4/1-4/5/2012

Sunday, as we are preparing to leave our anchorage at Fernandina Beach mid morning, Jerry pulls up the anchor.  The anchor didn't get set the night before.

From what Jerry can surmise, the boat drifted over the anchor as the chain dropped wrapping itself around the anchor.  It's a wonder we didn't move. 

 



River is uneventful.  Hardly any houses, mostly marsh on either side of boat.

We passed Cumberland Island.  It is famous for its feral horses roaming free on the island.  We caught a few along the beach today.

We've crossed into Georgia here, making our way north.  The north end of Cumberland Island has these beautiful white sandy beaches.  Even in the cool breeze this family is enjoying a day at the beach.

As are the Pelicans and Cormorants

Big black flies have invaded the bridge.  They bite and are just nasty.  After traveling almost 60 miles today, we stop at mile marker 659 to anchor for the night.

Beautiful sunset from DoBoy Sound.

Monday brings another wonderful day on the water. 

This is an example of a range marker, always found as pairs with one higher than the other.  Range markers indicate the center line of a channel by having them aligned as a boat passes through the channel.

I caught this Laughing Gull following the boat.  It was just riding our wake.  A lot of times, we have had groups of gulls following the boat.  We think props stir up the water and create a good environment for fish to rise closer to the top of the water.  Who knows?

We anchor tonight in a lovely area, Kilkenny Creek, Breakfast Cove, with beautiful homes along the shore.  It's another 60+mile day so we're ready for wine and beer.  As we're sitting on the sundeck, a couple of kayakers stop by.  Husband and wife, we presume, taking in the incredible evening.  Jerry chats with them for awhile as I'm fixing dinner.  She has an art studio in historic Savannah. 

The no-see-ums attacked tonight.  We move inside, close up and turn on the AC.  They seem to come out about dusk, a perfect time to be out on the sundeck.  Jerry ended up with his legs looking like he has chicken pox, he really got it bad.  Once it gets dark, we don't have anymore problem with the bugs.

Tuesday, we have a short trip today to Thunderbolt Marina, just outside Savannah, GA.  Jerry noticed dolphins riding the wake of the boat but couldn't get a picture.  Really cool to see the dolphins that close to the boat.

This house struck me to be the epitome of southern homes.  Huge columns, trees hanging down.  It was absolutely beautiful.

We passed this guy spinning the net to cast.  I'd never seen anyone do this before.  I'm not sure what he was fishing for, probably shrimp.

Thunderbolt is a huge facility with the ability to service vessels 150'-200' long.  Our boat was like a dinghy to some of them.  Jerry decided to have the props pulled since we'd had the mishap about a week ago.  Also wanted to have the extra props checked out in case we need them along the trip.

 This is such a fascinating arrangement to haul these huge luxury liners.  Somehow, they arrange what look to be railroad cars on the dock.  The dock goes under the water and the boat is moved into position in the slip on top of the cars.  The dock then is raised and the boat is now sitting on the cars.  Railroad like tracks allow them to move the boat back to another set of rails and then sideways to go into the hanger like facility. 


We met a couple on Next to Me, also loopers in the office checking in as we were.  Bob and Kathryn had just started the loop about 2 weeks ago so were relative newbies.  They are from the west coast but had bought their boat in Florida.  We all went to dinner at Tubby's Tankhouse.  Great evening visiting with them.

Wednesday they pulled the boat and I got a rental car.  We were headed to Jacksonville to pick up the BMW.  To speed up the process, the pulled props and the spares were loaded in the rental car.  We took them to the prop shop in Brunswick, GA.  This was a family run operation.  Great service.
Jerry asked the owner if he could watch how their process worked.  He was very accommodating and took Jerry to the back to watch one of  props get balanced.  We would need to return tomorrow to pick up them up.  I waited out in the lobby for him.  The owner's wife and I think his mother were in the lobby along with this little poodle.  I sat down and the dog sidled up to me.  They were all amazed.  The dog just didn't do that.  The mother would call the dog over to her and he would come, then run back over by me.  It was the funniest thing to see.

After the quick trip to Jacksonville, we stopped back in Brunswick on the off chance the props were done.  Wishful thinking. 

With the boat out of the water, no AC  we stayed in a hotel for the night.

Thursday, Jerry was up early and decided to put the BMW on Craigslist.  We took the rental car back and by the time we were at Panera, Jerry had 3 calls on the car.  Price it right and it will sell.  One guy came by Panera

The sharp, shiny  props.  Tape on the edges warning "sharp edges".  Evidently, the blades are razor sharp, at least here they are.  There was a slight out of balance from backing into the stuff last week.  At least now we know what we have as far as props go. 






All this was going on as Jerry is dealing with the guy that wants to buy the car.  We sold the car, got the props on and stayed another night at Thunderbolt Marina.  The guy that bought the car was an interesting sort.  He is an importer.  Later in the evening he brought us a bottle of champagne.