Final Moments

 And another week is nearly past!  Last I left you we were beginning the final let of our ICW journey toward St. Augustine.  We had a great day of sunshine and motor sailing, enjoying the calm and peace of the ICW while seeing the sights of the mid-Florida coastal area.  After visiting the marina dock to refuel, fill the water tanks and get the holding tank pumped, we passed under the Bridge of Lions to our mooring.







 We have always enjoyed St. Augustine and this visit proves the same.  From the moment we pulled in Monday afternoon, we felt welcomed by this wonderful seaside town.  Within a couple hours of our arrival, our friends aboard Grateful Red arrived from offshore and their overnight voyage from Charleston.  We had a marvelous dinner catching up aboard Moonshadow and they headed out again for points south first thing Tuesday morning.

Rob’s mom, Ina, is visiting the area at his sister’s condo in the Daytona area and we got up early and headed to the rental car agency.  After an uneventful drive, we arrived in Ormond Beach where Ina had gotten quite ill over the previous 24 hours and we immediately scooped her up and headed for urgent care.  The next few days of visiting were mostly in “healing mode”.  Chronic bronchitis required a hefty antibiotic shot and then pills which did the trick.  It was a great treat to see Ina again after 6 months absence!

Returning to St. Augustine Thursday evening, we fell right into the pace of the town again.  Friday found us walking miles on end doing errands including walking about 4 miles to the closest drug store!  HA!  But we did happen on a Mexican restaurant on the way back which was a particular treat, our favorite food!  

Since those four miles didn’t do the trick, we wandered further looking for other supplies and ended up taking the tour at the local St. Sebastian Winery.  Now I’m now so big on local wineries – especially those outside of California or possibly New York but I have to say that St. Sebastian was the most impressive I’ve visited.  The staff were professional, educated and charismatic and made the tour an event.

 Of course today is St. Patty’s Day everywhere and we celebrated accordingly.  After our obligatory walk to West Marine, we met for a great lunch with our friends from Charleston down for Bike Week in Daytona.  It’s particularly fun to meet up with friends from home and this week seems to be the time!  The afternoon was spent practicing the art of toasting the Irish . . . Guinness and Leprechaun Punch . . . with George and Francis, fellow sailors from Virginia Beach who met at the bar.  

Finishing the day, we invited mooring neighbors Lee and Karen aboard Morning Glory to join us for the sunset.  Tomorrow promises an adventure as we pay another visit to Ormond Beach to see Ina and Rob’s family from Tampa and his sister and husband from Buffalo.   Relaxing, yes . . . but never a dull moment!