Day 196 - Hippo — Captain Father John

Miles cruised 0, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $95, daily high temperature 82°f

Rock me momma like a wagon wheel. The current rips through the St. Augustine Municipal Marina with a vengeance. There is a 5′ tide here which is twice the height we have experienced previously. The water slaps the hull so hard it rocks the boat and makes a roaring sound. It is midnight and I know it is slack tide because it finally quieted down. In an another hour it will be wagon wheel time again.

We are staying an extra day so we can explore the ancient city of St Augustine. We took the tram tour. It is just like the conk train tour in Key West. There are a host of interesting historical sites in St. Augustine.

Castillo de San Marcos

John and Priscilla at the fort.

Tonight’s view from the deck.

A beautiful view.

On Friday we will cruise 60 miles to Fernandina Beach. We will stay there two nights and then head north to Georgia.

Bonus photo.

Dave (Mac) McKenna – quote of the day.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” St Augustine.”

Augustine of Hippo – 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, Saint Austin, or Blessed Augustine, was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern-day Annaba, Algeria), located in Numidia (Roman province of Africa). He is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity for his writings in the Patristic Era. Among his most important works are The City of God and Confessions.

Carl (Chef) Wooden) – quote of the day.

“Ocean – A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man — who has no gills.”
Ambrose Bierce,

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 – circa 1914) was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist. He wrote the short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and compiled a satirical lexicon, The Devil’s Dictionary. His vehemence as a critic, his motto “Nothing matters”, and the sardonic view of human nature that informed his work, all earned him the nickname “Bitter Bierce”.

Despite his reputation as a searing critic, Bierce was known to encourage younger writers, including the poets George Sterling and Herman George Scheffauer and the fiction writer W. C. Morrow. Bierce employed a distinctive style of writing, especially in his stories. His style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, impossible events, and the theme of war.

In 1913, Bierce traveled to Mexico to gain first-hand experience of the Mexican Revolution. He was rumored to be traveling with rebel troops, but was not seen again.