Just after posting last, I called Marineland to see about the availability of a slip for two nights to wait out the weather. Not only were they not encouraging about availability, the ONE they had left sounded like it was tucked back in a tight corner, and someone had reversed the mileage between the Marineland and St Augustine legs, putting our arrival after the start of the predicted rains. So, I went looking for another marina.
Palm Coast Marina
There were not a lot of choices, but I did find one an hour before Marineland and sure enough they had a slip of two nights. We stopped at Palm Coast Marina which is part of a vacation development. Unlike a lot of marinas which are filled with recreational boats, this one had a larger percentage of liveaboards which made for more activity on the docks.
One of the tools we gave been using to evaluate marinas and track hazards along the way is Active Captain a crowd source data base for boaters which most agree they won’t leave shore without. Well guess who pulled out of the marina just south of us as we turned on to ICW this morning? Acapella the boat belonging to the couple who have developed Active Captain.
Acapella passing us in their way to Marineland
Our two nights in Palm Coast were quiet we watched the thunder and lightening from the enclosed back deck and repeatedly said we were glad to be tied up. Since they were warning of tornados, it was a good call to be holed up. After the front passed the skies cleared and we took a walk to a nearby food court for yet another Italian meal, we must be on the east coast, no?
Today’s target is St Augustine where we are planning to catch a mooring ball and spend a few days seeing the city.
Day 8 Miles: 32 Total Miles: 312
Locks: 0. Total Locks : 5
This tug was seen between Daytona and Palm Coast. Liveaboards?
Tail of a manatee as he dives(trust me) in the Haulover Canal
Recap of Day 7:
The highlight of yesterday’s run was coming off the Indian River Lagoon into the Haulover Canal to get to the Mosquito Lagoon. After running in the middle of a large body of water where details could only be seen through the binoculars it was nice to get in tight water where we could make out what was on shore. This is also a preserve area and a refuge for a large number of manatee. They were thick through the canal and a lot more active than any we have seen this season, even flopping tails out of the water!
Fishing camp typical of the south end of Mosquito Lagoon.
The Mosquito Lagoon was quite rustic at the southern end acting as a buffer against development encroaching on the space shuttle launch area. As we moved north approaching Daytona, we started to see a lot more development. About 3 we turned away from the Ponce deLeon inlet with the tallest lighthouse in Florida and moved into the Halifax River which we will follow up to St Augustine.
We stayed the night at the Halifax River Yacht Club which has been at the same location since 1876. We had a warm welcome, but unfortunately I’d been running all day with a headache and popping Airborne to try to avert a cold, so we holed up on the boat and got a good nights rest, and we weren’t able to take advantage of any of the club’s facilities.
Halifax River Yacht Club
This morning we showered then took a stroll along the waterfront to a nearby 7-11 for provisioning bread and milk and got a late start at 10:30. Hoping to run a short 13 miles to Marineland Marina and wait out the incoming weather then head to St Augustine for three days with better weather.
Miles Today 60 Total Miles 280
Locks Today: 0 Total Locks: 5
Blame it on the wind yesterday, but we had several oh sh*t moments! Our first crab pot under the boat came when the charts on the Raymarine switched from showing the depth in feet to showing depth in meters, as we were verifying depth through depth gauge and other charts we strayed from the channel (saying we have 11 feet, not to worry) well the worry was a string of red crab pots barely visible in the chop. One popped up just three feet of the bow. Paul quicky reduced the throttle and put the boat in neutral as we watched for the pot to appear off the stern. Whew, it popped right out thus avoiding costly prop repair or one of us having to go in the water.
The other came when I went below and started the generator to make a second cup of coffee. I smelled something burning and the coffee maker did not come on, the breaker had popped and when I went to flip,it, it popped again, loudly. I unolugged everything and left it off and used the microwave to make some instant coffee instead. When we got to the marina and were back on shore power I plugged the power strip back in and Paul saw it arc. Sure enough there was the smell. Another catastrophe averted by simply tossing the bad strip.
Cocoa Village Marina
At 4:30 when we reached Cocoa Village Marina, we both decided we had enough being blown around and it was time to call it quits if the marina had a slip for us. They did, and we headed in. It was a few moments of adrenaline as the chop made heading to the bow to set the lines not something I wanted to do. So as we headed into the slip I was still fastening lines.
The marina sent out three hands to help us tie up so we were in good hands and all went well. Cocoa Village Marina got high marks not only for this but also for a great location and facility. We walked into town, but I left all cameras on the boat, so no photos. Cocoa is a charming town with lots of choices in eateries and specialty shops. We had dinner at Ryan’s an Irish Pub with an Italian menu. It was a busy place.
This morning the captain slept in a little and we cast off lines before coffee and breakfast. It was all good though, we even got a little show from some dolphins as we left Cocoa, the first time this trip we’ve had them playing in our wake.
Dolphins
Miles for Day 6: 67 Total Miles: 220
Locks for the day: 0 Total Locks: 5
Leaving Fort Pierce
We passed right by Vero Beach
The front passed through yesterday afternoon. It didn’t amount to much other than some nasty looking clouds, wind, and a little rain, but I was still glad we were in a slip, not on the waterway.
We cast off this morning with a 15mph head wind, Paul took the boat out with no problem. Blue skies, but at 50 degrees, it was a little nippy.
Little bit of water over the bow, we’d see a lot more as we went.
As as we headed north the winds picked up. We had shut the helm up tight as soon as we were out of the marina. About 11:30 we shut all the windows up and down as our course was causing a cool back draft at the helm. Not many other boats out on the water today, the ones we’ve passes have all been open cockpit. Hopefully they aren’t traveling far.
I forgot got to put the stats up on the last post
Miles for day 4: 33. Total Miles: 153
Locks for day 4: 1. Total Locks: 5
Today’s plans are to try for Cocoa or Titusville, but if the winds increase that may change.
Our rest day at the St Lucie campground proved to be both productive and entertaining. After washing the boat, finishing the waterproofing, and cleaning the eisenglass, we walked over and watched the boats lock through. We had been monitoring channel 13 most if the day as a group of large yachts coming through had backed up the westbound traffic and caused several eastbound boats to have to stand off our stern for up to an hour at a time. The keeper of the visitor center said he had never seen this kind of backup.
After ordering pizza for dinner we were in for another treat as a boy fishing from shore attracted the attention of two alligators which seemed to be fascinated by his bobber as he reeled it in to shore. Paul was certain the first alligator would follow the bobber right up the rocky bank to the boy, but he lost interest when he got to the rocks. That is until the smaller second one swan from the far shore to the back of our boat. The big guy then turned and headed right for the little guy who first sank so that only his eyes and nostrils were above the water then sank and swam away.Did I mention this was just 10 feet off the back of the boat? About then the mosquitoes came out and we retired.
Dreary day, but at least we were dry.
We were up before the crack of dawn Monday for a quick breakfast and to catch the first lock opening at 7am. Paul radioed the lock master and just after we left the dock, the doors opened and we were in the lock for a 13.5′ drop. It was a nice start to a dreary day. The scenery east if St Lucie was quite a bit more interesting but the day was overcast, then rainy. We were glad we had gotten the canvas waterproofed the day before or it would have been quite wet and uncomfortable.
Nice docks along the St Lucie river, country club development maybe?
View from the fuel dock. Note the green color if the water
We pulled into the Fort Pierce City Marina about noon, filled up with fuel, pumped out, then headed for our slip. The water here has a lovely green tint we haven’t seen yet. From our slip we could here the jazz groups playing on the waterfront next to the marina for Jazz Week. After a quick lunch of leftover pizza we walked over to catch the last set and a walk around historic downtown. Fort Pierce seems to be putting a lot of effort into revitalizing their downtown area. Another 150 slips are planned next year for the basin out in front of the fuel docks.
We will be staying one more day here in the marina to let the big front pass through. It sounds like most of the weather will be passing north of us, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Leaving Moore Haven under cloudy skies
At the crack of dawn we were up and getting ready to go. Good thing because the “dock master” knocked at 7:15 to see if we had paid the night before. By 7:30 we had cast off lines under an ominous sky and almost immediately hailed the lock for a pass through. We made a right hand turn after the lock and headed around the rim of Lake Okachobee to Clewiston, it was amazing how many people we saw using what appeared to be a lakeside running trail on the landside berm out in the middle of nowhere. Not surprising were the many people out fishing along this stretch which was protected from the lake by a spit of land. Lots of birds fishing too.
Water way along the western rim of
Lake Okachobee
Clewiston looked like an interesting place as we turned away and headed out to the lake. We will put it on our agenda to visit someday. As soon as we made the turn the skies cleared and we had a calm, flat crossing. So calm in fact that we wished for a little of the breeze we had from the day before as it turned quite warm. No complaints though.
Water intake in the middle of a very calm Lake Okachobee
Myaka Lock
We exited the lake at Myaka Lock which was just a pass through due to the high lake levels. The canal east of the lake was quite desolate for several hours. One of the highlights was this herd of cows that came down for a swim and a drink. As we made progress eastward we began to see more homes.
I admit I was jealous of these guys getting a little relief from the heat.
About 3pm we reached St. Lucie Lock and headed into one of the campground slips for the night. Unlike the previous night tying up proved to be a bit more difficult between the short docks, wind and current pushing us into the dock, and the rock seawall just 2 foot off the bow, I think we had every line off at least twice before we were successfully tied off. At $12/night (with Paul’s golden parks pass) this is a cost effective stop and we will stay an extra night to accomplish a few of the chores we didn’t get done before leaving like waterproofing the old canvas over the helm and washing the eisinglass.
We have a nice view of the boats transiting the lock and jumping fish (trout?) from our back deck.
Our view of boats entering the lock.
Stats
Miles today: 63 Total: 120
Locks today: 2 Total:4
Moore Haven
Inspite of a steadily increasing head wind we pressed on and made our optimal destination for the day at about 4:40 pulling in to the Moore Haven city docks just in time to run across the street and pay up before the city hall closed for the day. The town docks are nice and new and our trepidation at docking in the winds which seemed steady to us but were reported at gusting over twenty by the sailboat, Moment of Zen, that pulled in a half hour behind us, proved unfounded as we were hitting them head on and found a little lee near the shore.
One of the concerns we had before we left was the Denaud Bridge with a height of 9′, it had been reported malfunctioning. Some reports had it locked open, but when we came up on it it was closed. A call to the bridge tender was promptly met with an “I’ll get right out there and open it for you.” Pretty soon a little grey hair lady came marching out and proceeded to open the bridge by hand. I was so tickled I had to get her picture.
Denaud Bridge Tender
Our second lock of the day was an eight foot rise at Ortona Lock. I had hoped to hang back from the gates to avoid the current, but we were joined by an elegant old wooden boat which we had passed that morning tied up at Fort Myers Yacht Basin. He needed quite a bit of space and we needed to move up to make room for him.
Lovely Wooden Boat
Gloomy weather report today calling for rain, next to no wind this morning so we are going to try to get across the lake. We have back up plans for our back up plans, so no worries.
Day One Stats:
Miles: 57
Locks: 2
Thanks to John of the club agreeing to mail the package I forgot about yesterday, we were able to cast off lines ahead of schedule. Thanks, John.
Plenty of help and hugs from our dock buddies Brenda and Lee and Rod and Alison made it a whirlwind departure.
Leaving Fort Myers behind
As soon as all the fenders and lines were stowed and I was settled in the bridge, I decided to check the weather again, not funny Weather Bug!!!
Weather Bug, bug?
Don’t worry Mom, I checked Weather Channel and Marine weather, it seems Weather Bug has a glitch of a factor of ten, a bug maybe?
- Leaving Fort Myers behind
This weekend someone one said just three more weeks until we head out and it hit us, we are getting close to the wire. The to do list doesn’t seem to be shrinking dramatically, but some big items are done or nearly done. Of course, you could spend years getting ready, so at some point you just have to say, “Ready or not here we go.”
Paul puts up CCCC Burgee
Infinite Sea at Hidden Island, March 2014
Our departure has been set for the day after the Cape Coral Cruise Club’s cruise to Legacy Marina, our home base. We feel lucky to have connected with this group, the cruise host has agreed to schedule bon voyage docktails on the last night of the cruise. We are looking forward to sharing our adventure with them and to getting back to them next winter.
The captain twiddles his thumbs while the auto pilot does its job.
One big project done last week was the installation of the autopilot and AIS. With many miles of cruising ahead of us, possible long days, and the overnight crossing of the Gulf, it was recommended that the boat be outfitted with autopilot to avoid captain fatigue. AIS is something relatively new to us. This allows our boat to send a signal identifying it to other boats equipped with AIS receivers and to pick up the identification of other boats equipped as we are. After hearing numerous testimonials through the AGLCA (American Great Loop Cruising Association) about how invaluable this was on the inland rivers where the tug captains could see you and advise on where the best passing would be, we bit the bullet and had this installed as well. Paul did some of the prep work on the boat to speed this up and reduce our costs.
Another big project which is starting to seem never ending is the canvas work and Isenglass replacement. Progress was made last week in the completion of canvas covers for the doors on the aft deck. Just when we thought we could call the Isenglass done, we saw a boat with Isenglass inserts at the corners of the canvas which allowed the captain to see when backing into a slip. This is a pretty easy retrofit and we have the materials, so that’s the next project in this area.
Travels of the Infinite Sea 