Fernandina Beach to Jacksonville

Up bright and early and started engine at 07:15. Then we were off to Jacksonville. Looking at the charts and reading the Waterway Guide, I decided the only serious problem would be the railroad bridge on Kingsley Creek. It is open until an approaching train trips the closing mechanism. Unfortunately for boaters, there is no warning signal. The bridge just closes. I read where this happened a couple of weeks ago and a sailboat was badly damaged. Fortunately, no one was hurt. We listened for train whistles to warn us of any rail traffic nearby. Once we cleared the bridge, I felt that we were through with problems for the day. Well, I was mostly correct to think that.

We continued on, and once in the Saint John's River, traffic increased. A tug pulling a huge --and I do mean huge as photos will confirm-- barge filled with trailers.

Here's what Bob had to say about our encounter:

The four story barge in these photos was hauling tracker trailer trucks. It was huge even at a distance and we had to give way. The tug captain calls on 16 to ask you take note. It's not like Boston where they will run you down without ever warning you. In order to make their turns and swing barges through the bends of the river, several visual and lighted ranges are established. 

 

If ever your contacted (appreciate) the fact the skipper is concerned enough to contact you and then roll over to VHF Channel 10 or 13 and confirm back, that you will move outside the channel marks. As for bridges we have acknowledged all Florida bridges communicate on VHF Channel 9 and/or one long and two short blasts of the horn.

 

We'll send another photo set of the "Jacksonville Landing" once we get the photos rounded up. We moved up stream to the Jacksonville Landing early this morning, which is located immediately to the starboard, under the "Blue Bridge" and this bridge is not only blue during the day, but at night with bright blue lights.

The first night in Jacksonville, we stayed at the Municipal Marina. $8.56 was the cost for water and electricity. When we arrived, there we no other boats on the dock. While Bob finished up docking and shutdown, I went register.  Jamie, a young fireman at the Marine Fire Station at the head of the dock showed me the automated system. Insert credit card, Choose dock and slip. That's all there is to it. 

That evening we walked down to Jacksonville Landing for dinner at Vito's Italian Cafe. Wow, was that nice!--a real napkin and 2 glasses of Chianti, bruschetta, and a steak salad left me quite happy. Bob enjoyed his eggplant Parmesan and sent his complements to the chef.  We took the water taxi back to the Cornucopia and had a blast chatting with the crew and passengers. 

The next morning we decided to move down to the dock at Jacksonville Landing. The tide had us pushed hard against the dock. Another boater helped push us off, but we still got a bad scrape along the starboard. 

We went under the blue bridge and docked without incident right below Fionn MacCool's Irish Pub, one of the many restaurants and cafes at the Landing. Again we were welcomed with free 

72 hour docking. Jacksonville understands that boaters will spend money when they are welcomed--it's sort of like free parking at the mall. 

Jacksonville is definitely a place we will visit again.