Thanksgiving in St Augustine

  We spent a couple of good days at Cumberland Island, GA and Skipper had fun on the beach.   We were joined there by Kevin & Deb on Grace, Bill & Eileen on Circe ll, and Richard & Dawn on Zama Dawn.  We all enjoyed a great cocktail party on Release and discussed, among other trivia, the up coming storm.  Francie and I had already decided to visit St Marys and we would do that .  Grace decided to go as well,  and after a few hours of the Northeaster all were there either on docks or anchored.  We had a great seafood meal there and stayed till Thursday.  Grace left on Wednesday  heading for the St Johns River and an insurance survey.  We had quite q few days of heavy blow and were ready to leave on Thursday for St Augustine.  Circe ll left with us and we were sorry to leave Zama Dawn behind.  This was one of the days when all went well.  We caught a rising tide at Fernandina Beach and rode it to the next inlet,  where  we had to pass a dredge who left us a little room, but our depth sounder alarm was squawking and showing low water.  Both Release and Circe ll made it through, but we heard on the radio that a boat behind us ran aground.  We  had our Jib out and were making super time .  We called earlier to St Augustine Municipal Marina and reserved a mooring ball for Friday,  but at the speed we were doing we could have made it easily.  We decided to anchor at Pine Island and continue on Friday since we could not have the mooring till 1100 hrs.  We had a leisurely morning and hauled anchor to find we were once again moving quite briskly.  We made the 1100 opening of the Bridge of Lions at St Augustine, fueled, put on water and hooked to a mooring by 1200.  Circe ll decided to spend a couple of nites and Saturday eve we watched the Official Night of the Lights, the annual lighting of the holiday decorations throughout the Olde Town, and enjoyed a few drafts as well with them.  Once again a Norther is coming through with 35KT winds and  it is even rough here in the mooring field.  It was sad to see Circe ll gone,  but low and behold Zama Dawn appeared and we will more than likely meet up with Circe ll again .
    We also have heard from Dave & Joanne from Tropical Breeze, who we traveled  with on our last trip to the Bahamas.  Their catamaran  is here in St Augustine, and they are coming to get it ready to head out.  We will try to get together with them this week.
    Thanksgiving!!  We would like to wish all a Happy Thanksgiving where ever you are spending it.  There will be a St.  Augustine Cruisers 1st annual Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner here at the Municipal Marina and we are planning on going there.  We will probably leave on Friday or Saturday and head farther south.