Day 5 Friday 1/3/2014

Well to begin!! About 30-45 mins. after I completed my blog posting last night, UP CAME THE WIND!!!! Amd I mean furious wind!!! 30-35 miles per hour with gust up to 45!!! What a night!! Rod stayed up all night on the bridge monitoring our boat and making sure the anchor was holding us in place. I went downstairs and tried to sleep for a while but the tossing of the boat and the waves pounding against the side was NOT good for sleeping!!! I got up after a few hours and stayed up with him. Then the sun came up but we just did not feel it was safe to pull up anchor and try to head out so we stayed put!! I fixed breakfast, dressed and about 10:30am we felt the wind had calmed down enough we thought we would see if we could go!! We battled the wind for most of the day but not the gale force we had sustained all night. We know without a doubt God had his foot on the anchor all night to hold us there safe!!! AMEN!! 

Still we were able to go 70 miles today!!! Going through Jacksonville was a real treat. Seeing it by water, as Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach are split right down the middle by the St Johns River!!! We did travel this route last year so this is all new views for us. 

I have attached a few pics I took today!!!

We are anchored tonight in a cove called Doctors Lake just off of the St. John's River at Orange Park, Fla. It is a beautiful evening little breezy but boat is rocking gently!!! We will be continuing down the St. Johns tomorrow and should have one more night at anchor before we reach Sanford Fla. where the St John's ends and we will dock there for probably a month!! It's a very historical city, (Rod has already researched things to see and do). Plus we have some wonderful friends, Jim and Paula Spence,we plan to spend time with that live there on their boat!!

It's just about 7:15 pm but guess what? I'm headed for bed!!!!!!!

DInner of Baked Chicken and Rice has put Rod right to sleep!! I know he is exhausted !! 

The Lord has been with us and protected us all day and we certainly feel very blessed!!!

Love to all, we still covet your prayers for our safe travels daily!!! Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

Look at this temperature on the bridge!! of course that is with the sun coming through the windows! And yes it is the first day we have seen the sun!!!  It was great!!!   Am I in Florida??? 

Beautiful Jacksonville Beach, Fla!!  Pretty to see but not a living place for me!!!!! Baby blue skies was enough to make me smile!!!

This was a hugh bridge crossing over the St John's !! Picture don't do it justice, IT WAS FLAMING RED!

Never saw a steel bridge that red!!!  HUH!!!

SUNSET where we are docked !!! GOD IS GOOD!!  What a show!!

Just 10 mins later!! it was still georgeous but Rod had a shakey hand!!!! HA (just too tired) I was cooking dinner!!!