Back at Jacksonville Landing

I just finished a very long transit from St. Augustine to Jacksonville Landing.  I used the ICW since the winds were forecast from the North.  And from the North they were - peaking at 25 knots.  It was not a fun trip.  First, the current was against me leaving St. Augustine.  Then I got rained on.  The current and strong winds continued to slow my progress most of the day - I never saw 4 knots and most of the time saw 2.5 to 3.  Until, of course, I turned into the St. John river.  At that point I picked up a 2.5 to 3 knot push and rocketed up to Jacksonville at 7 to 8 knots.  Of course as a result the rate of close of the several ocean going ships in the channel was in the neighborhood of 16 to 18 knots.  Boy, they really look big when they close that fast.

I came into Jacksonville Landing rigged on the wrong side, I though that the current would ebb enough close to shore that I could tie up with my stern to the current.  Of course that didn't work out so I had to spin around and re-rig everything on the other side in a 3 knot current between two bridges.

The good news, my XO kitten took the trip in stride.  So I am going to make the final adoption arrangements tomorrow.

LESSONS LEARNED:  Don't put your tool box on top of the compass.  But that is a story for another day.