Entries about matanzas

We were lying half asleep on our boat in Daytona early one morning. Bob said "Listen to the symphony of Florida". I listened. I heard:

A train whistle across from the marina
A forklift backup alarm
A bridge warning bell
A power boat rumbling by
An airplane flying overhead
Birds calling

Sunday 25 Nov 2001- Jacksonville Beach to St. Augustine

A black cat visited us a couple of times last night. We get underway about 7:20 with a minimum of fuss. Saw an osprey fishing. We went through the McCormick Bridge just before 8 am.

New and old bridge

Other side of the bridge

Looking back at the bridge

I see that the community there is also called Isle of Palms (like the one in SC). Saw the Mayo Clinic building on the west side of the waterway. Also saw a tree full of black buzzards and some herons.

Vilano fixed bridge and fishing from the old drawbridge

We came into St. Augustine and anchored down near the bridge.

St Augustine from the anchorage

BANDERSNATCH was just north of the bridge, but Norm and Jan weren't there because their dinghy (WHITE RABBIT) was gone.

Bandersnatch anchored by the bridge

JACKAL and RED FISH

We were next to a little fin keel boat from Canada named JACKAL. There was another little boat next to them named RED FISH.

RED FISH

We saw a guy sailing around in the anchorage who hit an anchored motor boat. Bob decided to change the belts on the refrigeration.

The reaction of an anchored boat to current depends partly on the type of keel a boat has. We have a modified full keel. Also a bigger heavier boat will swing at anchor more slowly than a smaller lighter boat. Our anchor rode is also all chain which also tends to keep us steadier.

Full Keel and Fin Keel

The two little boats swung quite wide and quickly, and eventually JACKAL bumped into us. They said they'd been there a week with no problem (which I doubt) and they only had about 125 feet of line out (which Bob doubted), but anyway, the last comer is the one who has the obligation not to get in the way of the people who are there already, so after Bob put the engine back together, we pulled the anchor and re-anchored. It looked like another boat was going to come too close to us, so we gave up and I called the municipal marina. It was 3:00 and the Bridge of Lions would not open until 3:30, so I gave that as our ETA.

Bridge open, Light is green

We came into the marina, and they put us next to a big motor boat.

RosalieAnn with the Bridge of Lions in background

Then they said that slip only had 50 amp, and didn't we have a splitter? We didn't of course (but we got one later because we ran into this again) - usually a marina puts you where you have a power outlet of the type you need (we need 30 amp) or else THEY supply the splitter. So we said we'd just do without electric.

RosalieAnn from the municipal marina office

This marina is convenient to town. They have showers, laundry facilities and a small store. There are also pay phones. Their rate list (effective 10/1/01) is $4 to $5/hour (depending on length of boat) $1.15/ft per day, $6.00/ft/week. Electric is $5.00/day for 30 amp and $8.00/day for 50 amp. It is $45/month for 30 amp non live-aboard or $135/month live aboard with AC. 50 amp is $225/month live-aboard with AC.

I tried to call Oasis and Oyster Creek (two other marinas), and both of them were closed as it was Sunday. We called Norm on the phone when we saw them come back to BANDERSNATCH, and they came over, and then we went over to their boat and had dinner and sat out on the deck. It was a little cool.

Bandersnatch

While we were sitting there it looked like RED SKY hit JACKAL.. The next morning, JACKAL was gone.

Monday, 26 November 2001

Called Oasis and they had no slips. Called Oyster Creek and they said they had nothing either. So I paid for another day and called Caribbean Jack's in Daytona (it used to be English Jim's) and asked if we could come a day early. I went up to the store to look at the email hook up and *shock* they charge $1.50/use for the line!! So I decided to just use pocketmail at the pay phone. If you want to get email it is probably better to walk into town and go to the library where it is free.

Had a shower, and Bob walked out to consignment store only to discover it is closed on Monday. If we'd remembered that he could have gone yesterday.

We had lunch at the A1A Ale Works. There is an upstairs,

Upstairs

but we ate downstairs. It has a lot of atmosphere. I had a black cow (they make their own root beer and also brew their own beer) and a cheese soup with vegetables to dip in it.

Then we walked out on town and looked at the historic buildings - the fort is closed for renovation, so we didn't go that far. We didn't even go to the wooden schoolhouse, but we did look at some historic buildings. I took a roll of film pictures.

Carriages along waterfront waiting for a fare

Old town streets with horse-drawn carriage

Walking around St. Augustine

House with historic plaque

Military hospital

We finished up by going out on the Bridge of Lions to take some photos from the bridge.

One of the namesake Lions

From bridge - cranes at the fort

This bascule bridge is the primary symbol of the city (along with the Fort). Looking at it is free.

Anchorage from bridge south of the fort

Although, it is a 'thorn in the paw" of residents, and a pain in the stern for boaters it is also quite an important landmark. Traffic can get quite backed up on it during rush hour, because it is right across the access to the island side south of town.

Drawbridge going up red light for cars

Boat going under the bridge

It has restricted opening hours, which can be very idiosyncratic Anyone going south on the ICW HAS to go under this bridge if they come into St. Augustine because the channel of the St. Augustine inlet shifts so much that it requires local knowledge to transit.

S/V RosalieAnn at marina

South anchorage from bridge

From the Save Our Bridge website:

The Bridge of Lions is a Mediterranean style bascule bridge located in the heart of the National Historic Landmark District of St. Augustine, Florida, the nations oldest continuously occupied European settlement. The bridge, built in the Florida boom of the 1920's, with its graceful arches, tile-roofed towers and marble lions statues is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1976 it was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the most significant bridges in Florida and in 1997 it was placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Structures".

From the St. Augustine marina

We came back to the boat (I got the pocketmail), and then went to O C White's Seafood & Spirits. We ate upstairs which was decorated in Spanish colonial style. From the website: "

White says that he and his staff have even had "haunted experiences" in the old mansion, especially on the second floor."

I don't know who O. C. was, but the restaurant website says that David White bought the building (Worth House) and has decorated it in mid 19th century style. We had a nice meal which I think was around $40 including tax and tip.

OC White restaurant

Tuesday 27 Nov 2001

Left around 7, with the tide going out gently (the tides in this area are important because they are about six feet). We passed a boat named WILD BLUE, and the a boat named CALYPSO with a parrot in the rigging passed us, and then a Morgan 38 MYSTIC TURTLE, and JUBILIE an Endeavor from Charleston, TIME BANDIT a Hans Christian from Tybee Is., and FLYIN' LOW a Taswell 40 all passed. Seven of us went through the Crescent Beach bridge about 8:55.

Victorian mansion south of Saint Augustine

Bob was running the refrigeration, and it cut off by itself, and the VHF radio started acting up also.

Matanzas Fort from the ICW

At that point we were at the Matanzas Inlet area which has lots of shoals and tricky currents. And we were basically cut off from communicating with people because the radio wasn't working. Ahead of us CALYPSO and another boat circled, and I heard someone say that he'd never make it through. We passed TIME BANDIT. FLYIN' LOW disappeared - maybe he was waiting for the tide to turn.

In any case, we went on through the area, and eventually CALPYSO passed us again. MYSTIC TURTLE and TIME BANDIT were hanging back behind us letting us lead the way and/or go aground first. A white ketch ISHMAIL from Annapolis with the main on a roller but in a bag passed.

Passing Palm Coast

Canal to a manufacturing plant - Sea Ray boats

Great Blue Heron

We got to Daytona about 14:30, and went into Caribbean Jacks, and got fuel and tied up. We have now gone 842 nm. Caribbean Jacks has gone from being one of the cheapest places to one of the most expensive -fees for everything. The former English Jim's has undergone a sea change, and is now Caribbean Jacks. There are new fixed piers, a pool, and new showers etc. There is a boaters lounge with TV and internet line. There is cable TV at the dock. The promised restaurant has not been built. The rates have risen dramatically -- It is now $1.50/ft and $4.00 for 30 amp (plus tax of course) and there is a charge for cable TV too. Fuel (diesel) is $1.169/gal. Caribbean Jack's said there is no charge for dinghies to tie up if they just want to shlep down to Publix - just if they want to use the facilities, which includes the hot tub, heated pool and showers I guess.

THey do have a heated pool. The restaurant hasn't been built yet. OLD HATT is here, and so is another trawler from Pt. Lookout Marina (our home marina).

Caribbean Jacks from the ICW

The catamaran behind us (RUM TUM TIGGER) left and we moved back to the end of the dock, back to back with WINDSTAR (Sandy and Charlie's CSY- they have gone to VA to pick up their truck). Bob called ICOM about the radio, but they had no authorized service places closer than Ft. Lauderdale. They didn't understand why we couldn't just run it over there. Bob also called the Ft. Lauderdale place and they said that even if the radio was under warranty, they charged $80/hour and ICOM only paid about $30/hour so there would be charges.

Wednesday 28 November 2001 - staying in Daytona

The radio seems to mostly work. The volume switches are flakey. {Eventually we found that the problem was inadequate wiring had been installed when the boat was originally made 20 years ago for this size radio.}

I came up to the boaters lounge and did email. TOURNE BRISE, PANAMA JACK and IGUAZU - all Canadian boats that we saw in Elizabeth City are anchored off the marina. Bob tried to bike over to the Boater's World and decided that it was too far, so just went to Publix and got some salt for the toilets (which use electricity to change NaCl into chlorine to treat waste).

The marina restaurant wasn't finished yet. So we set out to walk to a nearby restaurant. As we walked out the gate to go to dinner, we met Charlie and Sandy coming in. Charlie was really tired because he's been driving for 3 days.

After figuring out how to negotiate on foot the under the bridge access, we ended up at Parks. We went back the next two nights with our friends.

Parks Restaurant Entrance in 2004

We found out later that Parks is normally closed between Thanksgiving and Christmas and decided to change for this week. But most people thought it would be closed and didn't come. So that meant we could get right in. Otherwise there are long lines because it is so popular. This is a family owned and operated restaurant which offers a large variety of fresh fish, shrimp, scallops, lobster, crab, gator tail and much more. (There's a landlubber menu too). It was located on the Halifax River just past the new fixed Seabreeze bridge. It is normally a very busy bustling and sometimes noisy place. We got the early bird special (early bird specials from $8-11) and the two of us ate including tea, dessert and tips for between $24 and $32.

Evening from the boat

Thursday, 29 November 2001 - Looking at the each

I've swum in the heated pool twice, but not used the spa. Bob has discovered that one of the dryers only requires 75 cents instead of $1.00. There was to be a space shot today, but it has been put off until tomorrow.

I called and reserved a rental car in Key West (using the phone book I got last year). Charlie and Bob went off to prospect consignment shops and Bob bought some new fenders to use in case the ones flattened in Isle of Palms never recover, and a new VHF radio in case our good one decides not to work again. And also take their rental car back.

I called TItusville to see if there would be space. They don't take reservations of course, but they didn't say we absolutely couldn't come. I went over to the opposite dock and tried to take pictures of the boats back to back, but the pilings got in the way.

Pole in the way

Sandy and Charlie took us over to the Beach today and we stood up in a little park

Fish statues in the park

and watched the breakers.

Charlie, Sandy and Bob looking out at the beach

Apparently they are still swimming there - the undertow from Olga isn't so bad today.

Surf at Daytona Beach

There was a guy on the beach talking to another guy with a parrot on his arm. You had to watch out for cross traffic - cars - because you can drive on the beach (at no more than 10 mph)

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is one of the TOP TEN beaches in Florida as nominated by the Travel Channel.

Daytona Beach

We also visited a pet store that had birds, and Sandy wanted to get a little female like Bernie, their bird.

Charlie and Sandy were tired of eating at Parks for two nights in a row. Since they had transportation (their truck), they wanted to take us somewhere else for dinner. We ended up at Riccardo's Fine Italian Restaurant. This is a 'fancy' place, with tablecloths and wine glasses. DInner for two was $41.41, but I'm pretty sure that we had among the cheapest things on the menu. The entrees run between $9 and $17.00. Bob usually has lasagna, and I usually have pasta with sauce and dessert.

The space shuttle has been put off again.

Next stop: Titusville