We really enjoyed historic St. Augustine -- but we are still fighting 30-40 knot winds as we leave port.  But, the weather does seem to be getting better and better each day.

We had one setback cruising from St. Augustine to New Smyrna Beach --- severe shoaling!  We ran aground late in the afternoon and had no choice but to wait for the tide to rise and lift us off the shoal.  But even then, we would have to find our way thought the shallow channel.  As we waited patiently,  a 65 foot power yacht entered the channel and passed us by.  Suddenly, the yacht came to an abrupt stop.  We thought they had run aground like we had.  But, as they backed up,  two deck hands rushed onto their deck with lines in hand and signaled to us that and were preparing to toss us a line and pull us off the shoal.  What a great and welcome surprise for us!

They maneuvered the yacht with precision and threw us the line.  We tied it to the bow of Kinja and signaled we were all set.  With not much effort, they pulled us clear of the shoal.   We scrambled to cast the line off and before we knew it they were powering up and heading down the channel.  So, we powered up and followed them through the narrow channel into deeper water.   We did not even have time to really thank them as they disappeared into the horizon.  There sure are nice people out there...and we have met our share of them.

Sorry... no pictures of this as it all happened so quickly!

But we do have Sue's a quote of the day....

" Only two sailors, in my experience never ran aground.  One never left port and the other was an atrocious liar!   ----   Dan Bamford