Tuesday 5/12 New Symrna to St Augustine, FL (St. Augustine Municipal Marina)

From New Symrna it was small intercostal waterway canals - Indian River, Halifax River, Ponce de Leon inlet, allowed for a close up look at many, many homes on the river.  All day long i sat positioned with my binoculars as the voyeur i am.  So close i could spy a tired gardener taking a break under her umbrella, drinking tea in a tall fancy glass.  I’d rather be watching birds but when you can look into the yards and homes of us humans it’s a bit less boring….

Breezy hard current upon arrival - H. did great bringing her in.  Marina is right across the street from the historic St. Augustine downtown district - many, many mooring folks.  I’ve never seen so many young families that live on their sailboats and they just keep moving around from marina to marina.  They dinghy in from a mooring to wash/laundry and get supplies. - all with very young families in tow…(well, they’re not actually towing them - they are in the boat).  One fella came over to discuss with Harry an out board motor issue and he had this delightful French accent and a daughter with him (about 10) had a ‘plain as day’ American accent.  I had seen her and her two sisters (younger) and mom earlier and watched them travel across waters back and forth from the sailboat to the marina facilities (bathroom, shower, etc..).  Anyway….the ten year old told me her dad was French and her mother from Brazil and they live in PA.  She says they all speak three languages!  so cool…

Hollie comes to visit!!!  Hollie arrived at our boat around 630 and we went across the street to dinner at O.C. Whites - a lovely, obviously sturdy building that has stood strong since 1790 - 1790!  Hollie is our first visitor and having her with us, even if it’s just for a bit, was so enjoyable.  We discussed and looked at pictures of our travails and her exciting Kentucky Derby festivities.  She is in Ormond Beach, which is about an hour away, for a week visiting cousin Rex.  We behaved (Hollie made us) so we could get her on the road safely for the drive back.  Thanks for making the effort to come see us Hollie Hop.