Last night was very enjoyable, and we are glad we stayed. As you probably remember, we spent several months in Boca Chica Marina at the Naval Air Station in Key West. Sometime after the first month there, a sailboat came in after a single-handed crossing from the Rio Dulce. The boat was named Reboot. So yesterday, while finishing up the dinghy, a gentleman stopped by to chat for a few minutes, asked us where we were headed. We mentioned Key West. The more we talked, the more Renne' realized he was the sailor who had come in to Boca. He didn't recognize us, but it was a surprise to run into Retired Navy Captain Roger Jones, and formerly meet him in Jacksonville. He was walking by all of the boats arranging for a dinner last night somewhere with all of the boaters. We thought it would be a great idea to get together with them.
So last night at 1900 (7pm) we all gathered at the Christmas Tree
and rode the ferry over to the other side of the St. John's River.
So, not a good photographer, but I wanted to get a feeling for what the dock looks like at night. So we took the ferry over to a local brewery for dinner with Roger, Ed and Claudia Davis (turns out he is a recently retired Marine LtCol and Fed/Ex Pilot abrd s/v Door Into Summer), Ken Smith (abrd s/v Loon), and Sarah Southworth and Bill (abrd s/v Moonlight Serenade). Now it turns out that Roger and Ed/Claudia are buddy boating down to Key West also, so we are excited that we should see them there, just before we leave for the Bahamas.
This is the view from the other side looking at "The Landing" where we are all docked. Beautiful view isn't it! And all FREE!
Renne' sold a couple of Nighty Night books to Claudia and one Last Payload to Bill last night. It was interesting to see the response from Claudia. Apparently, she has been looking for this type of a book, designed for kids that introduces the concept of sailing in a gentle, but interactive manner. She was extremely excited, and it re-invigerated Renne''s enthusiasm. It was a good evening for her.
So our decision this morning is to leave and probably head down the ICW (Inter-Coastal Waterway) to St. Augustine and then look at the weather on Friday. Right now we will be slogging into southerly winds at 10-to-15kts with waves 3-6 feet out of the east. Not a good combination. But the winds are due to shift by Friday evening, so that looks like our window to get a few day offshore. We don't have to be anywhere for Christmas, so it looks like we will be on the water. We will leave this morning with the change of current - about 0930 - Gads, that is just about an hour from now. So I will close this out with pics of Renne' working in the cockpit yesterday and my new addition -
by the way, Ed, the retired Marine/Fed Ex pilot has started growing his hair as of his retirement also. Neither he nor I have ever had the experience of longer hair. And you know how I HATE haircuts! It's still a little shaggy, but it will grow out. LOL!
So keep track of us in the column to the left (Where Is JonNe' Today) and watch our track down the coast. We will probably be at anchor tonight, so no Sundowner's this evening. We will let you know where to meet us for our next dockside cocktail hour. Until then,
JonNe'
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