It was quite a whirlwind December for the crew of Express Mail. We visited 18 mile long Cumberland Island with our friends Gale and Larry Hodge. The Dungeness Mansion Trail Tour was the greatest, the island was once inhabited by the Carnegie Family. We toured the Ice House Museum and I think I've included those pictures on my previous blog. The Carnegie family each had their own summer homes on the island which are now in disarray. Wild horses are all over the island, as well as tiny deer and they all roam free among the live oaks the pristine beaches and the bay. The Greyfield Inn is a 16 room inn and the only place on the island that has any type of accommodations. We visited the ruins of the old mansion, the one-room First Baptist Church (where John F. Kennedy and Carolyn Bassette were married in 1996). The Native Indians were inhabitants before all of this and there are so many artifacts in the museum that are still intact. The weather was blustery and cold on this particular day but if you walked to the other side of the island, the ocean side, it was beautiful!!
Dec 2, 2008 sunny 40's departed at 10:30
FLORIDA at 11:20!! Yea!!!
Arrived Fernandina Beach at 12:00 Log 13977 Trip 2316.8 6.571 gt the boat moored went to shore and shopped a bit and had lunch at the Karibo, organic.
Dec 3, 2008 sunny between 20-65 Took a trolley tour on the Miss Polly Trolley, driver's dog got into something and really really stinks...bad. The tour was very interesting. The architecture is just beautiful, it is the 2ND town in Florida and boasts the oldest saloon, The Palace Saloon 1878 and brothel ( pirates and whores) of which I have a few pictures. Had pizza at, of course, Arte's pizza, one of the many we've found on the eastern shore. Fernandina is the only US location that has flown 8 different flags.
Dec 4, 2008 Took leave of our friends Gale and Larry who are running down to Marathon for the warm weather. Departed at 9:30 2317.2 Fuel /water/pump out.
Arrived Jacksonville Landing at 2:20 Log 14011 EH 2321.8 34.54
Hot and sunny tied up to the wall for the night. Walked around and checked things out.
Dec 5, 2008
If you want to get in the holiday spirit visit Jacksonville Landing. they had a 64 foot tree which each day from 2-11 every 2 hours dances to the Christmas music being piped through huge speakers placed around the square. Besides that, every 2 hours someone preforms be it a school choir, dance class, bands any kind of entertainment imaginable.
Dec 6, 2008 Went from the landing and walked to the library and park, I went into the library while Michael had a cigar at the park. There were choirs singing in the library, large professional choirs and then violinists came onto another floor and played. While Michael was outside, every hour a new band would play, jazz, Christmas music.. just wonderful, you could not get away from the spirit of Christmas any where in Jax. It was delightful!
Dec 7, 2008 Time to leave Christmas wonderland and head on out to the base. Departed 9:33
Arr ivied 12:50 Log 14021 2323.5
Tied up on the face pier, hopefully no storms will blow through. The marina is in such bad shape, Hurricane Faye came and stayed for a few days and tore up the docks, the face dock is in pieces, really bad. Well we met John on a catamaran, Stephanie and Pete from Brilliant were there along with Lael and Katherine from Painted Sky, Ed from Hooligan Mike on a 70 year old wooden boat that he restored. Jennifer is still at the marina and skipper still loves to go visit her. Had a cocktail party one night, went to Brilliant for cocktail, Painted sky another night.
Rented a car and headed home on Dec 20 for a 15 hour ride. Bobby, Tracy and John were there waiting for us when we got home and it is oh oh so very good to see my kids. I miss them and I THINK they miss me too (but they are also glad when I leave). Tracy and I finally got in some shopping!! But not enough went to see Marley and Me (needed lots of tissues).Went to a Christmas party at Carl and Patti's house, had dinner with Charles and Linda, Christmas Eve at Jimmy and Linda's house and i finally got o see Dawn's twins Kylie and Courtney, adorable, (forgot camera so I don't have any pictures) the her Chris. Dad looks great, so good he is doing so well. Christmas day we went to Debbie and Rich's house to see my sister, Richie and all the kids... I love doing that I really miss seeing them so much but now that they are getting bigger there are more things that they have to do. Andrea, Destina Tracy, Bobby and John came for dinner and we had a great time. Desi is getting so big and grownup, she'll be graduating school soon. I think everyone had a nice day , wouldn't miss it for the world but maybe they can come enjoy Christmas where it is warmer. Michael and I visited John and Jammie with Mason andKeira, they are getting so big (actually Keira will be as big as Mason soon.) Out of time and we have to leave, will have to visit everyone else on the next trip up.
My smallest tree ever! Skipper loves Christmas! Tracy & John, where is Bobby/
Destina Andrea
Dec 28 18 hour back to Florida, remember to leave earlier next time to beat the traffic in the Carolinas. had to hurry back because Marshall and Quinton are coming for a few days. Quinton stands and we are eye to eye..how did that happen, he was just a little boy. We shopped, visited, watched Two and a Half men, sailed to Jacksonville landing to spend new Year's Eve and watch the fireworks. It was just like Times Square, people everywhere (big college football game tomorrow and all the visitors are here). The fireworks were spectacular..2 barges with identical fireworks going off at the same time. Awesome!! and Q slept right through it. Happy new year!!
.Mason Jammie John and Kiera
St Augustine
Ft Mantanzas, St Augustine
Putting down anchor
Still working on Bridge of Lions
Part of the old bridge renewed
Melissa and Cliff's boat at dock in St Augustine
Michael, Linda, Charles and Charlie chatting before breakfast
Charlie reading the paper in Vero
Small island in Intracoastal
Michael leaving Singer Island
Crayon building (Loggerhead) in Lake Worth
Tracy, is that the bird we saw on Peanut Island last year?
Brrrrrrrrrri'm freezing and I have a sweatshirt and winter coat on.
20 foot keel
West Palm Skyline
West Palm Beach hotel
