A Yachting Trip Up the East Coast

In my line of work the chance to take a trip up the East Coast of the US of A, and that in a luxury $1.4 million yacht, doesn't come along every week. The past weekend, with Sarah working through the final prerequisites of her Masters degree, I happily took the invitation that came my way.

Apart from a bumpy start due to a stubborn Northern breeze across our bow, it was plain sailing. The choppy ocean conditions had Captain Grant head up the Intercoastal instead.

The Intercoastal is the waterway of natural and man-made canals that stretches all along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the US. By taking it, one can avoid the hazards of traveling the open sea, although travel is slower. But it's beautiful, a real privileged two-day feast of a trip. We saw loads of birdlife, sea turtles, manatees, hordes of snowbirds (the kind with the fishing rod in one hand and the coffee/whiskey mug in the other!), and an uncountable amount of dolphins.

The dolphins loved playing in our wake, riding the waves like surfers, getting a free ride. Quite an awesome sight watching 'em play. I'll post some dolphin pics once it's downloaded.

St. Augustine's port is where I waved farewell to the crew, who continued up to Long Island, and urged my rental's nose back South towards Miami and home.