St. Augustine, Fl

Our buddy boat, IP460 Cutter Loose and the Bridge of Lions

We departed Pine Island, raising anchor just after sunrise at 7am, motoring south towards St. Augustine. We enjoyed toast from our homemade bread that we baked last night on anchor. This cruising life is a dream. I know I have said that before, but life returns to a very simple daily routine. We live each day, exploring the towns where we are anchored or moving the boat 30-50 miles to the next town along the waterway. When you move the boat, you are busy driving and navigating as you cannot use the autopilot as you would offshore. On these moving days, it is sometimes stressful due to shallow water or unclear charting, but we stand 1 hour watches and that tends to help.

When in really great towns, like St. Augustine, Fl, we tend to stay for a few days and enjoy the sites, pubs, museums, shopping and yacht services. This is our third visit by boat to St. Augustine and now they have 140 mooring balls for rent at $20.00/night. That is not bad as it cost $10.00/day to dock your dinghy if you are anchored out. The marina includes a very nice bathhouse, laundry, ship's store and a pumpout boat. Daily adventures are walking the town which is well lit with white Christmas tree lights in all the trees, touring the winery, exploring the fort, Castillo de San Marcos and the Tiffany glass at Flagler College, the former Ponce de Leon Hotel. This luxury hotel built as a stop on Henry Flagler's railroad, led St. Augustine to become the "Newport of the South." What great history - we really enjoy this town.

Snowy egret greets us on the dinghy docks, St. Augustine, Fl

The Ponce de Leon Hotel, built by Henry Flagler, now Flagler College

Historic streets in the oldest city in America, beautiful

Radeen reads about the oldest original house in St. Augustine

Typical vista down a street with fort Castillo de San Marco in the background

More exploration and discovery today around St. Augustine, Fl. We find it hard to move on after staying in great towns like this. Our plan is 3 days here, then press on towards Vero Beach Fl. with stops in Daytona, Titusville, Melbourne, then Vero!