We enjoyed a more leisurely morning on 11/17/21, when we didn’t depart Golden Isles Marina on Lanier Island, GA, until 9:45 am. Our projected travel time to Fernandina Beach today was shorter than usual, so we could afford to get around a little slower. With yet more stellar traveling conditions available to us, we cruised outside again this morning in the Atlantic Ocean, especially since Steve was nervous about navigating the skinny (aka shallow) waters going through Jekyll Creek, which was our only alternative route southward.
We enjoyed wonderfully warm temperatures as we cruised this morning, even if the wind was up some, making our waters choppier. The sun was bright and temps rose into the mid-70s for highs, as the seas began to get a bit rocky. Steve activated our one working stabilizer and I swallowed a Bonine to counteract any possible seasickness. I might not be the fondest of the motion of the ocean, but I absolutely do enjoy the gazillions of diamond-like sparkles the brilliant sun scatters all over the choppier water’s surface as we cruise along. That visual effect is no less than magical. I will definitely miss seeing these sparkles once we end our live-aboard lifestyle.
Cruising past Jekyll Island, then past long Cumberland Island (both areas we’d already stopped and thoroughly enjoyed on our journey northward), we ultimately crossed the state line from Georgia into Florida. It felt great to be back in the Sunshine State again! We turned westward into St. Mary’s Inlet toward the Amelia River, along which Fernandina Beach, FL, is located on the river’s eastern banks.
We arrived at Fernandina Harbor Marina at 2:30 pm, and were instructed to secure Legacy with a starboard tie to the marina’s transient wall, not far from where we’d been tied during our earlier visit here. Sadly, we didn’t luck-out again on this visit, so this afternoon we were hit in the face with prevailing winds coming straight out of the south, blowing the smoke stack’s exhaust from the paper mill directly into our marina… NOT pleasant! That paper mill was the only downside I could find to living in that place. We both love Fernandina Beach!
After settling-in, showering, and changing into nicer clothes, we decided to walk into historic downtown for another delicious dinner at Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro, since we’d enjoyed it so much earlier in the year, and again we were not disappointed!
Position: N 30° 40.185, W 81° 28.013
Distance traveled: 46 SM
Total distance traveled: 5824 SM
Total marina nights: 410
Total nights at anchor: 23
Locks today: 0
Locks Total: 29