Saiboats Fair and Fine# 42 : Read oldest posts first

Continue Nov. 21 Friday Georgene's Log

We had to get fuel this evening and we put into a marina at Jekyll Island,Georgia. This place is where so many wealthy families had “Cottages” in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The state of Georgia now owns the Island which is now a state park and open to the public. We are now at mile 684. Tomorrow, if all goes well, we will be in Florida. Doug Says I'll be warmer just because I'll know I'm in Florida!

Saturday Nov22,1986 Georgenen's log

We got up early had breakfast and walked about 1 1/4 miles to the grocery store_ and back to the marina. It was a bout 10 A.M. when we left the marina. We had a really nice sunny day even though it was cold most of the day. We had to cross St Andrews sound and we were actually in the ocean water before we rounded the last marker and turned back in on the Southern side of the sound to find a channel through more marsh grass. It's the most seaward point since we left Virginia. We crossed the St. Mary's River, the boarder between Georgia and Florida about 2 P.M. WE anchored across from Fernandina beach Marina about 3:30 P.M. It really felt good to finally be in Florida. We plan to stay anchored here tomorrow and clean the boat up and let it dry out. It's supposed to be sunny and close to 80 degrees.

Crossing the St Mary's River is a little different experience the tide runs swift and you are crossing shipping channels with ships ,submarines trawlers tugs and barges an every manner of pleasure boat going in all directions. You come out in the river beside a Ship yard where ships set way up in the air in dry dock. There are barges for troops to stay aboard. ( I guess that's what they are.) It seems no matter which way you look there are shrimp boats coming at you or crossing your bow. This was my first impression on other trips through there not much was going on. First impressions are usually lasting so that's the way I picture the place.

The town is old and a fishing town with shrimper's and fishing boats a plenty. The place is kind of special to me as My Grandfather left Roanoke Va. On a train as a young man in 1870 and rode to the end of the line which was at that time Fernandina. There was a housing boom going on as people were moving there from new York. He became a house builder. There is a bar there that dates back to 1850 or so. I st there drinking a beer and imagined him setting there having a drink. There is a painting of a reclining lady of the night on the wall be the bar

I spent a fair amount of time watching the debarker skin logs at the paper mill. A great place to stop Fernandina!