Dumb but Experienced

Well I thought I should do an update on the current weather and state of the engine. We discovered that the failure of the alternator was totally our fault but if anyone from Yanmar reads this while looking at our warranty claim we will deny deny and then cry. After the storm that dragged our anchor and upended our dinghy we still hadn’t eaten and had to have a relaxing scoop. We forgot to turn off our instruments and radar which drained the battery. As a result when we started the motor the next morning we put too much strain on the alternator. Don’t you love learning something every trip! I guess that’s what you call experience.

Now this could have been as simple as leaving instruments on or bringing bananas on the boat or ignoring the monster in the petrified forest

Fernandina is a really beautiful town and full of history and characters. We spent some time in the museum. Really too much information to put down here. She glossed over the Trail of Tears which only made me more curious. Very sad time. Amelia island is almost the same shape and size of Manhattan and probably would have had same access to trade. How things might have been different.

Of course we visited the oldest saloon and had a scoop or two. We also went into the courthouse not being sure if we were allowed in however the sheriff greeted us with such geniality and told us lots of stories about the history. Of course it’s haunted. The rocking chair moves positions at night and although there is cctv they can’t find who moves it. The court in ‘To kill a Mockingbird’ is based on this court.

The shops are terrific especially the bookshop with lots of interesting artifacts and if you look closely in this picture there is a young boy engrossed in a story

The cream on the top of this is, purely by serendipity Brian and Paula Flora were up here and we joined them for dinner. It was such a treat to see them

We will be heading out tomorrow morning for New Symrna. Despite damage to the boat it was still wonderful and the type of sailing we ❤️