3/14-3/21/2012

We moved the boat from Ortega Landing Marina to Sadler Point Marina to have the swim platform worked over. They can't do the work for another week but it's cheaper here so we'll just hang out here instead of the fancier Ortega Marina. The slip is very close to a railroad bridge that claims to open 15,000 times a year. We believe it. Now we know what it's like to live close to a railroad track. Loud, clickity clack most of the day and night. We are much more aware of the birds here than at Ortega. They roost on the roof just next to the sun deck of the boat. We determined that the predominant bird is the Laughing Gull

Thursday, March 15, we decided to anchor out. Didn't go far just a few miles out on the St. Johns River across from NASJax, the Naval Air Station. Watched P3s circling overhead, around and around they went. Jerry went to A School for ordinance training in 1962. Changed a bit since then. We really like being out on the water. It's calm and quiet aside from the air traffic and occasional boat zooming by.

Friday, we head back to the marina to get ready for our visitors. Cleaned the boat inside and out. Also picked up a few things from the grocery store.


Saturday, late morning, Dan and Bogusia arrived. It was great to see familiar faces from home. We got them settled then decided to head out for a couple of nights on the river. Might as well give them a taste of our new life. We gave Dan the helm with a watchful eye from Jerry.

Our destination was Sisters Creek. Along the way we passed a small cruise ship, a couple of cargo ships and a Carnival cruise ship. Very cool.

Winds picked up in the late afternoon and the sky looked dark so we opted to tie up to the free dock at Sisters Creek right by the boat ramp. Lots of traffic in and out. We cooked out on the deck and enjoyed the evening with Polish beer ZYWIEC. Dan and Bogusia gave us a case when we left on the trip. Good stuff!

Sunday, we cruised out to the Atlantic Ocean. Didn't go too far out but can now say we've been there done that. We passed these dunes on the way out.

For lunch we anchored just off the ICW.

Afterwards, it was warm and breezy. We all napped a bit, just right for dozing. Later in the afternoon, we cruised back towards the marina and anchored for the night close to where Jerry and I had anchored Thursday night. Just a nice place to be.

Monday morning, Jerry and I are up early and enjoying the morning on the sundeck. A fisherman is out checking his crab pots.

A little before 9am, Jerry noticed racing shells moving ever so quietly not far from us. Man these guys could move. So cool to watch.

Back to the marina, Monday afternoon. As we were backing into the slip, the wind/current pushed the boat into the roof overhang ripping a hole in the bimini. Boo hiss. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Dan and Bogusia invited us to dinner, we went to a local favorite, Trent's Seafood. Very folksy, unpretentious place, recommended by one of the guys at the marina. It was good. Probably would be really good if we would have ordered all the fried goodies on the menu. We opted for blackened grouper.

Tuesday, Dan and Bogusia took off late morning. It was great having them with us.

Wednesday, they pulled the boat in the afternoon.