The weather was beautiful, the snow nonexistent, no shoveling required!!! We were in dreamland.
While waiting to get our membrane for the water maker to arrive we took the opportunity to visit the area. Green Cove Springs is just south of Jacksonville on the Saint Johns River and has a beautiful Christmas tree exhibit. Some of the trees are decorated by families as a memory of their loved ones who have passed away and some are decorated by businesses. Some of the trees were really neat. There is also a beautiful park overlooking the water that was beautifully decorated and awaiting Santa’s visit. We really enjoyed our time working and waiting.
Last time we came south sailing I had made bread the entire time we were here (~5 months) and kneaded it by hand. Every 3 days or so (depending on how much Byron ate) my job was to make my mothers white bread recipe. Byron was in heaven while I am not much of a bread person. During lockdowns in our province (due to COVID) both of us really experimented with breads (enough that we had to buy a good mixer that kneaded well) and we begin making everything with sourdough starter. We made English muffins, baguettes, ciabatta, focaccia, pizza dough, cinnamon buns,… all sourdough. Our son Mark also got involved and it became quite a game amongst us. So when we were to head south again I knew what I had to do!!!! I brought my starter with me from home ensuring it was kept cool and fed every few days on our journey AND while we stayed in a hotel for 10 days or so AND while the boat was such a mess that I could not bake. Talk about dedication to the craft!! LOL!! Since I have pain in most of my muscles/joints (old age…) I wanted to make sure I could continue playing around with breads and ensure the king (Byron) would have his much loved bread. So I bought a mixer for the boat!!!!
As poor Byron was walking down the ramp with the mixer I am sure the other boaters thought he was crazy to bring that power-hungry appliance on the boat but I am sure he was chuckling all the way down to the end of the dock and thinking to himself “I am going to get homemade bread the whole trip…hahaha”. My mother always told me “a way to a mans heart is through his belly” so I guess after being married for over 38 years I better listen.
While waiting we decorated for Christmas, finished provisioning, bought a plastic kayak (we have a 2 man inflatable but Byron is not fussy about kayaking and I hate to beg him to go with me as it is not balanced with one person) so I could play on the water while he plays in the water, filled our gas cans and propane tanks and got ourselves ready.
AND THEN IT ARRIVED!!!
Our slip at the dock is very tight!!! It is very difficult to get in and out of so thankfully our marina friends were available to help us out while there were no waves and wind. It was a challenge but we made it out successfully and we are on our way south.
It feels great to be on the water again and not connected to land. The independence and freedom feels wonderful.
As we ride the ebb of the tide we are being sucked up the river towards Jacksonville with 1 knot current in our favor. We had decided we would stay between Reed and Bartram Islands where we stayed the night in the crazy current with the dredgers. Upon leaving the next morning a Fugro boat was coming toward us from offshore. This was really sentimental to us as our daughter previously worked with Fugro in St. John’s, Nl, Canada and often went to sea.
We stayed between the 2 islands that night as it would be about an hour to get to the Atlantic Blvd Bridge. In this area there can be as much as a 5 knot current with you or against you. We remembered that terrifying experience very well and wanted to be prepared this time. The last time we went through there we were not aware of the excess current due to the narrowing of the river at that section and we were definitely not prepared for it as not only were we speeding out of control but there were so many people on the water that I was using the horn to get them out of the way as we are not very maneuverable compared to small powerboats or kayaks. This time we wanted to time it better and be in that area at slack tide when the water is not coming in from, or going out to, the sea. Yahoo we timed it right and the passage was uneventful.
On to Saint Augustine we go. This is a beautiful city. It is very touristy and I love seeing that. There were large crowds and I think we were the only ones wearing N95 masks during our walk around the streets as we tried to walk on the opposite side of the streets away from people. I would have loved to be there to experience the nightlife preCovid but unfortunately this is not the time for these old people to be socializing. It was amazing the number of young people there (20-40) since my community is mostly an older population. Funny how the age has become relative lol.
Then off to Daytona we head early the next morning. Daytona is usually very loud with the sounds of ?racecars in the background. We were not disappointed. The same sound was there again. Byron would have loved to go explore but COVIDs increasing rates extinguished those plans.
When we left Newfoundland the cases of COVID were very low. However, with the discovery of the Omicron mutation and the exponential rate of transmission and the ever-changing requirements for testing to enter the Bahamas we were at odds as to what we should do….. If we go further south in Florida and have to wait to cross to the Bahamas due to weather or changing requirements to enter (COVID testing and timeframe from report to presentation at immigration/customs office in Bahamas) it becomes more difficult to get anchorages/marinas/mooring balls, etc. So we were at an impasse… What do we do…. hmmmmmmm?
While deciding what we should do we decided to stop over in Titusville and visit a lovely couple we had met previously (Gary and Sue on SV Cardea). We met this beautiful couple in Vero Beach, Florida in November 2019 and then again in 2020 in Big Majors, Exumas and in Eleuthera. They sailed down from Halifax, NS a few years before us. The boating community is very tight and although large it is small and people bond fast!! We had kept in touch during the pandemic and we knew they were currently in Titusville (by Cape Canaveral). We decided to stay at the marina there to spend Christmas visiting between their boat and ours. Up to this point we had no one in our bubble. We were so excited to see them and spend some quality time close-up with people. It was so nice to be able to socialize We had a wonderful week in Titusville. The area has great parks within walking distance from the marina and Duke was very happy to be able to be off the boat for lots of walks and to visit Max (their dog).
I even got in the Christmas spirit and made 2 fruitcakes. Normally I make about 20 loaves and give away most of them to family and friends but this time we enjoyed both of them… henceforth the weight gain that I can feel happening…lol
I was unsure of how I would be for Christmas as this was the first time that our son was not with us and the third time our daughter was not there. Thank god they are tolerant of their mother!! We face timed for hours Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We were so happy that Andrea was able to be home with Mark this year (she has really good bosses allowing her to work from home for a few days..THANK YOU BILL.. you do not know how much these two parents appreciated that she could be home!!!!!). Even though I was a bit of a baby as I was not home nor was I with my children or mother we made the best of it. Thankfully Andrea and Mark were able to visit my mother and I was able to see and talk to her too.
Christmas was good; we were all healthy and happy therefore life is good!!!
I hope everyone had a safe Christmas and that 2022 brings good health and much happiness.
LIVE LIFE NOW
So happy to hear that 2021 with such a positive impact on you both!!!
Hugs
Diddie xoxoox