December 5, 2014

1330 – Left River’s Edge Marina after washing the boat (at least the dirtiest spots). Moderate NW wind temp 70 outgoing tide – partly sunny – pretty good forecast – chance of slight showers.

1436 – Matanzas River – south bound Anastasia Island to port. Red Power boat headed at us – Hey Tow Boat US – our good friend’s big towing business. Raining – nice day for ducks, fish and sailors

1447 – Large flock of WP (white pelicans)

 

Mark 47 Capsian Tern (Sterna caspia) on the buoy. Terns are related to gulls. Most terns feed on small fish by diving head first into the water.

If you don’t like the weather just wait a while – the ‘pretty good’ forecast of this morning as been altered a bit – now feeling our way through dense fog, rising winds, Rounded mark 81A into the Matanzas River (leaving ICW) for our anchorage Cut the corner a little to close and ‘bumped’ along bottom momentarily for another heart stopping moment but slid off quickly into deeper water. Anchored at 1530 in 11 feet with contrary current/wind. Lots of BPs and new bird – roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) just flew over. That was a treat.

Anchored in site of Fort Matanzas, built by the Spanish in 1742 to keep those friggin' beer swizzling, dirty limey English pricks from sneaking through the Matanzas Inlet and up the southern arm of the Matanzas River to St. Augustine.

Our anchorage on the Matanzas River

Fort Matanzas in the Background 

 

Short day – killing time before our arrival at Titusville where Flicka gets a rest and we fly home for Xmas, 779 to 794 - 15 miles today.