THE JAX BEACH PICAYUNE WORTHY: SPECIAL HITCHING POST EDITION

THE FIRST COAST

The northeast coast of Florida meets the Atlantic Ocean, west of other east coast towns like Bar Harbor, Cape Cod, Ocean City, Virginia Beach, Nag’s Head, Myrtle Beach and Charleston. We, here, like the extra half hour of the darkest before the dawn.

With the exception of coastal ports north of Bar Harbor, where possibly, certain Vikings landed and established transient villages, the Spanish arrived here, where the sun keep things warm, year-round. Saint Augustine, just miles south, dates back twenty years before Sir Walter Raleigh set down in North Carolina and unfortunately lost his colony; nothing has been lost in Saint Augustine.

Thankfully, the Gulf Stream drifts as much as 70 miles east of the First Coast, so due to its effect on the local weather, you will see many older homes in the area. The Gulf Stream kept the eye of the Cat 5, Hurricane Mathew, 50 miles out over the ocean, the normal path leading to trouble in the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic seaboard.

THE NORTH FLORIDA BEACHES

The North Florida beaches extend from Georgia, south all the way down to Daytona (about 100 miles). Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach are primarily residential towns on the island east of Jacksonville, across the San Pablo River. Heading south on scenic A1A, Jacksonville Beach (Jax Beach), takes on the commercial nature of beach life with its hotels and nightlife. Just south of Jax Beach is Ponte Vedra, where the PGA Players Tournament is held each year in March. The 2022 schedule is from March 10th – 13th March 2022.

At the “top,” the Mayport Navy Base extends to the beach at the north end of the island, north of Atlantic Beach and east of the town of Mayport, a shrimping and fishing village,with a ferry across the San Pablo River, where A1A continues north through Fernandino Beach.

Atlantic Beach is north of State Route 10, Atlantic Boulevard. It, as well as Neptune Beach, to the south of Route 10, is a residential beach with commercial properties along the main highway. Atlantic and Neptune Beaches share a town center, where the only two beachfront hotels sit, with local restaurants and shops surrounding.

Jax Beach is the commercial section of the island, with beachfront hotels, condos, apartments and a healthy retail, restaurant and service industry, serving not only the islanders, but the greater Jacksonville population. You will see the boardwalk and the pier, still under construction from damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. Jax Beach, at its mid beach amphitheater, hosts several music and cultural festivals each year

Ponte Vedra starts at the south end of Jax Beach, and is the home of the PGA Tour’s Player’s Championship at Sawgrass. For the right price, you too and golf on the Players Stadium Course – about $600 (that would be about $6.oo a shot for me).

Below the capital of golf, is Velano Beach and natural grasslands. Velano is more like what you think of as the beachfront road of vacation homes – away from most everything until you get to the southernmost extent of the island, at Saint Augustine.

FALL CLIMATE

In the fall, daily temperatures average in the mid 70’s, with normal highs between 68⁰ and 84⁰ F. Nighttime lows rarely fall as low as 51⁰, and average between 60⁰ and 70⁰ F, so hoodies, light jackets and/or a sweater make for a comfortable evening walk, just remember it can be windy on the First Coast.

Hurricane season technically extends into November, so late storms can pop up, and just about any day a good wind can have hair and flowing clothes whipping through the air.

The two charts shown below include daily sunrise and tides for wedding week. Tides will generally be low in the morning and evening, with afternoons seeing high tide conditions. And since we are still in daylight savings time, sunrises will be between 7:35 and 7:39 AM, easy peasy.