Vero Beach to Fernandina Beach, April 8-15, 2016

We have been on the move and partying too much to spend the time I need to on this blog.  As we get closer we are drawn to Lilly and Lane, and the conveniences of home.  Except for an extra day at New Smyrna, we had several long back to back days.  A long day being 50 miles or more.

Beautiful day cruising the Indian River with Imajine

Dubhe on her way north. KSC VAB in the background.
(if you don't know what KSC VAB means, you are a lot younger than me)

We spent three nights (April 7-9) rafted up to Imajine; and extra day because we wanted to stop at New Smyrna Beach Marina and they did not have any openings until the 11^thand we were two days away.  On the 10^th, we made the 55 mile trip to Cocoa in the company of Imajine and anchored in our favorite spot.  It was Sunday, the last day of the Masters, so we

Watching the Masters in Cocoa

all dingyed over to Ryans Pizza and Pub to watch the end and have Irish nachos (huge nachos with waffle fries instead of tortilla chips).  The next day, another long windy ride to New Smyrna Beach.  This is one place Nancy and I both wanted to take some time to visit. Very nice old Florida town much like downtown Beaufort.  We did our share of happy hours and eating, including pizza which we had been craving.  I also filled up with fuel and water, and we did the laundry for the last time (I hope) before Beaufort.

After a rest day, we hit the river for a 50 mile trip to Marineland marina, just for an overnight stop, but this is another place we want to visit again.  It was a very long day because it seemed that the current was against us the whole way.  Early the next morning (Thursday, April 14, still in the company of Imajine), we made our longest one-day trip so far, 65 miles to an anchorage behind South Amelia Island.  Again the current seemed to be against us most of the way, and it was very windy.  What looks to be a serious weather system is

Beach selfie at Marineland

setting up to bring high winds from north Florida to South Carolina over the next several days.  High winds mean over 20 kt but the predictions are for over 30 kt in some places.  The area along the lower SC had gale warnings (over 32 kt) As a result, our intended stopping point, the free Jacksonville dock was full.  Imajine decided to anchor a few miles short of our planned area so we waved goodbye to our traveling companions.  Since they live in Saint Marys, Georgia, they made it home today. Our anchorage was only the lee of the island, wide open to the south and west.  We were well anchored, excellent holding bottom and a scope of better than 5:1 with chain.  But when the wind would gust to near 30 and Dubhe would shudder, I was awake.  It was a long night.

Now it is Friday, April 15 and this may be my last post before arriving home.  This morning the weather prediction for the next few days is horrible; high wind and rain.  It was looking like we may have to hole up here for a while.  The Fernandina Beach City Marina was full so we made our way to the Amelia Island Yacht Basin to meet up with our Beaufort friends Chuck and Claria who are here on their boat.  As I have gotten wifi at the marina and checked all my sources for weather, it looks as if the wind predictions may not be as bad as originally issued.  If this holds to tomorrow morning, we will head out.  I will still be windy and anchoring will not be so restful, but we will be on our way.  We have only about  3½ days of travel left on this cruise. 

Like the old adage about boats, for us the two best days of a cruise are the day you depart and the day you arrive home, but in fact we have had more wonderful days than we probably deserve.