St Johns Day 6 cont.

One of the things we wanted to do today was to practice our docking skills so we will be doing some touch-n-goes on various docks in this section of the river.

Where you would typically look for docks that would have people available to help you dock today were looking for ones that are closed so that we can just touch go and practice with the wind currents etc.

This is the entrance to the cross Florida Canal that was originally designed to go from the St. Johns River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The canal runs to the west for 96 miles and was intended to join the Gulf of Mexico around Crystal River Florida. Unfortunately before it was completed it got cut in a past recession budget cut. Who know how much economic development would have resulted from its completion but  can't help believe it would have been huge!

The canal is very well protected from a southerly breeze and would be a great place to water ski.

Below is the Henry Holland Buckman lock

The lock operates from 8 AM to 6 PM Thursday through Sunday closed to half hour for lunch (1130-12) each day.

Thousands of elephant ears line the bank here at the lock.

 Below is the St. John's ship building facility in Palatka Florida.

This is a lesser expensive model of cruising boat available in the area.

Amtrak train on its way to the East Coast.

We continued to do touching goes at various docks including Palatka Florida and now are anchored back in Carmen's Cove which was our first Anchorage when we stopped on Sunday night.

Well today's been very good and as the sun sets, we both feel humbled and so fortunate to be able to enjoy each other as much as we do....:)