Northbound
Leaving Pine Island, we pointed the bow toward Fernandina Beach, FL — an easy 50‑mile hop under sunny skies and a perfect 70 degrees. Once tied up, we stretched our legs and grabbed dinner at a busy little spot across from the marina. The service was fast, the tacos… not so great. One of the few misses of the whole trip. A quiet glass of wine back aboard fixed the mood, and we turned in early. We’ve stopped here many times in the past, so we had opted not to do a walk-around.
Into Georgia and a Little Engine TLC
Our next stop was Brunswick Landing Marina in Brunswick, GA — our first step out of Florida and the place we’d planned for engine service. We’d logged 200 hours since leaving Colonial Beach in November, so it was time for an oil change and a good look-over.
On Thursday the 12th, the mechanic — now our new friend Mark — climbed aboard and got to work. While checking the engines, he spotted some fine belt filings. Turned out the serpentine belt was the wrong length, and the tensioner was starting to weaken. Not what you want to hear, but better to find it here than in the middle of nowhere.
Parts came through quickly, and by early afternoon we had a proper‑length belt installed, a spare on board, and the tensioner behaving well enough to get us home. Oil change done, engines buttoned up, and all work wrapped by 1 PM. With everything squared away, we decided to shorten our stay from three nights to two and get moving again. BTW, we highly recommend the marina, as it has free laundry and sponsors happy hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with complimentary beer and wine.
A Tide‑Timed Run to Duplin River
We didn’t get underway Saturday until 11 AM — timing the Little Mud River for after 2 PM so we’d have enough water. At low tide there’s a notorious 4‑foot stretch that demands a rising tide to clear safely. The plan worked: we slipped through without issue and dropped the hook in the Duplin River by 4 PM.
Anchored in a quiet bend, Manhattans in hand, we settled in for the evening. The northbound leg is officially underway, and we’re aiming to make the trip home slow, careful, and fun — just the way it should be. Traveling thru Georgia is a series of winding rivers joining a series of sounds. Pleasant but a lot of the same wetlands scenery.
