Saturday, January 22, 2022

Gale & Freezing Temps - Sisters Creek & St. Augustine, Florida

 






We spent the Martin Luther King long week-end (Jan. 15 - 18) tied to the free public dock (Jim King Park) at Sisters Creek.  Gale force winds and record low temperatures accosted us for 3 days.  January 17th Jacksonville marked their coldest day on record ... 29 degrees F.  As well that day the all-time record wind speed in January was recorded for sustained winds - out of the Southwest 38 mph and wind gust 59 mph.  We were grateful to be on the dock.  It was a wild ride with the current and wind tossing us around.  

We set out at first light on January 19th to head across the St. John River on route to St. Augustine.  As we entered the river we quickly realized the fog coming in from the ocean was too thick for us to see the freighter traffic.  We waited for the fog to clear ..... good thing as we ended up dancing around a container ship to reach the other side. 

Enticed by the thought of a hot shower, we took a mooring ball in St. Augustine's municipal marina.  We donned our masks and beat a direct path to the showers.  We were horrified by the crowds of tourists on the waterfront.  We were the only ones wearing masks.  

At night, the whole bridge and every shop on the waterfront was aglow with lights.  There were even lighted tour boats circling the harbour.  We felt more like we were in an amusement park than America's oldest city.  

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