6 March, 2020 Bumpy start, calmer evening.

Cruising south, upstream.  56 SM; 7.6 engine hours

Frontal passage occurred last night around 2115.  Turned out to be nearly a non event.  A bit of lightening, brief heavy rain, then the wind clocked around to NW and begin to diminish.  Our anchorage was closer to the shoreline to the NW so the water became reasonably smooth.  Slept great.  However, today was forecast increasing NW-N winds un to 20 and gusting.  We quickly got ready and were underway at 0700.  Anchor was deeply buried in gooey sticky mud--a very good thing, considering how strong the wind was yesterday afternoon and evening.  We had about 12 miles of open water orientated north south and with the freshening NW winds knew it would get rough quick. It did but was aft and not so bad.  After 1.5 hours we turned the corner west as the river finally narrowed and we were getting pretty good wind blockage.  Pretty nondescript route.  So far we are not too impressed with the St Johns river.

Power plant along river with early morning low clouds

Approaching the Buffalo bluff RR bridge, which should normally be open if no trains are approaching was closed.  Height above water only seven feet so definitely needed it open.  We hailed on channel 9 without response from bridge tender.  However, bridge opened and we proceeded.

Opening RR bridge, choppy waters

Wind has been a steady 15 with gusts to 20+ all day.  Waters choppy but nothing like yesterday.  We passed up free docks at our intended stop point due to waves and wind as the docks were pretty exposed.  Continuing another 10 miles to Salt cove on Lake George of St Johns river.  This position is leeward of the northern winds but still a bit choppy.  Easing the bow toward the shore we dropped the anchor in six feet of water at 1430.  (map) Excellent anchor set.  Surface water temperature warmed to 72 degrees.  Approaching sunset, the winds as forecast have died down to probably 10 MPH or less.  Pretty smooth supper with a great view.

Salt Cove.  

Salt springs is just west of our anchorage and the creek empties into this cove.

We are headed to St Johns river marina and resort (KOA with a marina) for a few days.  We will meet our very good friends Trapper Joe and Alison, do schedule maintenance on Serenity and the unplanned event, attempt to get a new canvas/isinglass panel fabricated.  I have the alarm set for 2330 as SPACE-X has a scheduled launch tonight at 2350 from KSC.  Skies are clearing nicely.  We are 92 miles northwest of Cape Canaveral.

1473.6 Hobbs; 2405 Sm elapsed