We left Kilkenny Marina in Georgia this morning about 6:30. As soon as we got off the dock and towed out there was a thick fog that covered the air. We kept the tow line short and our capable Julie’s Cat drivers guided us through the fog carefully and precisely. When the sun came up the fog began to clear and we soon had good visibility which lasted throughout the day.

The weather has been quite good for us, and we are definitely getting used to warmer days and nights as we move south. When the wind is blowing, there’s still quite a chill in the air so we still are wearing layers and going back and forth as the weather warms and cools.

Lunch today was a delicious vegetable soup, prepared by Keala Kai. We arrived at Jekyll Harbor Marina before sundown, and for dinner we had chili and rice. Captain Kalepa remarked that chili and rice is one of his favorites. We were even visited by a local couple from Hawai‘i.

Jekyll Harbor Marina is located on Jekyll Island, and right on the other side about 2 miles away is the Atlantic Ocean. A small group of us decided we wanted to go swimming, so Moani drove us to the beach and we swam under the stars. It was nice to feel sand and salt water again and hear the waves rolling on shore.

Day 17: November 26

We departed Jekyll Island at 7am, and we’re greeted with a nice sunrise. It was quite windy and with wind comes the chill, but we have grown accustomed to the weather so far. We crossed the border into Florida and passed some other islands on the Georgia coast along the way. We saw a large nuclear sub station and went under several more bridges.

After about 9 hours underway we made it to Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville Florida.The Florida portion of this leg is 400 or so miles, so we have traveled a lot but still have a ways to go. We ate the leftover chili and made rice and got some roasted chicken to have with it too. Once we cleaned up we spent some time showering and preparing our gear for tomorrow.

After dinner a few crew members went to the movie theater less than a mile from the marina to watch Moana. Now we are winding down and settling in on the canoe for a good night’s rest.

Day 18: November 27

We departed Jacksonville at 6am this morning, to prepare for the long trek down to Daytona. Breakfast was a nice warm oatmeal in a cup which helped in the chilly morning wind coming out of the east. At lunch we passed Elkton, which was a bustling port town full of sailboats. We sometimes pass signs of Hurricane Matthew’s damage in the area, sometimes sunken ships or broken docks, which stand out against the backdrop of luxury homes  and large ports.

We went under some low bridges today, which is why we have left the rig down. Some were just above 20 foot clearance. Plenty for us now, but low enough to feel like you can reach up and touch the bottom (but really you can’t).Dinner was a delicious chicken long rice made by Keala Kai using the leftover chicken from last night. The sun set behind some clouds which rolled in after dark. After we docked at Daytona Marina, the wind picked up and some clouds rolled in bringing some drizzles. We will depart again tomorrow at sunrise.