October 23-29

Reaching for our first finish line!

Well, as planned we exited the ICW on Monday morning through the Port Royal Sound and set sail for the Ossabaw Inlet. It was a beautiful sunny day with light winds from the north. We couldn't have planned the day any better if we had tried. The current was flowing out of the sound, carrying us into the ocean at about 8 knots or better. From there we turned southwesterly and managed to ride with a positive current all day long. It was a motor-sail, but hey, at least we got the sails out and it was a perfectly relaxing ride. The relaxation came to a end as we approach the Ossabaw Inlet. This was not a heavily traveled channel except for the local fisherman and we would not have any familiarity with the current shoaling areas. While it wasn't considered too hazardous by the cruising guides, we still had work hard to find the safe passage to the inside. This can make things just a little tense when you are suddenly unsure if you can make it inside without running aground. Jim got us through (I got too wound up) and the inside river was great. Arriving here at low tide gave us a view of the inside beach for a few hours. We dinghy'd ashore followed very closely by dolphins. What a sight to see right at water level in a 8' inflatable boat. For the first time since leaving home we walked barefoot in the sand and got our feet wet. (see pics) Each afternoon as we record the day's progress we look at distance to the next state border or when we'll cross the next degree of longitude, etc. As of Monday afternoon we were just 73 miles (as a crow flies) to the entrance to St Mary River Inlet and Fernandina Beach, Florida. This is the first Floridian port on the east coast.

From Ossabaw we motored inside the ICW to Doboy Island and then on to Brunswick Georgia. This was the only civilization we've seen for a while so it was time to go ashore and restock. You know the routine: laundry, groceries, wash off the boat, refill water tanks, get fuel, and squeeze in a little local sightseeing. Brunswick offered so much to our way of life we stayed a second night just so we could take advantage of everything they had to offer. We would have had to stay a week, but the second night was a wonderful thing.

So it's Friday and this is it. We will be in Florida by this afternoon! We're rested and refueled and off we go. From mile marker 680 to 714 should be a piece of cake. The decision to sail outside or stay in was answered for us. There was almost no wind and a light sprinkle starting. It was a slow quiet ride and we crossed the state line at 430p, dropped the anchor at 5p. We are anchored directly across from Fernandino Beach Marina (and a sweet smelling paper mill). The sunset was beautiful, current temp 71 with a low of 65 tonight. We'll be able to leave some hatched open :)

WE HAVE MADE IT TO FLORIDA, YEAH!

Next decision, move along or stay here another day? Saturday morning was a cold nasty thing. Wind gusts over 20 knots and rain. We're staying right here until the conditions improve. We have a whole new set of charts and guides for Florida to read so this will be a stay home day for sure.