Blackbeard Island, GA to Jacksonville, FL

On Friday afternoon, October 29th, we met Steve & Lisa (our friends from Tampa) in Darien, GA and brought them back to “Life’s2Short” at Bob & Stephanie’s dock.

The whole gang got together that evening for fresh steamed shrimp, oyster shooters and grilled Mahi Mahi. An all-around wonderful meal with a wonderful group of people!

We took off Saturday about 9:30 a.m. for the journey to Blackbeard Island where “Blue Heron” was already anchored.

Along the way, Lisa got to see porpoises swimming in our wake off the bow of the boat.

Steve & Lisa enjoying sunshine on the bow as we travel through Blackbeard Creek.

The ranger station at Blackbeard Island.

We were anchored by 12:30 p.m. and watched as the rest of our group made their way in a few hours later.

“September Song”

followed by “Tide Hiker” and “Sea Pearl.”

About mid-afternoon, Lisa and I went for a walk on the beach while Steve and Todd went to gather firewood in the dinghy.

By early evening the gang was all headed to the point to roast hot dogs and enjoy a blazing campfire on the beach. Maureen off “Blue Heron” also made chocolate-caramel brownies for the group.

Back on “Life’s2Short” after a fun night around the fire. We even stayed up long enough to play a few rounds of Catch Phrase!

On Halloween Sunday, Steve & Lisa took the dinghy to the beach and went for a nice walk while Todd & I chilled on the boat.

Restocking for another day!

Then it was back to the point for hors d’oeuvres and s’mores and, of course, another campfire!

When we got back to the boat, we went out to the bow and played “Drink While You Think” for a while before turning in.

Monday morning several of the group went over to the beach to fly kites, courtesy of “Tide Hiker.” Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough wind to keep the kites in the air, unless you were willing to run down the beach generating your own wind!

A very calm morning in the anchorage and on the beach.

Steve & Lisa read and relax in the morning sunshine.

We left Blackbeard Island about 1:30 Monday afternoon and were anchored at Back River by 5:30.

Along the way we noticed that the starboard engine was running at a lower-than-normal temperature and also that we were going unusually slow. I even commented to Todd that it was almost like we were running on one engine. But based on the gauges, both engines were obviously running.

Todd finally decided to check the transmission shafts and found that the starboard shaft was barely turning. As soon as he came back up to the flybridge to report what he had found, we noticed that the starboard engine was not in gear! So we had been running for the better part of three hours with only one transmission engaged, turning what should have been a three-hour trip into a four-hour trip! At this point, we all had a good laugh and Lisa dubbed Todd the “One-Engine Wonder!”

It was another beautiful evening so we adjourned to the bow. A short time later a shrimp boat named “Amazing Grace” passed by on its way to the Atlantic. We started waving and hollering, asking if they had any fresh shrimp for sale, and the Captain turned around and motored over to us. He thought we might be having some kind of trouble and wanted to make sure we were okay, but he didn’t have any shrimp to sell us.

The Captain blowing the sunset conch horn.

Steve & Todd getting ready for “Catch Phrase” and watching the shooting stars.

Tuesday morning we were off to Darien around 9:30, fighting current the entire way. We arrived about 11:00 a.m. and tied to the public dock in front of Skipper’s Fish Camp. Steve and Todd made a quick run to the store before Steve & Lisa loaded up and headed back to Tampa. Thanks for everything, guys! We had a great time and hope to do it again soon!!!

Wednesday morning Todd walked in to Darien to get some ice and took several nice area photos.

We pulled away from the dock at Darien at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday and traveled about 55 miles to anchor just south of the Jekyll Harbor Marina seven hours later, including a ten-mile detour to Brunswick to fuel up at Ocean Petroleum ($2.75/gal). We saw “Tide Hiker” docked at the marina and spoke with them on the VHF that evening.

We also received a blog comment that evening via e-mail from another couple at the marina on a boat named “Docker’s Inn.” We learned that they are fans of our blog and are just beginning their cruising life after recently retiring from the University of South Carolina. Good luck, Ken & Sharon!

Thursday we were underway by 7:45 a.m., hoping to get through St. Andrew Sound before the wind picked up too much. Eight hours and 60 very breezy miles later we made it to Reed Island on the St. John’s River just as a line of storms was passing through.

The Captain couldn’t resist taking a photo of this (nuclear?) submarine as we passed Kings Bay just north of Fernandina Beach.

White pelicans littered the bank south of Fernandina Beach.

The encroaching storm as we approached Reed Island.

We waited for the worst of the storm to pass before anchoring, but it was still very windy throughout the evening and overnight into Friday. About 5:30 that afternoon, the Carnival Fascination cruised by our anchorage. We learned later on the local news that it had been docked in downtown Jacksonville and that it was full of Elvis impersonators and fans with a Viva Las Elvis theme.

Friday morning at 9:30 we left Reed Island to cover the remaining 15 miles to Jacksonville. It was still quite windy but we had intermittent protection, depending on the curve of the river. However, when we rounded the bend just past the Matthews Bridge for the final two-mile stretch to the Jacksonville Landing, the west wind was howling and the water was so churned up that we decided to turn around and tuck in behind Exchange Island.

We awoke this morning (Saturday, November 6th) to a low of 34 degrees according to the local weatherman, although weather.com indicated it was ten degrees warmer and it probably was. The wind was still blowing out of the west, but not nearly as bad as yesterday.

As we were heading for the Landing about 9:00 a.m., Jim aboard “Sandpiper” called and invited us to stay at his dock east of the Landing. So we took him up on the offer and were secure at the dock within the hour. We originally met Jim & Sherel in the Exumas in 2008 and have seen them off and on over the past two years when passing through Jacksonville.

We will most likely pull of Jim’s dock tomorrow and go on up to the Landing to spend a few days before being hauled out next week for a bottom job and some much needed washing and waxing on “Life’s2Short.” By next weekend we should be back in the water continuing the journey south.