This morning began with the sort of task no one often talks about on sailing blogs—the pump-out. Romantic, right? There’s nothing quite like waiting for the pump-out boat to glide up like some bizarre aquatic garbage truck. And then comes the fun part: they hand you the suction hose (the delight is all yours), and you aim it like a sewage samurai at the holding tank deck-fill. The slurping, gurgling sound is oddly satisfying—dare I say victorious?—as the grim remnants of yesterday’s sailing meals get whisked away. Pump-out complete, we were ready to embrace the far more charming side of this sailing life.

Earlier in the morning we had hailed the marina office to be put on the 10am shuttle launch to shore. Our feet were itching to explore St. Augustine. First up, Castillo de San Marcos. Thanks to our annual National Park Pass—which we got for anchoring in the Everglades—the visit was free. The fort itself is a stony relic of history, brimming with tales of sieges, fights, and a time when “defending your turf” involved cannonballs and muskets. We were captivated by a volunteer who spun history with flair, and we even witnessed the firing of a cannon. I love this kind of history stuff!

From there, we wandered into the historic quarter of St. Augustine. Picture Key West with a few more layers of tourism and a touch less eccentricity. The streets, though bustling with tourists, were endearingly quaint. Cute little houses dotted the area, and cozy backyard cafés seemed to beckon us from every corner. The air was alive with music and color as an Indian festival paraded through the streets—drummers pounding away while dancers swayed in a glorious burst of sound and movement. It felt like we’d stumbled onto a Bollywood set right in the heart of the oldest city in America.

For sustenance, we made a tactical stop at the Spanish Bakery. Cuban sandwich it was for me, while Bettina enjoyed an empanada. Following that, we savored a cup of locally roasted coffee at what can only be described as a coffee laboratory—a place where caffeine and creativity collide. It felt like we’d stumbled upon a café staffed by mad scientists, and we were here for it.

By the time we boarded the 4pm launch boat back to Koko, we were happily exhausted, our bellies full and our spirits even fuller. The peaceful rocking of the mooring greeted us like an old friend, a stark contrast to last night’s stormy rumbles. Now, it’s time to relax, sip on something cold, and soak up the tranquility that only the sea can offer.