2020: Arrival Ortega FL

 7 November 2020

Depart: Green Cove Springs, FL anchorage 10:55

Arrive: Ortega, FL - Lambs Yacht Center 2:30

Distance: 20.3 nm

Conditions: Alternating rain, sun, rain, sun ...

Clark saw a clearing in the weather and decided we should "make a break for it" while we had an opportunity. He took his position at the anchor while I manned the helm. He got the rode pulled in up to the chain. and then the heavens opened up and it poured buckets. I had just opened up the front panel of the upper helm cover due to heat from the sun and had to quickly zip it shut once again. Clark came running in to get a raincoat and then waited until the worst had passed before going back to continue.

He struggled with the hose wand he installed for the washdown. Water poured out of the connection of the wand to the hose, so besides the rain water, he got soaked with salt water from the leak. While he was dealing with getting wet on two fronts, he brought the anchor up and used hand signals to tell me how he wanted the boat maneuvered. It was awkward to say the least. 

When he had completed the anchor procedures and joined me at the helm, he said, "We need new signals that only require one hand because it is too difficult to signal with both hands and work the wand at the same time." He illustrated an idea he had for an alternate signal method. "How about if I raise this finger [index finger] versus this finger [middle finger] to indicate my intent?" 

I replied that if he showed me his middle finger during the anchor-raising process, I would have no doubt what he was telling me to do! At that, we both laughed and decided we need to come up with less rude signaling.

Having just traveled south on the St. Johns River yesterday, the view was the same on today's trip north. The difference came when we turned to travel down the Ortega River towards our marina home for the next few weeks - Lambs Yacht Center.

Jacksonville, FL

Homes along Ortega River

Sailboat with roof and solar panels

Ortega River Bridge

Only a few feet of clearance so even small 
boats need it opened. The bridge tender told us to 
wait until the small guys cleared the bridge.

Clearance at the bridge - just over 4 feet.
Definitely calls for an opening!

Next door to the marina where we will be staying is an active railroad bridge. The bridge is normally open unless a train is coming.

"Under the bridge" view

Didn't quite capture the look straight down the tracks!

Clark contacted the marina and got our slip assignment. We found a lot of current in the freeway, so the boat was seriously crabbing. When we got to the specified slip, Clark and I both said, "No Way!" at the exact same time. The boat in the neighboring slip was a wide one and extended over into the slip assigned to us. After some deliberation and discussion with the dockhand, it was decided that we should tie up to the end of B-Dock until the marina folks could decide how to manage the issue of the crowded slip assignment.

Since it was a Saturday that we arrived, they asked us to stay at the end of B dock until Monday when they would make other arrangements. We put up fender boards to protect the boat from banging on the fixed dock every time a boat went by generating a wake and settled in for the remainder of the weekend.

Once again it looked like we had a clearing in the weather, so Clark and I pulled out the bikes for a quick trip to Publix - less than a mile away. No sooner did we lock the bikes in the bike rack than the sky threatened to open up with rain. We decided that Clark should stay out with the bikes under the shelter of the building while I went shopping. Before we could move the bikes over it started to drip and as I walked into the store, it started to pour.

When I came out after completing my quick shopping trip, the rain had stopped so we could bike back to the boat and be dry. 

8 November 2020

No boat travel.

About 6:30 this morning, a freight train repeatedly blew its whistle while approaching and crossing the railroad bridge. Since it was a freight train, I heard clickety-clack for a while until the train had passed.  Good morning!

Woo! Woo! Chugga chugga choo choo!

Once again we had rain, clear, rain, clear for the morning. As I sat in the salon working on some artwork, I heard and saw a huge boat using its thrusters to turn right in front of the boat. "Where is that thing going?", I thought.  As I watched it pulled into the area between C-dock and B-dock and side-tied to the dock.

Mid-afternoon it looked safe to go for a walk just to get off the boat for a few minutes. We started out wandering the docks looking for other people. We basically found none. The place appeared deserted. As we strolled by A-Dock, we saw one of the dock hands who said that when the weather is inclement folks tend to hide away. If we wanted a place to walk to, we could go check out the fishing pier down the road. 

We thanked him and set off to check it out. The fishing pier happened to be between the bridge and the railroad tracks.

Clark took this picture looking down the tracks.
It's a lot easier when not on the boat.

Walking view under the bridge

Cactus growing beside the railroad tracks.

Walking back to the boat, we passed by the service area of the marina and the prop shop apparently.

Ouch! These props took quite a hit!

Whether in spite of or because of the clouds, Clark managed to capture a sunset picture.

9 November 2020

Maintenance Run

Depart: Lambs Yacht Center 10:00

Arrive: Lambs Yacht Center 10:30

Distance: ~ 3 nm  (1.5 miles to bridge and back)

Conditions: Windy, cloudy, warm

Clark talked to the dockmaster who told us they wanted us to move to our slip today. When we walked around the marina yesterday, we noticed that the slip next to the one they selected for us was empty with no boat intruding into the dock space. I wondered why they could not give us that slip instead of trying to "shoe horn" us into the one next door. 

Clark measured the width of the slip. Given the width of our boat, the width of the neighboring boat, and the fact that we would need to have fenders measuring almost a foot across on either side of the boat, Clark decided that we would have about 2 inches of space on either side of the boat once we managed to get into the dock. Perhaps we could do that today with help, but Clark insists on taking the boat out for a maintenance run weekly. We would face the ordeal of exiting and docking on a somewhat regular basis. 

Given the realization that 2 inches between boats is insufficient with high winds coming from  Eta, the marina management contacted the folks assigned to the neighboring slip and got their agreement that we could use that space. Phew! 

The dockmaster said he would meet us at the slip at 10:30. To warm up the engines Clark said he wanted to take a short trip down the river. We motored down the Ortega River until we reached a fix bridge that marked a good place to turn around and head back. 

Hacienda-looking buildings at the fixed bridge

Our turn around point.

With 20 to 25-knot winds, we expected a challenge while docking. We actually got lucky as the current was opposed to the wind, so they cancelled each other out. When we got to our slip, the dockmaster met us there to grab lines and a boater from a neighboring boat came out to help. We slid into the uncrowded slip with no issues whatsoever. What a relief! 

As we finished tying our lines, more neighboring boaters, specifically men, came over to say hello. Clark ended up spending the next 90 minutes talking and talking and talking. I ended up doing a number of his normal docking jobs  -- checking / tightening lines, turning off equipment, ...  I could not imagine what he found to discuss for so long with total strangers. 

At noon I decided that I would make lunch since I had been hungry since 11:00. I figured eventually someone would get hungry, and Clark would come inside. He did after I heard the last guy say he had to go get lunch. 

Clark walked up to the office twice today. With little incentive I stayed on the boat and kept myself busy with my hobbies. I did some art and read a novel. Clark also kept busy with his checklist of things to do. Since we plan to be here for a while, I told him to leave some things for another day. 

With our new docking location, we are quite a bit closer to the railroad tracks. Oh joy! I wonder what time we will be woken up tomorrow!