Today: 60 miles, 9.1 hours,
ICW St. M 1851.1
Total: 1846.4 miles, 305.1
hours
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| Sunrise as we left Comachee Marina |
Pete walked
Bailey, then filled up the gas can for the dinghy and the jar of diesel for
the filter exchange. I got everything ready to leave when he returned. We were
underway at 8 am.
It was calm and
cool as we entered the Tolomato River.
Pete had another busy workday, so I was at the helm most of the day. The
ride north is beautiful, and I was really able to enjoy the scenery because the
current was once again against us until we entered “Roscoe Row,” Palm Shores.
Dolphin families usually show up on the lower portion of the river, but
manatees like the narrower canal.
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| Dolphin Family on the Tolomato |
 |
| A Pelicans Gathering |
 |
| Our wake |
While in “Roscow
Row,” the current changed and I finally increased speed from the mid 5’s to the
high 7’s mph.
To make things a little
more interesting, I watched a fast boat come up from my rear. As he got closer,
I could see the structure was some sort of an official enforcement
vehicle.
It was the Immigration and
Border Patrol.
He slowed to idle about
100 feet from me and gently passed on my starboard, but he hit the gas for the
3-450 HP engines just as he passed my bow and waked me. Only to stop ¾ of a
mile ahead to pass/check out another sailboat.
I spotted 3 manatees along this canal.
I hope they were not in Immigration’s path.
 |
| Reflections of Red 42 |
 |
| Tolomato River Shore Line |
Well those high
7’s quickly became high 8’s and low 9’s, once in the Pablo River.
The Navionics’s Sonar Charts were super to
follow for the skinny areas from here north.
The current was definitely with me, but near low tide. Things got more
interesting at the bridge when I saw the small cruise ship, AMERICAN STAR,
approaching from the north as I was approaching from the south.
After communicating, he sped up while I
slowed down to idle (still doing 5 mph) and navigated in still deep water, closer
to the banks, giving him room. Things went well for both of us and we continued
on our courses.
While going through the
next bridge, we reached 10.2! Thankfully, the southbound power boat heard the
conversation with AMERICAN STAR and called to say he would hang back until I
cleared. I love it when fellow boaters are courteous and considerate. Pete was
still involved with work, so I stayed at the helm until we approached the skinny
area where, last fall, we used BOB423’s waypoints.
Pete wanted to make sure it would not be a
problem at low tide.
 |
| Railroad bridge closed and in use! |
I did eventually
pass that sailboat, OSPREY, but they caught up when we got to the railroad
bridge.
The guide book states that it “is
usually open, but will close for a train.”
I kept looking and finally asked Pete to look, as it appears to be
closed. I tried to call on 09 to verify, but there was no response. Sure
enough, a train started to cross as he looked.
We waited about 10 minutes and it opened. Once it closed, OSPREY and
PEKABU continued on to Fernandina to request a mooring ball for the night.
Originally, we were going to anchor off
Cumberland Island, but thought it would be easier to walk dog from here with
the ambient light from the factories and town.
After dinner we
read and watched the sunset. Pete decided to take Bailey for her last walk at 8
pm, while there is still some light. A bit more reading, we called it a night.
Tomorrow, we head up to Jekyll Island, Georgia and into unexplored territory
for us.
There is no window for us to
make the outside jump and we need to keep moving north. We need to head back
north by April 6th for Mom and for the grandkids we will be sitting while their
parents take a well needed vacation.
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| Tonight's Sunset in Fernandina |
~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
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