Day 199: Back on the Loop

 Day 199: May 1, 2024

Exciting day as we get back on the Great Loop. We have had awesome times and I am looking forward to creating more memories and this last leg and getting home! 

Not wanting to wake the neighbors, we waited until just after 8:30 to start the engines. Having checked them out yesterday, we knew the starboard oil pressure alarm was not shutting off. John tried a few tricks to see if he could fix the issue with no success. On to plan B which was to disengage the sender since the oil pressure is fine. We had the same problem with the port side months ago so knew what to do. A new sender will be needed. 

Under bright blue skies and perfect temperatures, we untied the lines and slowly made our way back onto the ICW at about 9:00 a.m. leaving Palm Coast behind. It felt wonderful to be on the water once again.

We passed the Fort Matanzas Inlet and soon came to the Crescent Beach Bridge. It was listed as a 23' + 2' vertical clearance; upon approach I saw the board was measuring 25' so we were all clear to proceed under with no problem. Before we arrived at the bridge we had heard a couple of sailboats call for an opening. With very tall masts it's tough for them to make it through so many of the bridges on the ICW.


For the most part, the coastline was less populated than other legs of the trip but there was still ample boat traffic and the occasional mansion! I'm certain you could go missing for a few weeks in this place. 

We passed one boat tipped a bit to its side; the owner wading in the water that was only ankle deep. As we got closer we saw that he was actually washing the bottom of the boat. Obviously he knew the tides and had purposely grounded himself to give the boat a bath. Ingenious or crazy. 


The terrain was beautiful and natural, spoiled by the occasional derelict boat. Depending on the sun and shadows in the water, it sometimes looked like we were entering shallow waters. But with a seasoned captain at the helm, we never ran aground! 


Just past the SR Bridge (65' vertical clearance) the Sebastian River branched off the Matanzas River which continued on to St. Augustine. We slowed down to about 4 knots, knowing we were going to have to wait for the Bridge of Lions' 12:30 opening. Having about 1/2 hour wait, we idled in the harbor, taking in the many sites of St. Augustine. John took the time to contact Garmin to find out why the chart-plotter was not showing "time and distance to arrival". Luckily the Garmin representative was able to troubleshoot the issue. 



We visited St. Augustine a couple of weeks ago, enjoying the trolley ride and history lesson provided by the tour guide so had no need to stop again. From the city's website, "the city was founded in 1565 and is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African American origin in the United States." There is much to see in the city; we really enjoyed the treasure hunt in the Pirate exhibit. The only downside was we happened to be there along with several school trips. Been there done that lol! We toured the Castillo de San Marcos fort which provided outstanding views of the harbor. Lunch include oysters and shrimp at St. Augustine Seafood Company Restaurant. Loved Magnolia Street lined with overhanging trees laden with Spanish moss. All in all, I would recommend a visit to St. Augustine for sure. 










At precisely 12:30 the bridge tender announced that north bound traffic could approach as he was starting his cycle. We were in the lead with a sailboat and a tug following. Coming from the south, three other boats waited while we passed through the bridge; one of them a tug. 


Once past the bridge we were right at one of the inlets to the ocean; Vilano Beach. As we turned to port to stay in the ICW, passing by Vilano Beach with its beautiful white sand. With no concern about erosion, people are allowed to traverse the beach on jeeps, marring the scenic view. 


After traveling 32 NM in about 4 1/2 hours, we anchored in Pine Island; an oxbow anchorage right off the ICW. It offered a easy access with depths around 8 feet.


Dolphins leisurely swam around the area, surfacing for breath as they headed back onto the ICW. Some sort of shore birds chattered around the marshy areas, creating a natural symphony. A lone sailboat pulled in around dusk, dropping anchor a bit behind us. The colors at sunset illuminated the pristine, peaceful spot. Day 1 back on the loop was joyous!















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