Tuesday 4/1 – Friday 4/4
With work completed on Puffin on her trailer, we depart Sanford to portage Puffin northward. Our first stop is only a short distance away at Blue Springs State Park along the St Johns River. The spring is one of the sources of water for the St. Johns river as well as a winter harbor for hundreds of manatee as the warmer water temperature allows them to survive the winter. Although most of the manatee have left here by now, there are a few that we are able to see. This sight was also the homestead of a pioneering family that established a ferry stop here for tourism and citrus transportation ( The nearby town is Orange City) We continue north into Georgia ( We finally end our 5 month stay in Florida ) heading for Savannah, but with the day waining, we opt for a rest stop along I-95. Although we had visited Savannah many years ago, we are anxious to explore the city and surrounding area. With spring break vacationeers creating a no vacancy scenario at the local campgrounds, we decide to ask the working boatyard and marina at Hinckley Service Yard (Mile 582) if we can spend a couple of nights there and the friendly and generous manager not only says sure but furnishes us with power and the use of the facilities at no charge. With the truck unencumbered from her load, we tour the many fabulous parks placed in a symetrical grid throughout the historic city blocks and just as I did many years ago, partake in beer drinking as we walk along the colorful waterfront. Fort Pulaski offers us an insight into the life and times of the Civil War, and Tybee Island beckoned us with beautiful beaches to stroll. The beach gazebo at Tybee Island happened to have a dress rehearsal of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and they allowed us to watch. ( Lots of scantily clad women )

Blue Springs State Park

The Spring

On The Road Again

Savannah Parks

Around The Town

Savannah Waterfront

Fort Pulaski

Tybee Island Lighthouse










Tybee Island Beach

Showtime

Friday 3/28 – Monday 3/ 31
Having made our way to the southernmost destination of the St. Johns, our plans to retrieve our truck and trailer from Ft. Pierce is made a whole lot easier as Bill & Jill generously drive us there this morning. After having lunch together in Ft. Pierce, Bill & Jill depart for Mt Dora to meet with friends at the Antique & Classic Boat Festival while Royce & I decide to drive along the coast, stopping by Cocoa Beach to stroll along the beach before heading back to Puffin at Sanford. Saturday, the four of us drive to Mt Dora where we peruse the streets at the Craft and Antique Show. After lunch, we board an old coal-fired steam train for a fun trip to Tavares where we attend the Boat Festival. We meet up with Gene Porter, a friend of Bill & Jill and the president of the Antique & Classic Boat Society. He gives us a memorable ride aboard his classic boat Nancy Lee on Lake Dora and up a really neat scenic creek. We enjoy checking out the many classic and antique boats and later, instead of catching the train back, Gene gives us a thrilling high speed boat ride back to Mt Dora from Tavares. When Royce & I return to Sanford, we discover a classic auto show next to the marina, so we continue our funfilled day goggling the cherried-out cars. The next day, all of us go on a fun shopping trip including a reprovisioning stop at Costco. Later we are invited aboard Transition for drinks and delicious appetizers, ending another great day. Monday morning, Bill helps Royce & I put Puffin back on the trailer and the marina allows us to do some maintenance work on Puffin in their yard and spend the evening there as well.


Bill, Royce & Jill At Fort Pierce

Back To The Future

Bill The Bandit

Cool Old Boats

Up A Creek

Cool Old Cars

Tuesday 3/25 – Thursday 3/ 27
As we continue our southbound exploration of the St. Johns River, we decide to take a side-trip into Murphy Creek (Mile 83), a beautiful narrow winding waterway where we discover many turtles and a few alligators along it's banks. After spending the night anchored at a wide spot along the creek, we make way for Silver Glen Springs on the west shoreline of Lake George. Although the water is rather skinny , Royce, standing on the bow, directs me to the entry. Once inside the creek, we approach the spring and have a confrontation with terra firma. We manage to break free and decide this is not an appropriate place to spend the night, so we head out to Lake George, but as we power up, we notice a bad vibration. We do manage slowly to make it to Zinder Point at the southern end of Lake George and anchor up Hitchen Creek (Mile 116). Assuming that we need to resolve our problem, we contact looper friends, Bill & Jill who make arrangements to leave Puffin with friends in Astor (Mile 120), only a few miles south of our location and offer us a ride to Sanford aboard their boat Transition. We meet up with them at the marina in Astor. As we leave the marina to tie up to their friend's dock, we are delighted that the vibration quits and realize that Puffin must have fouled her prop with sea grass.( Better to be lucky than good.) So with the problem resolved, we follow Transition to Sanford where Puffin and crew happily make fast to the docks at the Sanford Municipal Marina (Mile 163). Bill & Jill have dinner & drinks aboard Puffin and celebrate our good fortune.

Murphy Creek

St John Shoreland Scenes

Hitchen Creek Sunset

Hitchen Creek

Following Transition

On Our Way To Sanford

Friday 3/21 – Monday 3/24
As planned, we head back south to the St. Johns River to head for Jacksonville. We decide not to transit the ICW of Georgia but instead spend our time exploring the upper reaches of the St Johns River to Sanford. We backtrack our route , stopping at Fernandina Beach for fuel, water, ice, pumpout and showers. Later that afternoon, we arrive at Jacksonville Landing (Mile 19), a “free” city linear dock with many shops, restaurants and a gathering place located on the downtown waterfront. After dinner at one of the waterfront eateries, we are treated to a free concert at the Landing. Saturday morning, we continue our trek south up the St Johns, making Green Cove Springs Marina (Mile 42) our destination to visit loopers, John and Anita (Baum's Rush) whom we met in Clearwater, FL. They have purchased a Corbin 39 that they are currently refitting and plan on sailing around the world. We also rendezvous with Royce's long lost cousin, Leroyce and her husband Tommy and have a nice time recalling their life stories. Monday finds us on a lay day at the marina as the winds are in the 20s and 30s


Tugs On The St. Johns River

Jacksonville Landing

Jacksonville On The St. Johns

Leroyce & Laroyce

Chief & Anita's Boat ("Bright Eyes")

Monday 3/17 – Thursday 3/20
Monday morning finds us back on the Tolomato River which continues our trek along the increasingly remote segment of the ICW. We come across the occasional development, and find the ICW becomes part of Pablo Creek that leads us upon the St Johns River(The way to Jacksonville) which we cross to enter into Sisters creek, followed by Sawpit Creek. This in turn brings us to Nassau Sound which we also cross to arrive at Amelia Island, eventually reaching Florida's northernmost city of Fernandina Beach. We hook up Puffin to a mooring buoy at Fernandina Harbor Marina (Mile 716) and are invited to stay with Tom and Gerry of “Sea Knight” at there home nearby. We are wined, dined, accomodated and toured. What a treat. We reluctanly leave their haven and make our way across the St. Marys River which marks our departure from Florida and into Georgia. We enter Cumberland Sound (Mile 711) where we anchor and dinghy to the Sea Camp Ranger Station to visit the National Seashore area on Cumberland Island where we walk the beautiful grounds and beach.

Anchored Off Pine Island

Crossing St. Johns River

Anchored Off Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach Waterfront

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Top Of The Morning !





Dinner With Tom & Gerry

Fernandina Beach Street Scenes

Courthouse

Beautiful Homes

Cumberland Sound Anchorage

Cumberland Island Trails











Cumberland Island Beach Scenes