We were in no rush to travel in the rain toward St. Augustine so we spent a lazy morning cleaning up the boat. When we finally got motivated, we pushed off from the dock and motored along the narrow scenic stretch of the waterway as the rain fell and the wind swirled through the enclosure. It is days like these when running on one engine with no auto pilot is very trying on the arms as we constantly have to battle the wind and the current to stay on course. After a good work out and just a little waterlogged, we idled into St. Augustine and grabbed mooring #29 not far from both Columba and Siesta later that afternoon. The city was perfectly situated in the protected harbor waters of the Matanzas River and the wide inlet passage to the ocean had made the area a desirable location for commerce and trading posts in the days gone by. Suiting up in our rain gear, we all went ashore to explore the timeless city just south of the impressive Bridge of Lions. St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States and St. George Street was the picture of old world Spanish colonial architecture replicated in a small village. Walking through the streets, the area was a perfect combination of European flare and Southern charm. After working up an appetite, we stopped by Pizzalley’s Chianti Room for some delectable brick oven pizza paired perfectly with an ice cold Peroni. Trekking back to the dinghy dock, we ducked into the elegant Casablanca Inn and sat outside in the courtyard decompressing over a few tasty signature martinis. Back on our floating abodes, Rob and Rhonda invited us over for a nightcap to close out a truly enjoyable day.
The rain cleared up the next morning just in time for “Girl’s Day.” Rhonda swung by and picked Deb and I up and off we went to tour town without the boys hurrying us along. The men had their own day planned as the three of them were off to the Sailor Exchange to sort through potential boat treasures once again. I had a sinking feeling I was going to have to rearrange the cabin to make room for more “necessities.”
Our first stops were the Tea and Spice Exchange and Ancient Olive where we sampled a variety of spices, teas, infused oils and flavored vinegars. Settling for a variety of spices at the exchange and a bottle of Tuscan Herb olive oil, I was excited to incorporate the new flavors into our future meals. It was a hot day and after visiting a few novelty shops, we took off to the other end of town to the San Sebastián Winery for a tasting.
On our leisurely walk over to the winery we passed by a multitude of spectacular buildings. The grounds of Flaglar College were the epitome of opulence and wealth as the location was the former Hotel Ponce de Leon constructed in true Renaissance style. Even the winery gave off an air of old world architecture being housed in the former East Coast Railway building. We walked the three floors of the establishment tasting various wines at different stations set up along the corridors ending our tour at the rooftop bar to enjoy a glass of our favorite.
It was at the rooftop bar where the men caught up with us as we listened to the band and were chatting over some snacks….well everyone but Duane. After a little prodding, I was able to get Rob to fess up that Duane had purchased a refrigerator to use for parts and was getting a ride back to the boat to unload the bulky item. As you may recall when the trip started some 10 months ago, the boat refrigerator decided to breakdown and I have been using it as a pantry ever since. Along the way we invested in a chest refrigerator which rides on one end of the dinette and a separate freezer which is perfectly situated in the corner of the salon. Refusing to give up my extra storage space, we will definitely be having a talk later.
Our next stop was the St. Augustine Distillery which was equally as impressive in structure and quality. At this point Duane had joined the group and was eager to partake in the tasting. Historically speaking, the family owned distillery operates out of an early 20th century restored ice plant. The oak and brick construction preserved the feel of the era and the fact that the distillers utilize the locally grown agriculture to make their craft spirits and unique mixers, provided an extraordinary appeal. The liquors were truly exceptional and we walked away with a few bottles to enjoy on those hot summer nights ahead of us.
At this point we had worked up a sufficient appetite and stumbled upon the cozy Barley Republic Public House for burgers, fish and chips, and some poutine.
Rob and Rhonda were moving on the next day so we had them, along with Harold and Deb, over to the boat for drinks before calling it a night. We planned on seeing them in Brunswick in a few weeks, but this may be the last time the six of us hung out together.
The rain was back with a vengeance the next morning so we went ashore with our already damp jackets and walked around. Since Duane had missed the winery tour, I gave in, took one for the team, and agreed to walk over to sample some more wine and discuss the refrigerator scenario. Between the wine and indulging in his favorite pizza at Pizzalley later that afternoon, he agreed to remove the parts he needed and throw the rest of the refrigerator away and promised that the fridge restoration project would wait until the trip was over. It was a win win all around.
The last two days we spent in St. Augustine we were faced with one torrential downpour after another. I was constantly bailing out Baby Belle before and after our excursions to shore. Being able to duck into the quaint shops and eateries as well as take cover in the conveniently located distillery (Round 2) was a saving grace. And Round 3 at the winery so Harold could enjoy the ambiance and premium wines was must. We all relished our last day together and bid farewell over pizza and cocktails in town. Harold and Deb were waiting on the compressor to fix their refrigerator and we planned to move on to anchor at Jim King Park in Jacksonville before heading down the St. John’s River.
Waking up early the next morning, it was an easy escape as we released the mooring and idled under the massive Bridge of Lions. Passing the fort, Castillo De San Marcos, on our port, we took one last glimpse of the pirate ships and motored north toward the Tolomato River to continue up the ICW. The current was against us most of the day…So much so a kayaker who was training for a race kept pace with us as we protected him from a storm that had sprung up blowing 15 knots on the St John’s River. I guess that was the next best thing to a dolphin riding our wake…not. The River was narrow and the water brown and we were greatly anticipating the clearer waters again….wherever that may be. Tying up at the free dock just before another round of thunderstorms blew through, we dried off and relaxed inside the cabin the rest of the day. Our water tank was nearly empty and the poop tank was pretty full, and the boat needed a good wash down so heading to Ortega Landing Marina in the morning couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.
