St Augustine

Seldom seen on these schooners is a "Full Press" of sail, not that this is "over canvassed".

Just how much teak or mahogany is enough?

Where to start?  Methinks that as a history freak, this is Mecca.  We left
Daytona Beach at 0700 and headed up the ditch toward a long anticipated place.  Having visited this place by car a few days ago, we looked forward to getting the harbor right at the east end of The Bridge of Lions.  That happened after getting past the Matanzas Inlet, a notorious place that traps boats on constantly moving shoals.  It happens also to be a sixteenth century location for Ft. Matanzas.  After planning, meditating, the way through that pass, it was a non-event.  We had three feet under our keel the entire passage. 

The approach to St. Augustine was in the Matanzas River and it was outgoing tide.  Chosen carefully by the masterful crew of WK to arrive at slack tide, the tables were wrong.  One might say that they are merely guidelines.  The current outbound was almost 2 knots.  Fortunately, the dock master put us in a slip that we could approach up current.  Not two hours later, the current reversed and it is really strange to see a knot meter reading while tied up. It is almost 2 knots the other way. 

We decided to have dinner ashore.  We did so in an establishment that was founded in the very early 18 th century (1705).  The food was good but one can't help but wonder what grog and the fare of the day was when the Spanish or Brits were here.  If one can do the Walter Mitty thing and squint ones mind and eyes enough, one can see this place before electricity and bridges.  What a sight this must have been in the day. 

We are only a few dozen miles from Georgia,  We might not leave Florida (or La Florida as Ponce put it) for some time since we will get Bear fixed before we continue past Jacksonville.   

This dude has received much publicity since he goes where the current takes him.  He calls this boat the Earth Ball or something like that and it is "off the grid"

More on St. Augustine tomorrow.  http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-02-14/living-simple-life-high-seas

Know that the crew of WK are living our dream and we hope you get to live yours.