Onward! Southward! There's Got To Be Warm Weather Somewhere!~!

SHIP'S LOG:

The trip from frosty Fernandina Beach was only a little over 24 miles and now I am at anchor in the St. Johns River near Blount Island if that means anything to anybody. The temp is still in the fifties!!!! but the wind is blowing 15-20 and we are supposed to get rain(sprinkles) after mid-night.

The landscape(?) along the ICW is changing. Less marsh, less mud, more sand and real land with trees. The ICW seems rather narrow around here and I wonder how the tugs & barges make it up and down some of these places. They get through, I've seen them do it, but powerboats and sailboats go aground. They just must plow their way through.

I have 19 miles to go from here to the marinas where the work will be done on the boat, the marina on the right side of the bridge. I am hoping that I can secure a "free spot" at the Jacksonville Landing. It is a first come, first served sort of thing but it will save me the cost of a night in the marina or a night on the hook.

The temporary fix for the water pump was made with a drink cozy and a couple of wire ties. It didn't stop the leak but redirected it so that it didn't hit the belts and spray all over the place. From what I can see, it is just the back seal to the pump but they won't know if the shaft is scored until they take it out and get it apart. It could be a "pop-out the old seal and pop-in the new" and off we go, or it could be "new pump purchased and installation time." Like I said, I won't know until Monday, but either way, it is going to play havoc with my finances. It could be even worse because they might not have the right pump and/or seals in stock and it would necessitate more than one day in the marina and that really can get expensive. ( I wonder if there is some place around here that I can buy a Powerball Ticket?)

I am looking for 75 degrees of temp, clear blue skies and a nice anchorage where I can stay for a couple of days and just veg. I don't think it is coming in the next few days, but after that . . . . .