PASSAGE TO ST. AUGUSTINE

MAY 2, 2015

LEAVING KEY WEST BEHIND

We arrived in St Augustine, after 3 days and 3 nights sailing from Key West.  The passage was great for the first 2 days.  The water was beautiful and the sunrise over the Atlantic breathtaking. Most of our time was spent in the gulf stream doing 6 to 8 knots.  What a ride.  On our third day Rod saw a problem with the rigging.  Not sure exactly what was happening we rolled in the jib and continued under the main sail only.  It's always something, after all "It's a boat."

COMMON YELLOW THROAT

JUVINILE AMERICAN RED STAR

The second morning flocks of small birds were flying over on their way to land.  Migration of many of the song birds is underway.  We were about  miles offshore when we suddenly had company.  Before we knew what was happening we had 8 or more birds happily sailing along in the cockpit with us.  They were obviously exhausted and hungry.  Lunch for them consisted of the few tiny bugs and fly's that they could find aboard.  Not near enough to fill them up.  I set out a bowl of fresh water and the took the opportunity to take a bath.  It was great fun, they spent the rest of the day in the cockpit and the night in the dinghy.  Early the next morning they were on their way again.

NORTHERN PARULA

 

While doing laundry here at the marina one of the other cruisers saw my pictures and gave me names for them.  The Bobolink travels from the United States all the way to Argentina to spend the winter.  He was the only one that we had aboard and he stayed to himself.  We also had the American Red Star, the Common Yellow Throat, the Northern Parula  and the Black Pole all of the warbler family. 

The day passed quickly with so much activity in the cockpit.  Before we knew it was early morning of our 4th day and we are heading into the channel into St. Augustine.