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| We stopped at Beach Marine, a marina near Jacksonville Beach, FL, for Saturday night and had a great visit with Charlie & Fran. Just like on our way south in the fall, they were very kind to taxi us to dinner and to visit the grocery store again. It made jugs of juice and bags of groceries much easier to get back to our boat. |
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| With the super full moon our low and high tides have been rather extreme, so we had to wait till later morning to leave the marina on Sunday to have deep enough water on the ICW. While we changed the engine oil and waited until we could depart, we also learned beginning paddleboard techniques as we watched a group next door from a public dock. We see all aged folks on paddleboards as we travel and it looks like great exercise. |
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| Priority went out the St. John River Inlet to the ocean to sail north to St. Mary's Inlet. Thunderstorms teased us but eventually moved west as we sailed by Fort Clinch at the northern tip of Amelia Island. We motored on in the inlet to a mooring at Fernandina Beach which is the northern most seashore town in Florida. |
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| Monday we rented bikes and rode out to visit Fort Clinch. It was built after the War of 1812 when it was decided that each inlet along the shore needed a fort so an enemy would not be tempted to enter. |
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| The soldier appeared and acted as if it were 1864 to tell us interesting details about the fort and life within it. He said he may get in trouble having his photo taken since he was not wearing his full uniform which should be worn at all times on duty. He was missing his dark blue buttoned up jacket but said it was just too hot today. So don't tell anybody.... |
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| We rode out to find Amelia Island Lighthouse but could not get closer than this. We enjoyed riding around the historic old town for the day. The mornings are clear and cooler but the hot and humid afternoons make the storm clouds roll in. |
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| Back on the boat as we were putting the dinghy away on the bow we found a surprise passenger hiding in the shade of a fuel jug. The tiny crab must have washed up onto the boat yesterday as we were sailing out in the ocean and some waves splashed the deck. We helped it get back in the water. Tuesday we leave Florida as we continue our journey north. |
