It’s Sunday afternoon and it’s been a grey day here in St Mary’s GA. Earlier today I headed to Jacksonville to drop our rental car at the airport after some 2,250 miles of driving in the almost two week since leaving our “land home” in CT a few days after Christmas.
It’s been a whirlwind with visits to survey the boat we hope to purchase in Miami and a frantic few days of provisioning to get Pandora in the water. How is it that groceries and “stuff” cost so much? We had planned to launch her today but the weather report gave us a start with rain in the forecast for today and Monday. Fortunately, Rocky at St Mary’s Boat Services, was very accommodating and didn’t seem at all concerned when we changed the launch date for the third time in so many days.
The yard where Pandora has been since early October is much like other yards, with some really nice boats as well as some that look like they haven’t seen the water in years. Unlike northern yards, most of the boats in this yard are stored for the summer and then launched in the fall and winter. In fact, most of them are from northern states and it seems that there were a good number from Canada.
In addition to being very accommodating, the yard provides something that I have never seen in a yard and that’s really fine boarding stairs which I understand are made right in the yard. The design is quite nice, compliments of Rocky’s creative bent. In fact, they would fit right in as boarding stairs at a small airport. These staircases are made of galvanized steel with wooden treads and there’s even a grate on the bottom tread to knock off the sand from your shoes. They even put a door mat at the bottom. Very nice. How’s this for a “real” boarding ladder?
And, if you want to enjoy the view and have a beer at the end of a long day of boat chores, there’s even a sitting area, complete with palm trees. 
For the trip south last fall, I had put the dink on deck as I don’t carry it in the davits when we are offshore so had to find a way to get it onto the ground and back up into the davits, with the engine no less. However Jeff, the do-it-all guy at the marina came to my rescue with his forklift. What a great idea. We put the dink on the lift and he picked it up a few feet so that I could install the engine and then lifted it up to deck level so I could attach it to the davits. Voila, wasn’t that easy?
I can’t recommend St Mary’s Boat Services enough as they are reasonably priced, flexible on launching etc. and have a very attentive staff. Just don’t drive too fast with your car in the boatyard as you’ll get Jeff’s wrath because he doesn’t want you to run over his little dog that is always on the move around the yard.
While Pandora was on the hard I had the hull buffed and waxed. They did a great job. How about this shine? 
Oh yeah, and Terri, the boatyard office manager, will even take you to the Jacksonville airport if you need to drop a car or get picked up from a flight.
On top of all that, there’s a great view of the marsh to boot. Even Pandora got a good view as she was right near the water.
Last night we had a nice simple meal aboard for our first night on Pandora. It was pretty windy so I can’t say that we slept very well. It always takes a few nights to get used to the noises of being aboard but I am sure that we will settle in in a few days. 
We went for a nice walk in St Mary’s and then had lunch. Doesn’t Brenda look great? 
There are some very pretty homes in town and the live oaks are beautiful. 
It’s a bit odd to see camellias in bloom and other flowers budding out in mid January. 
You know you are in the south when you see sights like this shrimp boat aside palm trees.
After lunch, we headed down the river, with the tide, the 8+ miles to Fernandina Beach where we hope to do some exploring on Monday. After that we’ll make the 50+ mile run down to St Augustine, one of our favorite cities.
Besides, it’s Brenda’s birthday on the 15th (mark your calendar boys and girls) so it’s important that we be in a good location to celebrate.
Rain or not, and it’s pretty unpleasant outside, it’s nice to be back in the water and heading south. With temperatures in the 70s forecast for later this week, we are ready to put the winter behind us, once and for all.
Here’s to warm and sunny. I think that I have said that before but it’s worth repeating. Warm? Yes, warm.
One response to “Pandora… She’s floating, again! On our way…”