a swim and a hike

 

the Galapagos

The EVOLUTION, our home for the next week in the Galápagos Islands. Great crew and gusts on board.  Excellent food and an open bar.  Snorkeling and an island hike tomorrow. 

 

The cloud forest and Mindo

 

Quito

 

oh, the joy of sailing a small wooden boat....

 

day twenty - into Palatka

Morning comes cool, grey and with a welcome northeast wind.  The light rain that I had expected to end early last evening hung around all night.  The drizzle ends as I tuck away the sleeping gear.  Sail off anchor 7:00.  Making a pleasant 4.3 across calm water out of Puerto Rico Cove.

7:15 small patches of blue in the dark overcast.  4.3 with wind over the port quarter.  7:45 off Watson Island, 4.1.  The little bits of blue are gone, dark grey all around.  8:15 green marker "31" shows a helping tide.  

9:10 jibe off Racy Point, 3.3 wing and wing.  10:45 Bodine Point, 3.9.  Then less wind and a slow drift.  Wind returns, and a bit stronger.  Doing 5.1 on a downhill run.  11:40 jibe at Forrester Point and can see the bridge and buildings of Palatka.  Less wind on the final stretch.  Call the marina to line up a slip at the municipal dock right next to the boat ramp.

12:40 better wind on the stern as we pass beneath the bridge.  Round up, sails down at 12:50.  Motor into the docks.  The trip is done.

I check in with friend Bobby.  Have a light lunch, but save my appetite for an oyster dinner at Velchoff's.

 21.45 NM

day nineteen - a beer from the bilge

Under power 7:05. Calm night, falling asleep to the music from the Tiki Bar.

7:10 on the St. Johns Rivers.  8:00 chill wind and dark overcast arrive out of the south.  The mizzen is up already, raise the main - with single reef - and jib. Tacking downriver at 4.8.  8:55 shake out the reef, full sail.  

9:40 trying to round Popo Point and deal with the barge and tug coming up the river.  Light wind and slide out of the channel go give the tug plenty of room.

10:10 past the point, wind fills in out of the southwest, perfect wind for a run to Red Bay Point.  10:30 making 3.2 towards the bridge with the shipyard at Green Cove Springs to the south.  10:45 5.2 as a series of gusts roll through.  

11:05 under the bridge, 2.5 in less wind and the shadow of the trees on shore.  Weather is coming, looking for a place to anchor before the rain arrives.  Make a last tack for the day into Puerto Rico Cove.  Anchor down at noon.

Have lunch, relax and watch the coming line of weather on my phone app.

Rain arrives at 2:00.  Thunder at 3:00.  Heavy rain and strong winds at 3:20.

Front move through, light drizzly rain lingers as darkness comes.  Dig into the bilge for a beer to celebrate the last full day on the water.

19.25 NM

 

day eighteen - bridges

Calm night listening to the hum of the city.  Sail off anchor at 7:05.  Blue skies, south wind, sun peeking through the trees on shore.  After a couple of weeks sailing through marshes, it is strange to be sailing through the tall buildings of downtown Jacksonville.

Less than a mile from Exchange Island pass under the first bridge of the day, the one by the football stadium.  Then into the heart of downtown, pass under the second bridge with rush hour overhead at 7:35.

7:50 pass under the third bridge and through the railroad trestle.  Easy sailing with wind forward of port beam.

Tacking south as the river curves, choppy water and motor sail through swirling currents under the fourth bridge 8:25.

I'm not sure of the tides and don't bother to check, it is what it is.  The St. Johns opens wide below the city, tea stained water and very choppy.

9:50 struggling with the shifting wind.  Tacking, sometimes making ground, sometimes not.  10:15 wind shifts more to the southwest. and begin to make better progress.  11:20 5.2 on a starboard tack.  12:00 less wind and making 2.3.

Soon the wind returns, sailing at 3.8.  Early afternoon looking at anchorages.  Decide to head to Doctors Inlet.  Would like to head farther south but the next anchorage is a long ways away.  It's hot, I'm tired and need a break. 

2:40 under another bridge.  3:35 overcast moves in, gusty and choppy in the afternoon breeze. I don't remember the St. Johns being this choppy in the past.  Entrance markers to the inlet in sight.  3:55 and under power into the inlet.  Make an immediate turn to port at the little marina, tie up to top off the gas can.  

Dockmaster picks me up in a golf cart, runs me to the gas pumps.  I ask if I can stay tied up there while I run to a convenience store a few blocks away.  He tells me I am welcome to stay all night.  He points across the marina and tells me the Tiki Bar is just about to open for the evening.  Live music, full bar.

I grab some cold drinks at the store, decide to pass on the Tiki Bar and cast off.  Motor around the marina to the little bay on the far side.  Anchor down 4:50.

Enjoy a cold beer while listening to country music from the Tiki Bar across the water.

 34.67 NM