Canterbury Sails by Chasseur: FLORIDA!!!!!

December 6-9, 2012 Thursday - Sunday

Thursday was a big day for us...we crossed the border into Florida waters!!! We were celebratory! A mass email was sent out to friends and family as we entered Florida. The response was overwhelming...Thank you to all. We arrived at Fernandina Harbor Marina in the early afternoon, tied up at the dock and watched a monster roll into the harbor...FOG, dense fog. We just made it!
We spent the rest of the day planning our next weeks travel, making reservations and studying what new challenges were ahead. Feeling smug that we had a great plan for the week we took off by foot to explore lovely, historic Amelia Island. The shops were staying open later into the evening to encourage Christmas shopping. The streets were lighted beautifully and Carolers were roaming the street. It was a charming evening. We caught up with fellow sailors that we had met earlier in the Welland Canal, Jerry and Sonja on SV "Spirit Healer". They have had a great adventure that included the St. Lawerence Route, Nova Scotia and northern eastern seaboard. They were surprised that we were not further ahead of them.
We woke with great anticipation to continue our travels into Florida. Here we go again......Mother Nature had changed our plans.....FOG. It did not lift until well past our tide table window had closed. Oh shucks....we were stuck on Amelia Island! Terry took this opportunity to get the dinghy motor carburetor cleaned up. Suzanne went shopping in town with Tutty and Muriel and a walk to see Fernandina Beach.
Saturday would be our day.......see FOG photo below. The fog was so bad we could barely see the boats moored in the harbor... Welcome to the Sunny State of Florida.
We were "socked in" with fog for 4 days. Every morning we woke with hopes of moving only to find more fog. The day would clear up, but it had been too late for us to get to our next stop that required us to approach at high tide. We spent our time enjoying Amelia Island Christmas festivities. There was an evening Christmas parade, shops had a wine and cheese open house, carolers and Santa, of course.

U.S.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Base, on the ICW

Protectors of the nuclear submarine which is just tucked away behind them. As we passed "Black Powder" we had a good view of the submarine. But there was a security boat that "escorted" us very closely until we were well past the submarine.