20 January - Day #48. Maybe it's a sign of the times but even though we moored in front of Hooters and several other loud bars things quieted down early last night and the sleeping was good. The St. Johns is very narrow here in downtown Jacksonville and the current can get over 4kts so catching the ebb is important. Which is why we're up before dawn and shoving off. The bridges are lit colorfully, purple, red, and white, it almost feels surreal. Just east of town the river becomes very industrial. Huge barges, ocean going freighters and tugs litter the northern shoreline. We pass an incoming car carrier. It looks more like a floating sky scrapper than a ship. Shortly thereafter a thick fog rolls in and visibility drops to 20'. Big ships have deep drafts so like any minnow we head to the shallows for protection. Nellie's radar and chart plotters become our eyes and we continue undeterred down river. By 1000 we're back in the ICW and this marks the end of our 300nm cruise of the St Johns. Anchored in St. Augustine, FL. 49nm today and 1135nm total. DBH
