Day 10: The Voyage Home

Up at the crack of dawn for the final leg to Jacksonville. We strategically planned to hit the mouth of the St. Johns River at 3pm low tide so as to have less current to fight on the 20 mile segment up to Jacksonville. The problem was the dropping tide caused us to make great time on the intracoastsl approaching the river. We arrived about 1 hour early and as we made the turn upstream our speed dropped to a crawl. The wind and waves were high on the river and the last

leg of our trip was the most challenging. Where the river tightens in a curve downtown the current is amplified and it felt like we were standing still. The final approach to Ortega, our new home port was the final challenge. A 2 mile stretch off the channel to the Ortega river entrance is shallow. And we find fisherman have peppered it with crab traps that make it like traversing a minefield When we finally tied up at the marina at 5:30, we were like balloons letting air out. We were amazed we actually accomplished this first voyage and relieved that we made it safely on such a capable boat. Tomorrow TIKA gets pulled out of the water for some TLC while we plan our next Voyage. Tomorrow night we sleep in our bed at home. I wonder if we will have to get land legs to sleep at night.