After 11 days in Daytona Beach, we were finally able to head out and up to St. Augustine today. Richard, the service manager at Daytona Boat Works, got the bullet nose assembly late yesterday afternoon and we were in the sling at 0900 today to have them installed. MTB ran like a charm on the AICW. We had to travel the AICW route because it made no sense to back track six or eight miles to Ponce de Leon Inlet to get to the ocean. So, our 50-mile trip took about five hours giving the slow nature of the AICW.
Our favorite call today was with the bridge tender who was manning a 15 ft. clearance bascule bridge. I hailed and asked for an opening stating I need 21 ft to clear my antenna. Bridge tender responded to tell me to lower my antenna, which I did. As I got closer, I noticed the water line mark showed 14’ clearance; I require 15.5’ bare minimum. So, I hail the bridge tender again, give them the reading of the water mark and ask for the bridge to be raised, they respond by saying they'll only raise one side of the bridge. Okay. I pass under it without an issue, but as I'm passing under the bridge the bridge tender calls me and tells me I could have cleared the closed bridge with two feet to spare! Really? Now imagine this: if I don’t ask for the bridge to be raised or the bridge tender refuses to raise the bridge and I knock off all of the electronics; what happens then? Don’t want to know. Already have a grounding T-shirt; I certainly don’t need a low bridge T-shirt to match!
Glad to be in St. Augustine even if for one night. The fort looks invisible from the water! It lies very low in the horizon. Now I better understand how these water facing forts look to the (unsuspecting) mariner.
Tomorrow we’ll be up and at it early to get Amelia Island for an overnight stay, then to St. Simons for the weekend and a round of golf at the King & Prince course.
FYI - folks at Daytona Boat Works were great and very hospitable. Service manager Richard, Office Manager Linda, receptionist Elaine, and dockmaster Bob, exceeded expectations. So, if you need boat repair work, call these folks; you won’t be disappointed.