Lay Day Fernandina Beach, FL Tuesday May 15

 We decided to take a lay day in Fernandina Beach, FL (Amelia Island) so we could have dinner with our friend Dick Devoe and his wife Tina.  The town is very historic and adjacent to the marina.  http://www.ameliaisland.com/

 Known as the “Isle of Eight Flags,” Amelia Island has had an amazing, interesting and tumultuous past, characterized by its diverse cast of Timucuan Indians, pirates, shrimpers, nobles and confederates. Early on, Amelia exhibits Florida's history as few other areas can, adding to the lore and mystery brought forth on its shore by its amazing collection of residents.  Early on, the community of Fernandina Beach emerged as an important seaport, a legacy that today can be seen throughout its Victorian-era architecture and charming historic district. Today, the island is home to Florida’s oldest continuously operating bar, the Palace Saloon, located within a sprawling 50-block area of homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. History enthusiasts will also have to visit the Amelia Island Museum of History and Old Town.

Of course every town in this area has a pirate past.

 We carry folding bikes on the boat.  Great for sightseeing and for provisioning and other errands.  We rode a total of 10 miles to  Fort Clinch

Fort Clinch is one of the most well-preserved 19th century forts in the country. Although no battles were fought here, it was garrisoned during both the Civil and Spanish-American wars.

 The lighthouse originally  was built stood across the border in Georgia, guiding vessels into the St. Mary’s River and along the Atlantic Coast. In 1838, however, the Cumberland Lighthouse was dismantled brick by brick, shipped across the river, and reconstructed atop the highest spot on Amelia Island, where the beacon was likely more visible. The light source for the tower consisted of a collection of fourteen lamps, backed by reflectors, which revolved to produce a flashing characteristic. Amos Latham was the first keeper of the tower at its new location. The lighthouse was upgraded in 1856 with a third-order Fresnel lens manufactured in Paris by Barbier & Benard. A red sector was added to the light in 1917 to alert mariners of dangerous shoals south of the tower.