charter in the winter in the Caribbean for just $650,000 per week!!   Good news is you can split that among 12 guests. Dockhand says the initial price was around $180 million.   Got resold to current owner a few years ago for the bargain price of just $80 million.  It has a beam of 44’ so it’s wider than my boat is long.  Draft is 12’6” so no ICW cruising for it. Sure is pretty.

Bella Vita in background.  Those are all 40' boats on the dock for a feel of the scale. 

We are the last boat on that line

May 30

Fernandina Beach is a nice little coastal town.  Lots of history, cute shops, restaurants, etc.  Easy walk up from the marina.  Not quite enough social distancing by everyone walking around town and restaurants seem to be hit or miss regarding implementation of CDC recommends for masks, etc. by the waitstaff.   We just keep trying to do our part in reducing the spread of COVID-19.  Keeping our distance and selecting restaurants cautiously. The first SpaceX astronaut launch to the space station was rescheduled from Wed to today.  We were able to see the contrails from it as it passed overhead between the clouds. Some pretty amazing technology. 

SpaceX

  Had a nice sunset dinner on our dock with Jamie and Trish from “About Time’ and Ed and Kathy from “Vitamin-Sea”.  Funny how you keep running into people.   Ed and Kathy were with our picture taking group on the loop as we passed by the Statue of Liberty. They’ll complete their trip in Beaufort, SC so are also getting close to finishing up the loop.   Beautiful full technicolor sunset presented itself straight off the dock once dinner was over.  Great way to finish the day.

Bubba Gump headed back to the docks

Journey for May 29