Day 129 (I can't complain about the wind)

Daily stats
Start: 7:00 AM- Atlantic Beach, FL
Finish: 3:00 PM - Fernandina, FL
Time: 8:00
Daily dist: 21 miles
Total dist: x miles
Companions: None
Weather: WINDY - Mostly cloudy, to clear, to rain, to partly cloudy - temps in 70s
Notes: It was a long slog against a heavy head wind with an average speed of barely 3mph. But I can’t complain because I’m back on the sailboat again.

After studying the charts last night I realized that only about 26 miles separated me from the Florida/Georgia border. An average eight hour day takes me 32 miles so I logically figured that I’d be celebrating at the top of Florida after a shorter than average day. It suffices to say that the wind and currents had other plans.

Me and two geese heading north - Photo by Nancy abourd the I Nida-wind II

For the last four days the wind has been blowing out of the northeast at a minimum of ten miles per hour often much harder. That wind direction is directly counter to the nice tail winds I had last week. Because the Intracoastal south of here is fairly narrow and tree lined I’ve been able to hide from the wind and still make good time over the last couple days. That wasn’t the story today. North of Atlantic Beach the Intracoastal runs through wide coastal marsh areas. While the channel itself isn’t too wide the wide open tidal flats don’t do much to block the wind. Consequently, today I had to work hard just to maintain a three mph pace (well below my four mph average). To add insult to injury the tides worked against me for most of the day as well.

Saying farewell to Cal and Nancy in the morning

You won’t hear me complaining tonight though because once again I’m staying aboard the “I -Nida Wind II” with Nancy and Cal. With only about four miles to go to my finish line for the day, while I slogged into a strong head wind and now steady rain, I thought I recognized a boat moored to the side of the channel. As I neared the boat with the burgundy sail cover and deck enclosure I knew it could be no other. Just then a small inflatable boat came zooming up through the rain containing Cal and Nancy shouting and waiving hello. I stopped to say hello as they climbed onto the sailboat and they once again offered me a place to stay. Unbelievably I didn’t say yes right away, I just didn’t know how much further I needed to go to be within striking distance of Saint Marys to catch my ride to Charleston. As the rain beat down and the wind tossed my kayak around I studied my map and realized that it was only a difference of three miles. With the morning promising to have much better conditions my mind was made up and I decided to once again join Cal and Nancy aboard their cozy thirty six foot boat.

Back again? With the rain and wind it was an easy decision to stay

I can’t help but think that if anybody ever asks for advice on how to do a trip like this I won’t know what to say, other than never turn down an offer of a hot meal and a soft bed.