Amelia Island to Fernandina Beach

Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Wed 25 Apr 2012 01:35
 

 

Our position is 30:40.250N 81:27.97W

 

The morning was spent recovering from the day before, using the marina facilities and chilling while we waited for high water to ensure adequate depth in the channel. There was still a cold wind but it was wonderfully sunny.  We took down the sunshade before leaving to avoid a repeat of yesterday. Once away it was a quick and easy journey to Fernandina Beach and for the first time we saw industrial buildings along the shore. Near the marina was a wood pulping depot and we were to see double wagons loaded with logs coming in, when in town. We moored in the marina and left Ted to do some work on the boat while the rest of us explored the town.

Again we were in the Old Town, it had a shorter history than St Augustine, the principal buildings were built in the late 19th century and included the court house, the railway depot, the Palace saloon, several fine mansions and a surprising number of churches, we counted six in our short trip. While out we shopped for provisions and found a very special bread shop where we bought croissants for breakfast promising to return the next morning for bread.

We had a good meal ashore in the evening, Kath had shrimp and the rest chose burgers. Micro brewery beer met with approval but we were unable to answer the quiz questions.

As Kay was working the whole of the next morning with an impressive early conference call expected at 7am, the boat guests first went to buy the bread. The owner of Chez Lezan Bakery Co made a wide range of bread on the premises; the loaves we chose were still hot from the oven and proved to be delicious. On chatting to her we learnt her family had originally come from the Ukraine and she had an uncle who had lived his life in Southampton UK.  After breakfast we went to the town museum housed in what was the county jail where the history of the area was laid out by room starting with the Indians of the area, the Spanish period, the Civil war and more modern American history. One room had been left to show what life in a prison cell would have been like. On return to Moorglade it was time for lunch and preparation for departure.

 

            

More water in the channel for leaving                                                          Industrial waterline at Fernandina Beach

         

Shrimp boats are a'coming                                                                    When we saw what happened to boats on moorings we went into the marina

                 

and here we are safe and snug                                              this was the outside of our pontoon!

         

   Going fishing - just hope he leaves the dinghy clean                              Toffee making in Fernandina

            

The Post Office                                                                                       One of the historic houses

         

and another

 

       

and the church

 

     

Is this a house or a merry-go-round?                                                 Wood or plastic? (These are on every dock we saw)

    

Old railway depot, now the information office

 

                    

Typical American water tower                                                  The train ran along the waters edge; we have seen it in every stop

 

      

Oldest saloon in town                                                                           Dinner at the micro brewery - Cafe Karibrew; we seem to have eaten all the food