Fernandina Beach FL to Jacksonville Beach FL 

We woke to another morning bringing cold wind from the northwest. The clouds were high and predicted to stay with us for the trip to Jacksonville Beach. We casually did our preparation for a departure around eleven when the tide should be midway to high. We departed the marina saying good by to Fernandina and headed into the Amelia River. We passed under the first of the two bridges connecting Amelia Island to the mainland.  It's actually two bridges, a 65' high fixed automobile and a normally open low railroad bridge.  As in Norfolk the railroad bridges are normally open and close only when a train is approaching.  We often wonder how much warning boats receive when a closing is eminent. 

and we passed under the We shortly passed a sailboat headed south with us. We left the Amelia River and entered a canal/land cut which let us into the South Amelia River. Amelia Island was to our east and near the southern end we could see the Ritz Carlton Hotel and numerous condominiums above the tree tops in the distance. We entered and traversed the Nassau River which dumps into the Atlantic. The next ten miles took us into Sawpit Creek and a series of canals before ending at Sisters Creek. The bascule bridge at Sisters Creek was a twenty four foot bridge, but currently showing 21 ft. of clearance at high water. Joe contacted the bridge tender as soon as we were in sight, and she almost immediately started warning road traffic for a bridge opening. We did not have to wait as she timed it perfect or our arrival.

As we have traveled South we have heard warnings from the Coast Guard regarding Wright Whales which area becoming extinct. There area apparently less than four hundred in existence and several have been spotted in the gulf stream near the Florida coast.  Boaters must stay at least five hundred yards away from them them.

Back to our travels, we entered St. Johns River just after the Sisters Creek Bridge. The river was a little rough as the current was swift and the wind was amplifying the waves. We were looking for boat traffic as we crossed the river as we had seen huge ships docked at boatyard and marina just as we entered the river. We only encountered one small fishing boat and a fast US Coast Guard patrol boat.

We re-entered the Intra Coastal Waterway finding ourselves in a canal again with seemed quite wide. We are at high tide by now and the water extended all the way to the shore line. I had expected the terrain to change once we got into Florida but with the exception of a few more palm trees we are still pretty much seeing sea grass, marshland and trees in the distance. Here and there we come upon a few homes but we have not reached the heavily developed Florida I had imagined. We pass under huge bridge and I notice one side near the bridge had and old rundown shack with overgrown vegetation. Across from it was a marina. As we passed under the bridge on the south and west shore was a huge new condominium complex with a sparkling new marina for owners. The old verses the new.

We arrived at Beach Marine at Jacksonville Beach about ten minutes later. We docked not without some frustrating moments. Our normal plan would be to back into the slip for easy departure.  Well, the wind just would not cooperate. Each time we had the stern lined up a strong gust would move it just enough create a dangerous situation causing us to turn around to try again.  Not today.  We eventually had to give up and bring the boat in bow first and even with this the young man on the dock pull hard to keep the bow away from the next boat. 

After checking in and getting things put away, we found the Boat House Grill right here at the marina. Joe often jokes that “it’s five thirty somewhere”. Well at three thirty it was. We stumbled upon a happy hour from two to seven? I guess that covers it!  We met a few local boaters who were more than willing to tell us of their travels in the area. It’s always good to get some local knowledge. Later we enjoyed dinner there. 

Rosa's cousin lives nearby and we made arrangements to meet him on Wednesday along with waiting for a package from home. Time to pay some bills again.

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