Attached to the mooring ball, we have drifted south, north, east and west as the tide and wind changed directions. Nary a worry about anchor drag, sound sleeping for sure. The mooring field is well maintained and the pennant was very clean. I secured Serenity with two 5/8 lines, one each to the mooring pennant then back to separate ties port and starboard to the Samson post. We have had 40 foot sailing catamarans around us, 40 foot trawlers around us and smaller boats. Full time live aboard folks and others like us in transit. There is a daily St Augustine cruisers net on channel 72 @0800, covering weather, tides, items for sale/wanted and local happenings and personal announcements. The shuttle service has spoiled us. Call in advance on the radio and request pickup at the scheduled time and on time the shuttle boat comes in. Weather has been a mix of cold 1/2 day and all night rain; clear cold north winds to warm southern breezes the last two days. We both have enjoyed the security of being in the mooring, vice some questionable marinas with a lot of exposed stuff to damage the boat in a blow. Solar would have been a nice addition this week. But, I decided to invest in the upgraded alternator and external regulator and house batteries to provide my 12DC electrical. As such, have had to run the engine 1.5 hours each day to recharge the batteries. Have not been able to top off, but about 85 % State of Charge (SOC). We use the iPhones, MacBook and I pad as we see fit for news, videos, email and web surfing and shopping. We run the cellular WIFI to provide our connectivity.
We have a new addition to Serenity. Waiting for us upon arrival via Amazon was a 62 quart 12vdc/120vac freezer/refrigerator. What luxury. We waited a day to verify it was working properly, then hauled back to the beach the boxes and deposited in the recycle bin. Then UBER to Walmart and filled the freezer side with frozen veggies, chicken breasts, salmon steaks and ground round. What a treat. But, there is a price to pay with this technology--energy. Keeping track now and then, about peak 8 amp hour (Ah) when cooling and the compressor is doing it's thing, then less, that one Ah. I also bought a custom fit insulation bag that had flaps for opening and vents for the compressor venting. Once chilled down, and minimize opening and closing, Ah demands have not been too bad. The high Ah consumer after the Frig compressor is the fresh water pump. We watch our usage, filling gallon jugs for daily drinking, brushing our teeth when underway and the alternator is topping off the batteries. Will have to watch house battery bank more closely as heavier demand and recharge will require topping off with distilled water more often.
St Augustine is an amazing city. While we have heard about this place, just never thought about the history. Has been occupied since 1565. Well before Plymouth Rock.
St Augustine
Spanish, British, Spanish the second time, USA, confederates then the US. The French tried to burn it down. Significant civil rights history from pre revolutionary war days to the 1960s.
The architecture is amazing. Have never walked in such a small space and saw so many historical markers.
Henry Flagler We had studied Flagler before during our land travels through the Keys. Flagler made his money as a partner with Rockefeller and Standard Oil. He built hotels along Florida east coast and then built the first railroad from northern Florida all the way to Key West. However, there is so much of his influence here in St Augustine. Hotels, churches, homes. Amazing structures.
Castillo de San Marcos
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| New Frig/freezer |
We attended Sunday service at the
Memorial Presbyterian church A beautiful historic church, that Flagler build as a memorial to his family. Flagler is buried there. Wonderful pipe organ, choir and service but a bit too formal for our liking. We are Cowboy church people and like our jeans n' boots and hats. Not one person at the service had a hat on!
It has been an enjoyable stay. Boat is reasonably cleaned outside and top side waxed. Battery bank serviced and topped off. Laundry finished today and last supplies loaded. Tomorrow, we will release from the mooring ball and bid farewell to St Augustine and set course to the north and Jacksonville. At Jacksonville, our itinerary will have Serenity and crew turning west then south and journey upriver on the St Johns for a few days.
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