When we left Sanford we were lucky enough to have Paula's oldest friend, Linda, travel with us as far as Jacksonville. She was a fantastic boat guest and Paula loved having spending some quality "girl time" with her. We left Sanford early on May 1st with our first anchorage on the western shore of Lake George. We anchored about 1/4 mile off the entrance to Silver Glen Springs. We put the dink down and took about a mile run to get back to the source of the springs. Did some swimming and sun bathing and got totally soaked riding back in the dink because of the wind and waves.
The next morning we found the boat absolutely covered with midges (like a nonbiting mosquito) I got out my trusty leaf blower (yep, a real leaf blower) but the midges were so thick it didn't do much good. So we went back to Silver Glen for a picnic lunch and more swimming.
Late afternoon we pulled anchor and headed to Turkey Island. It is so peaceful and quiet there that we spent two nights at anchor. We took a dink ride around the island and visited Welaka Springs. (which is a spring about 50' x 50'.)
We anchored the next night in a little cove across the river from our mailing address in Green Cove Springs. Then on to Ortega Landing Marina. This was our first time at this marina and we would definitely stay there again. Beautiful pool, spa, lounge and walking distance to shopping and restaurants. We had a beautiful view of the downtown Jacksonville skyline. We also met some really nice people, Art and Jenn Cody on Jenn's Tonic. We ended up staying a week and enjoyed every bit of it!!
Ok, so after five months, we leave Sanford, go two miles and have to wait a half hour for this train so the bridge can open.
Our timing was perfect for some really pretty spring flowers. These are water hyacinths. The St Johns River was covered with them in bloom.
Linda running the boat for the first time. Most newbies oversteer and wander all over the waterway. Not Linda, she did an excellent job!
My fruitless attempt to get the thousands of midges off the boat with the leaf blower.
This is what greeted us after spending one night on Lake George! It took the three of us several hours to get the boat clean once we got to a marina.
A friendly Cardinal that rode along with us for awhile.
An Osprey feeding her chicks. Look at their eyes!
Another shot of mom and the kids
The little bridge on the Ortega River. Built in 1929 and recently rebuilt.
Super Moon
Another shot of the super moon.
Jacksonville skyline from our dock in the Ortega River
The pool at Ortega Landing. It's a tough life, but someones got to do it!!
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