On the way to the Keys!

We loved our visit to St. Augustine, but it was time to start traveling to Marathon where we had decided to spend the winter.  After a big year of major boat projects, it was time to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labors.  We decided to go the ICW as the weather was not the best for traveling.  As the captain says when there are small craft warnings it applies to any boat under 100 feet! The best part about traveling is anchoring out.  It is so peaceful and quiet.

Anchored at Lake Worth we saw the big cruise ships leave

Moved dingy to the deck due to winds and large wakes

Dingy motor on its deck home
It is inconvenient to have to put the dingy off the davits.  Then you can't use it to go ashore.  But better safe than sorry.

Beautiful boats at West Palm beach

Rainbow at West Palm

Hurricane Harbor in Key Biscayne

Beautiful homes surrounding Hurricane Harbor

Looking out to Miami bay

Reefed down running the Atlantic from Lake Worth inlet
We left the ICW at the Lake Worth inlet, too many bridges. Finally some great weather, heading for Rodriquez Key

Light Winds

View from the cockpit
We began the Lobster pot lookout.  One of us on the bow of the boat to avoid them.  We used our remote autopilot which worked out well

Rodriquez Key Anchorage
A group of boats anchored around us and left early for the Bahamas

Next stop White Marlin Marina in Marathon Key

History in St. Augustine

Here we are on our mooring ball in St. Augustine Marina before Hurricane Matthew

O.C. White restaurant built as the Worth house in 1791, supposedly haunted.  It has been a hotel and was moved to the present location from across the street.  No reports that the ghost moved also.

Gary at the entrance to the Bridge of Lions, first a wooden bridge built in 1895, rebuilt in 1920 continually upgraded

Harry's

Above is Harry's built as a home in1753, we enjoyed the New Orleans style and food.  It was previously known as Catalina's Gardens who supposedly still haunts the premises.  I don't blame her, it is beautiful and reminds me of New Orleans.

Our friends told us about Rivers Marina and Patty's , it opened up right after the hurricane and we need the visit

Government House on King Street, the first one was built of wood in 1690. It has been rebuilt several times built of Coquina ( a mixture of soft shell and limestone.)

Lightner Museum, originally the second luxury hotel Henry Flagler built.  It became the city hall and museum in 1974. When it was a hotel is featured spa's  and the world's largest indoor swimming pool.

Flagler College was originally the Hotel Ponce DeLeon, the interior was designed by Louis Tiffany

The bronze statue of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles the founder of St. Augustine 

Jan on the coquina bridge in front of the Lightner Museum

First Union Bank building,designed in 1926

We had lunch at the Columbia with beautiful spanish tiles everywhere and portraits of the Marti Gras Kings and Queens

The Basilica Cathedral completed in1797, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the US

I will end with a pic of the Jolly Raven, we heard the crew singing sea chanties and firing pistols as the took children and parents out for birthday and just fun.  I am looking forward to a return visit to this wonderful place and with no hurricanes.  

St. Augustine last week

We have been waiting for the weather to calm down before our trip to Marathon.  It looks like from the traffic on the ICW that we will start back on it as the waves in the Alantic will be rock and rolling.  I have enjoyed our anchoring across from the fort, even the cannons going off during the tours.  It is rolly but what a view!

The fort view from anchor

Cranes and Coast Guard come in to start repairs

our other view on the swingaround
Bridge of Lions

Coming into the City Marina by dingy

Captain enjoyed the Alabma Game
Roll Tide!

View from A1A brewery at lunch

Virgie and My favorite from the Ghost Tour so long ago
The Miltary Hospital

Smiles at lunch

Dr. Pena's oldest house

Divine Miss Em, back together and ready for a new adventure

Hurricane Matthew at St. Augustine

We were watching the weather as usual and saw that Hurricane Matthew was headed our way.  We set up to get Miss Em pulled on the hard at St. Augustine Marine Center and picked up a rental car.  Wed. night we repositioned at the Marine center and were told that the center would close the next day for manditory evacuation, just our luck couldn't get the boat pulled.  The Center worked out for us to shelter at a lay along floating dock.  Since we had spent 2 days securing and prepping the boat it was the best we could do.  We left with a heavy heart not knowing if we would have  a home to go back to.

All prepped and we are packed.  A level 4 hurricane means get out of the way.

Gary with the last look before we left.

We were happy to see Mom in Tallahassee after a long drive at about 15 miles per hour,  Lots of people leaving.  I am glad that they did.  As usual Mom was glad to see us and fed us like kings.  Some of our family came over to Tallahassee from Panama City and we enjoyed watching Alabama and FSU win their weekend ball games.  Mom took us to Costco where I found a friend but he was too big to take back to Miss Em.

We returned to our boat on Tuesday.  We were able to get pictures from people who stayed or got back early.  Miss Em had no damage !  Now to get back and unprep her.

Water had really flooded the area

Closer to the Alantic even on the hard damage

Gary enjoyed this game!

Probably the best place to ride it out!  Hey he's a member.

It is just so sad to see all the destruction.  We are so blessed to have made it through with just a lot of hard work before us.  The city marina will be closed for a long time so we could not return there.  Gary and I moved the boat to anchor off the old fort, Castillo de San Marcos.  In fact they just shot off the cannon for the local tour.  So we will hang out here until we get more information on our return trip to Marathon.  Gary and I want to return here and enjoy the City Marina Again.

St. Augustine at last!

We got in on the evening of the 30 of Sept., went to the fuel dock and loaded up with water and fuel for our stay.  Probably overloaded some, but better over prepared than under prepared.  We had some problems with refrigeration on the way, having to run the generator too long but hey, the AC was fine.  The city marina has a shuttle service so we spent the 1st waiting on our dingy valves and walked to the farmers market (4.5 ml) to get the veggies we crave.  Scored some great bread and found the nearest little grocery right over the Bridge of Lions.  When we got back we stashed our haul and went to O.C. Whites for a great meal.  Virgie and I visited there years ago and they told us about the ghost that moved things upstairs.  You just can't visit St. Augustine without hearing about the ghosts.  Since it is the oldest city in the US and has been the scene of warring of different countries the tourist trade here is all about ghosts.  At least you get the history of different areas with the tours.  There is also a Colonial Quarter where living history can be observed.

St. Augustine City Marina

Jan walking over the Bridge of Lions

O.C. Whites

Bascule Bridge open to let boats through

Having a great meal at O.C.Whites

One of the 3 pirate like boats here