Friday 13 Dec, St. Augustine FL day 7: Ok, 7th day in St. Augustine, we are getting bored now. Looks like the wind may finally favor us to continue south tomorrow. The first few days here were fine: sunshine, warm, cycling, enjoying the town. But the last couple have just been miserable. Dreary wet and windy. Everything feels damp. Depressing frankly.
The only highlight of the day for me is the UK election results – yes, that’s how bored I am! And for Oana, there is not even that uplift.
On the elections, whether you like the result or not, at least UK will get some direction now and put an end to all the political faffing-around that’s been the scene of the last 3 years. Bit worrying about Scotland though. The SNP (Scottish Nationalist Party) seems to have wiped the board up there. Clear sign they will again want an independence vote. Sad situation that this once great united country is now so divided. Damn that Brexit referendum. We can only hope, in 10 years, it will turn out to be a good thing. But I have serious doubts, I’m really not sure the Brits have the moral fiber they used to possess, and will be needed to make a success of going on alone.
Usually, on damp days like this I’m happy to get on with a project. I do start to get the wiring installed for the new solar panels, but really can’t get motivated. It seems a chore. I must be just fed up with maintenance. I want to get cruising, to some nice places with nice weather, nice people and have Oana happy again.
Just after midday we head ashore for another of our least favorite tasks: food shopping. An Uber takes us to Publix supermarket at Vilano Beach. 1 1/2 hours later we come out another $300 poorer. Groceries really are expensive here. We only shopped just over a week ago. I guess at least we should be happy that we can shop. In few weeks’ time I bet we will be longing for supermarkets like these.
Back at Cloudy, shopping aboard, we look at the weather. The wind will swing in the night, which will place us too close to the shore. So we lift the anchor and move back to our original place next to the fort. The move is a bit of a faff, but good for peace of mind. The outboard engine is then removed from the Highfield and belly slings are put under the dinghy on the davits, ready for heading offshore tomorrow. Plan is to get to Fort Pierce, maybe stopping at Port Orange for a quick overnight sleep.
Today we contacted the OCC port officer in Fort Lauderdale (next planned stop after Fort Pierce) but she came back with bad news that the place is totally full. Seems everyone is gathering there this time of year. We want to visit Miami, and thought a hire car from Fort Lauderdale was the answer, but looks not to be. We may just have to splash out on a marina in Miami.
Evening is again just relaxing. Too demotivated to even watch a movie. So after more faffing with the wiring and Oana trying to get the grip on her new book, we both give up and join forces to continue with the video editing. Which turns out to be the only productive part of our day. By midnight we are nearly half way through the raw footage. Good progress.