Pit Stop

I am at Lamb's Yacht Center, a boatyard on the Ortega River just off the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. We have a marine toilet that is not functioning and needs to be repaired before further travel. I am also taking the opportunity to replace my 300-foot anchor chain that is badly rusted and get another couple of small items handled. Fortunately, after five partial days of travel, I am only a 2 1/2-hour drive from home. I will rent a car and drive home tomorrow until the boat is ready to use.

Yesterday morning, after a lovely evening at anchor, I dropped Old Doc Kuneck (ODK) off at the Fernandina Yacht Harbor Marina to return home. I then travelled another 30 miles south on the Intracoastal Waterway to Mayport, Florida at the port entrance to the St. Johns river and the Jacksonville area. Today I brought the boat 24 miles up the St. Johns to the Ortega River, home to much of the marine industry in Jacksonville. 

With any luck, the boat should be ready to roll in about a week and I can resume the trip south to Ft. Lauderdale and then across to the Bahamas. There are rumors that I will be joined by not only my wife, but by the Bosun Paul Hamilton, which might allow us to run offshore overnight and shorten the trip significantly.