12/14/15

Nana is early this morning. While taking her walk this morning Nana came across a very entertaining sign - I will include the photo- and I don't think they are talking about the shoes! Anticipating a busy day. Preparing to return to home base means Nana has to do some house/ boat maintenance which is her least favorite thing to do. But excited to be heading home for Christmas. Enterprise will pick us up today with the rental car. Nana and Nandad will head  to the beach side of St Augustine to check it out. No more blog until the New Year towards the end of January. Merry Christmas to all and a  happy New Year. The pictures are to give you an idea of how pretty St Augustine is at night especially the Bridge of Lions. Sorry about the angle- beyond my technology skill!

12/13/15

Nana is very late with the blog today. We found a marina that would take care of IE while we are away for a few weeks. So she is now at Rivers Edge Marina and will remain in the sunshine while Skipper and Firstmate return to their responsibilities in Franklin. The short 6 mile trip up the San Sebastián River was just beautiful. The Dolphins continued to play with IE's bow but would disappear as soon as Nana took out her camera. The blue herons hiding among the bushes along the marsh and the snowy egrets sneaking along the shore were just magnificent. As we tied up to the dock there was a turtle swimming along but almost impossible to see due to the brown color of the water. Brunch at the Tiki Martini Cafe/ delicious on both counts, trolley tour around town, cocktails at the Casa Monica/Hotel Cordova but best of all dinner on IE - no wonder Nana is late!The town of St Augustine is so pretty at night with Christmas lights sparkling everywhere.

12/12/15

Finally IE has arrived at St Augustine FL. You know the weather is warmer when the ladies are wearing bikini's! Another beautiful day meandering down the ICW through the Cabbage Swamp and Tolomato River. As IE approached the St Agustine Inlet there was a reenactment taking place between two pirate ships- lots of cannon noise and of course the Skipper had to change course. There is definitely a feel of vacation here so I think the next few days will be fun. Temporarily at Conch House Marina until we secure a more permanent base for IE as Nana and Nandad will be returning to home base for a few weeks. Tonite there is yet another parade of sail. We just met Reggie from Monaghan,who owns Meehan's an Irish pub downtown. He is getting his sail boat ready for the parade- it looks great. The first picture is the resident Peliquin at the dock before we left Palm Cove Marina. The second is the pirate ship and the third is the Castillo de  San Marcus. 

12/11/15

Day 11 and IE reaches Florida! We did it. What a beautiful day today. Leaving Jekyll Island by 7.30am meant we reached Fernandna Beach by 10.30 am so the Skipper decided we should continue up the Amelia River. While leaving Jekyll Nana noticed a family of Dolphins on our bow. They are so captivating to watch but it seems as soon as you get the camera they hide. Nana also spotted a group of six wild horses on the shoreline of Cumberland Island National Seashore and they also were too far away to catch on camera. Passing the Navy's King Bay Submarine base was very interesting. A lot of activity but no subs to be seen. I guess they come in from St Mary's entrance and are usually accompanied by the coastguard. At mm 720 IE entered Florida- what an accomplishment. We continued on to Jacksonville and will stay the night at Palm Cove Marina. In the morning we will reach our final destination before Christmas St Augustine. The first picture is a collection of white Peliquins on the shoreline at Cumberland River. The second is the Navy Kings Bay Submarine base. The third is a home on the Amelia River. 

12/10/15

Now I know that y'all think Nana and Nandad are on vacation but the truth is we have been very busy taking IE south. So today we decided to have a vacation day. We travelled a total of 5 miles up the Jekyll Creek and took a slip at Jekyll Harbor Marina. Now boaters never know what they will see along the way and this morning we were lucky to have front seats watching the Coast Guard do a water drill. Very Cool. Jekyll Island was once the playground for the Rockefellers, Morgan's, Goodyears, and Vanderbilts. It is now a state park and Nana and Nandad could view the beautiful Millionaires Village on a golf cart. They then took the bikes and rode to the now luxurious Jekyl Island Club Hotel and had a cocktail  on the porch. Life is good. A truly magnificent sunset at 5.23pm. IE will leave early tomorrow morning for Ferandina Beach Florida 75 nm - no more vacation.

12/09/15

Day 9 of our second leg on IE heading south Nana and Nandad left Kilkenny Creek early this morning to continue through the winding ICW of Georgia. Once again she came through many rivers and today travelled through 5 Sounds-St Catherine's, Sapelo, Dolby, Buttermilk and St Simons. IE is now in Brunswick and the Golden Isles. These barrier Islands include St Simons, Seas,Jekyll and Little St Simon. Brunswick Landing Marina is know as the Hurricane Hole - lots of boats wait it out here before heading to Florida or return in March/ April. They provide free beer daily - which could be dangerous-and free wine reception Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I guess IE picked a good stop. Nana took the loaner bike and rode around the pretty Historic Town in the warm sunshine. The sunsets are now around 5.20pm so our evenings are getting a little longer. Tomorrow IE intends to make it to Northern Florida. Yippee. The first photo is IE coming through North Newport River. The second is the Golden Islands and the third one is The City Hall in Brunswick. The last picture is Nana's attempt to show you on the map the Georgia coastline- sorry if it shifts you visual field. We are now at MM 680. 

12/08/15

Today IE reached Georgia at MM 575. Nana and Nandad had a wonderful dinner with Vicky and Peter last night and once again are on their way. Leaving Hilton Head in thick fog - see the picture of the sail boat, if you could zoom you would find a bald eagle on the mast! We went through 9 rivers, multiple winding passages that includes the extremely narrow and shallow Hell Gate. The shipper was very calm today and really enjoyed the challenge of the waterways that this section brings. It is really beautiful with many porpoises playing around and the birds just seem to perch wherever they can. We decided to spent the night at a very quite Marina up the Kilkenny Creek. There are many restaurants but they only open from Wednesday to Sunday - just as well Nana and Nandad did some provisioning. It should be a lovely quite night with a wonderful sunset. The second picture is the Kilkenny Marina ( again if you could zoom in you would see it ).