Leaving Florida in Our Wake

March 30, 2004 - Leaving Miami

Bob returned the rental car and walked back to the marina, and I paid the bill and took a shower. I called Harbortown in Ft. Pierce for a slip. We cast off about 9:30.

Bridge to Biscayne Key

This is the first time since December 2000 that I've been into or out of Government Cut (Miami's harbor entrance) during the day.

Miami skyline and ferry

Bob looking at Fisher Island Car Ferry

In addition to two regular passenger ferries, THREE Fisher Island auto-ferries passed us during that time. (Fisher Island is only accessible by ferry or airplane. People like Pete Sampras and Oprah come to vacation here. "Only Residents, Their Guests and Guests of the Club Are Permitted to Make the Seven Minute Picturesque Water Crossing From Miami Beach to Fisher Island.")

Car Ferry passing a freighter

Seagull Ferry

We went south of Dodge Island

Freighter being loaded on Dodge Island

Fisher Island

and north of Fisher Island

Passing car ferry

Fisher Island auto ferry approaching dock

Fisher Island ferry

Fisher Island ferries

Miami skyline

Helicopter on Fisher Island

Miami Beach

and then through Government Cut and turned north along the Miami Beach coast by 1022.

Government Cut with speedboat and sea plane

Fisherman's Island, Government Cut and Miami Beach

Miami Beach looks very colorful

Miami Beach skyline

and there are folks out on the beaches in spite of the predicted rip currents. Actually the '5-6 foot NE swells' that have been predicted aren't much in evidence. Maybe 2 feet.

People on the beach

I heard someone on the radio telling a large ship that his berth was occupied, and they'd be out of get him at 1300. There were two large ships anchored off Government Cut - one I think was an Greek ship (had a name of Olympic something and a blue and white flag), and the other was a container ship. Saw the pilot boat haring out in the direction of another freighter. The ultra light from Rickenbacker flew out and up Miami Beach, and then came back.

Pilot boat and cruise ship

The sky is blue with some cumulus clouds. After I took a bunch of pictures of Fisher Island, I took a nap, as I was incredibly sleepy.

By 1309 (1:09 pm) we had done 19.3 miles with an average speed of 5.8 mph. I still have the daily log set with statute miles (because the InterCoastal is marked in statute miles) and not nautical miles. We see a big white ship (It says St. Tropez Casino Cruises on the side) anchored offshore. Bob has the main and staysail up.

Bob looking at the shore with binoculars

We are opposite Golden Beach and can see the Hallandale water tower which is red and blue. There are some slightly bigger swells, the wind is about 11 knots, and it is getting cloudier. It was supposed to be bright and sunny today. It almost looks like rain.

1330 - Bob pulls out the jib and had to go on deck to rearrange the staysail halyard which had gotten on the wrong side of the jib sheet while we were in port. We let the jib halyard on the finger pier down below deck level in order that we don't have to crawl under or stepover it when we get off the boat. When he pulled out the jib, our speed really increased.

1357 - Saw a big ship anchored off shore with the name on the side in big red letters (half the depth of the topside) but in script that is hard to read.
I think it is called SEA ESCAPE. We see some sailboats appear to be headed for the Bahamas. I understand the Bahamian government now wants to see your original documentation papers and have two photocopies.

By the time we get to Ft. Lauderdale the wind is puffing up, and the rollers have gotten to a size where I can really see them coming towards us from the NE.

1400 - A small sailboat comes out SE towards us - absolutely no sails rigged at all. As I look with binoculars, I see a man come out on deck with a red sail bag, and rig the jib. I fully expected him to be tossed off the boat due to all the pitching the boat was doing, but it didn't happen while I could see them.

1500 - Several planes are towing banners along the beaches ("Sloppy Joe's bikini cnts.." "Free buffet and 50 cent drafts.." at some restaurant that the name begins with an I (Iguanas?)).

The wind picked up to 18-19 knots and the rollers get bigger. Bob took in the jib. We passed Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale's port)

Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale)

and have now done 31 miles with a speed about 5 knots with just the main and staysail.

On autopilot

1703 We had dinner, and Bob pulled out the jib again. We are off Boca Raton inlet. Our trip so far is 44 miles with an average speed of 6 mph. We are now doing 7.2 mph under full sail, but with the motor on. I took some pictures of Hillsboro Light.

Hillsboro Light

1813 - south of Delray Beach and we've gone 51.9 miles.

Sunset

1840 - the sun is down and we've gone 55 miles.

Sunset

About 7 pm (1900) Bob pulled in the jib because the wind was close to on the nose, and went down for a rest. About 2100 (9 pm) I called to him because the wind freshened quite a bit and was changing direction. He wouldn't or couldn't say if he had slept. Of course as soon as he got into the cockpit the wind stopped moving around.

I went down into the aft cabin and slept for a couple of hours. Bob said that a freighter passed close behind us that was going into Lake Worth - he said it appeared stationary to him, but that was because it was headed right for us. He said the port running light was out, and he had put on the tether to the jacklines and gone out on deck to bang on it, but that didn't help it start working, and he wasn't going to try to fix it underway.

The wind has gone to the south, and he's tacking back and forth along our previous track to keep the boat from gybing - trying to keep the wind at about 180 degrees from the bow.

We discussed when we were likely to get to Ft. Pierce. When we came down it was 130 miles, and took us 20 hours at an average speed of 6+ mph. But we are going faster than that, and Bob is concerned that we will get to the inlet before dawn. So he pulls the power way back.

At 2330 (11:30 pm) Bob went down for another nap. I'm sure he slept this time.

March 31 2004.

It was very peaceful (not even much chatter on the radio) until north of St. Lucie Inlet when the wind freshened a good bit and switched from SE to west. I waked Bob, and discussed it with him, and then I went down and slept from about 0300 until Bob waked me at 0600

Sunrise

when we were coming in the inlet. Sports fishing boats were coming out of the inlet and there were people fishing from the south jetty.

Fishing from the Ft Pierce jetties

It was a bit hazy, but not too windy. I could see the rollers coming in and crashing on the north rock jetty - no one fishing there!

Surf on the Ft Pierce jetties

although there was someone on the beach on the other side.

After 0600, I called Harbortown on the radio and there was someone there!! That's great. We won't have to try to tie up by ourselves. We pass the

Holiday Inn Express

with the sign warning that it is a private dock) and the

Coast Guard Station

and the

Pelican Yacht Club

(advertising that they take transients),

Tall ship by the bridge

and come into the marina channel.

We got 32 gallons of fuel and a pump out and then went to our slip. Saw a boat from Solomons - one of the guys said he lived in Breton Bay. They are leaving this morning to go down to Lake Worth intending to go to the Bahamas.

Bob on the boat in Ft. Pierce

Bob fixed the port running light (he thought the starboard one was out, but it seems to be working now), and tried to run the refrigeration. He's very tired and takes a nap.

We have decided to REALLY take our time coming back this time and stop at all the places along the way. So it may be quite awhile before we get to our son's.

We had the early bird special at the marina restaurant, and Bob went to bed early. I went up to do email late (about 11). The email connection is outside, and usually you are limited to 15 minutes if anyone is waiting and since your back is to the area, it is hard to tell if anyone is waiting. I figure that no one will be waiting at that hour and there won't be any casual passersby. Eventually the night watchman comes around, so I pack up and use the bathroom and come back to bed.

April 1, 2004

My original idea was to go swim in the pool, but a cold front has come through and the idea is not appealing. I didn't remember that the pool was heated. Oh well. I called to Vero Beach and got a slip, and also called Charlie Jackson in Daytona, and Whitley Marina in Cocoa. Then I had to call Charlie back because Bob doesn't like to stay at Caribbean Jacks on the fuel dock and that's where Charlie is and that's where they put transients. I also called Bill Stahl in Vero Beach.

When I went up to pay for 2 nights, I tripped and fell on the dock and almost went over the edge. I landed on my left knee very heavily, and now it is quite bruised and sore. While I was up there, I asked if there were any restaurants we could walk to, and they suggested Dinos which is up on the highway across the railroad tracks and up about a block from the shopping center that Bob often walks to. So we started out to walk there, and indeed it was within walking distance.

(The shopping center also has Ray's Pantry which the guys at the marina recommend for breakfast and lunch instead of Bonnie's Cafe which is in the marina near the pool, and a pizza place, plus there is a Subway at the gas station.)

Dino's Restaurant sign

Almost everyone at Dinos was in the blue haired set. They have 4 handicapped parking slots, and they need them all.

Parking

I doubt if there were more than about 4 people in the whole place that were younger than we are. Dinos has very cheap but plain food. They have a long list of 'specials' and italian dinners, seafood, salads, and bbq. About the fanciest thing on the menu is chicken cordon bleu. I had

Baked chicken, cole slaw, mashed potatoes and gravy ($6.25)

and I told them light on the gravy so it came in a separate dish . Bob had turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce and a baked potato ($6.55). Bob had apple pie and I had

Lemon meringue ($1.75) pie

for dessert. I asked the cashier when we left where all these people came from, and she said trailer parks. (They don't take credit cards - only cash)

I went up and used the computer a little earlier this time.

April 3, 2004

Although Vero Beach isn't very far, and we can get there quickly, we use the bathroom and turn in the keys in after they open at 7, and cast off about 8. I find that the charting Dell will not take a charge and will not run on batteries at all, and also that the GPS that's hooked to it won't run either if computer isn't plugged in.

We called the bridge as we came out of the marina (the North Ft. Pierce bascule bridge) and he said he'd open as soon as we got there. Then there was a ketch from Helsinki named (as we found out later) SCORPIO behind us so we held up so he could go through too. Then another sailboat SOLARIS with a very fuzzy radio said he was coming out of the marina, so the bridge said he'd wait for him too.

North Ft Pierce bridge

A fourth guy also called, from somewhere else. The bridge eventually opened about 0815, and we went through along with SCORPIO and SOLARIS. The bridge called for the 4th boat, but he didn't answer.

Ft Pierce bridge

Bob went and put away the lines while I steered. We arrived in Vero Beach at 1000, and were tied up by 1021 after 13.9 miles with an average speed of 5.9 mph.

RosalieAnn in Vero Beach

It was $1.00/ft plus tax and $5 for 30 amp, plus a $20 deposit for the bathroom key. If you don't take your own key you have to get it from the dockmaster each time, and he's only open during the day.

Gas dock

Bob didn't think much of our slip as it was downwind from the gas dock. There are police boats buzzing around, and one of the policemen apparently works on the gas dock. SOLARIS came in after us, and went to a mooring - the mooring are all full and they are rafting on them.

Rafted boats

I got the bus schedule and other information like about restaurants. I was thinking of taking the bus and riding around town, but Bob didn't like that idea. The bus makes one circuit an hour - goes from the beach across the bridge to the marina and then out into town, when it turns around and goes back to the beach. So if you go to the end of the line, you have an hour to wait until the bus comes back, and if you get off in the middle it's a half an hour. They start at 8, take a two hour lunch break from 11 to 1 and then stop at 5. It is free which is good, but unless you have a hour's worth of shopping it isn't a particularly good deal IMHO.

After we got there, they put a new Gulfstar trawler named HIGHLANDER in the slip opposite us on the gas dock and the slip was too narrow so they didn't fit and Bob said that they had to use extraordinary precautions to keep from hitting us as they came out and went to another slip.

Crunch

One of those sternwheeler tour boats came in for fuel, and while it was approaching the gas dock, a gust of wind came up and blew his ladder directly into the gas dock roof with a great crunch. The boat backed off - apparently he has little or no steering control and he decided not to try again because there was too much wind.

Close-up

I went up to use the boater's lounge to do email. There is a local phone line which is free (only 10 minutes on the phone or 15 minutes on the computer if someone is waiting). You can also use their computer and internet connection by getting a prepaid card for $5 or $10 from the office, or you can use a wireless network for $3.95 for a hour plus 13 cents for additional minutes, or $6.95/day. I talked to a guy in the lounge who was NOT aware that he could have used the phone line for free, so he bought the wireless internet. I could get a wireless connection on my boat (if I wanted to pay for it), but he could not.

We wanted to eat dinner, but the marina had no restaurant. I asked what restaurant we could walk to and finally someone remembered that the Riverside Cafe was just up under the bridge. I figured that the last run of the bus at 4:45 could take us up there and we'd only have to walk back. But instead of coming to the bus stop, the bus went in back of the marina building and escaped without us being able to get on it. So we did walk, and it wasn't that far.

Walking under the bridge to the restaurant where there is parking

This restaurant is right on the water.

Riverside Cafe

It probably would be easier to come by dinghy from the moorings in the marina (except in our dinghy) because there are dinghy docks.).

Bar area and Inside the restaurant

This is a covered but open sided restaurant which is a pleasant change from the glacial conditions often found in the air conditioned areas.

Charcoal fish

There is a bar which is buzzing as people have congregated to watch the sunset. It has live music and two for one Bud or Bud Light happy hour every evening from 4 to 7,

Bar at Happy Hour

Under the bridge

Happy hour

Deck for sunset watching

with a big bar and deck area so you can watch the sunset across the river. There is a warning on the menu that tells people that a bell will ring and everything will stop for 5 minutes to watch the sun go down.

The place is very noisy, and the service is a bit haphazard. They did not tell us the specials (soup of the day was New England clam chowder and they also had prime rib for $18.94) which I might have gotten had I known what they were. I had a spinach salad ($6.50 very good) and I wanted a shrimp salad sandwich ($7.50). The waiter assumed I'd want fries with that, but I wanted one of the other choices, so he took the fries off and I just got the sandwich and no extras. Bob wanted the shrimp salad platter ($9.95), and they brought him a sandwich too. He said the shrimp pieces were too small to be sure if they were shrimp or something else.

Shrimp Salad

We got iced tea which wasn't too cold, and it wasn't replenished. I wanted peach melba but they didn't have that (even though it was on the menu) so I got apple pie instead. The pie wasn't anything special but the a la mode vanilla ice cream was excellent.The bill for this was $34.15 plus tip

MacWilliams Park sign

We walked back through the Spanish moss festooned live oaks of MacWilliams Park

Bob (in a red shirt) walking ahead of me

which has a party room (River House), a plethora of boat launch ramps and a dog walking area but where no swimming or golfing (!!) is allowed. Then I went up and used the email line until about 9:30 when the lounge was supposed to close (although it didn't).

April 4, 2004

Bob was worried about casting off against the west wind, so we left right after he turned in the bathroom key at 0700 and got our $20 deposit back (deposits are only taken in cash - no checks or credit cards). We cast off without incident at 0710 - the wind is still pretty light.

Rafted boats as we left

Riverside Cafe as we leave

A ketch from Sydney Australia named CORRAWONG went out ahead of us. We have 54+ miles to do today.

There are four trawlers that come out of the marina behind us, and they passed us one by one. First the Mainship STARGAZER, and then LA TORTUGA. Then JENNA from Toronto gave us a good pass, and finally GORFROG also from Toronto.

Saw a belted kingfisher on a power line over the water next to an osprey's nest. I see an osprey's nest with a bird in it hanging off the side of an ATON. I don't see how it can stay on there. The osprey's appear to be nesting. Most of the nests have a fierce head sticking out of them.

A sailboat GLORY DAYS from Toronto passes us about 1000 - we've done almost 18 miles at an average speed of 6.1 mph. Bob is tired of steering and hands the steering over to me, but it makes me nervous to be in a narrow channel and to have to deal with the wakes of people passing.

Passing sailboat

At 1120, the trawler MANATEE passes us very nicely. I hear him on the radio ahead of us chastising those who pass without manners (like a boat named SUNSEEKER flying a power squadron flag who doesn't slow down at all and another power boat named SANDRA GIRL). He asks them to come back so he can take their picture.

A trawler with towing a dinghy with a big round red thing on the swim platform that covers up their name (they were in Vero Beach too last night) came past. He stirred up the mud and it remained roiled up for some time, setting the depth sounder crazy.

I fixed lunch, cutting up the chicken I had left over from Dinos into chicken salad. By 1218, we've done 32 miles. The wind is variable speed mostly on the nose - from 11 to 20 knots.

When we get up toward a wider part of the river (where anything outside the channel isn't immediately 3 feet or less) we hear HIGHLANDER behind us on the radio sometimes. HUDSON, a 160 foot long USCG construction vessel gave us one whistle and Bob tried to whistle back and the air can whistle wouldn't work. He eventually did get a whistle off, making me deaf temporarily.

Coast Guard vessel HUDSON

I heard HIGHLANDER asking HUDSON what kind of a boat he was, and I listened in, so that's how I know.

All the bridges in this area (the Melbourne bridge, the Eau Gallie bridge and the Pinellas Causeway) have only 64 feet clearance. HIGHLANDER eventually passes us - he slacks off on the speed but passes way away from us. We cut back the throttle, but he didn't notice, so we discuss proper passing technique. Our son-in-law has given us a trawler magazine where Tom Neale has also discussed this also.

Passed

We start to see people sailing (especially going south). There is a catamaran without sails up named PARADIGM which appears to be pacing us, but isn't passing. A catamaran should be way faster than we are. Eventually he puts the sails up, but has great difficulty with them and still isn't going any faster than we are. Once he gets his act in gear, it seems like we will meet at the next bridge.

Since he is overtaking us, even if it is under sail, he is technically the give-way boat and we are the stand on boat and should maintain course and speed. But Bob is afraid (correctly as it turns out) that they are terminally clueless and pulls back the power to let them go under first. They thank us as if we were being especially polite, but really, we were just trying to avoid an accident. Later, they appear to run aground, and are still there when we've motored out of sight.

Another CG boat - this time a tug named VICE with a barge passes going south.

Coast Guard vessel VICE

We got to the Whitley Marina at about 1600 and tie up after a trip of 288 nm total, and a trip today of 54.8 sm at an average speed of 6.1 mph.

RosalieAnn at Whitley Marina

There was a guy with a black and white border collie type dog on an Egg Harbor trawler that helped with the docking. The entrance is a bit confusing - you go down their channel right straight toward a wall, and just as you get to the wall, you turn to the right and go around the end and enter on the north side. This marina apparently no longer takes transients - only people who belong to the yacht club who live in the condos that are next door.

I went up and paid and got information on places to eat from the marina manager. He recommended Murdocks, but I thought that might be a bit rowdy on Saturday night, so we walked up to Norman's Raw Bar and Grill.

Norman's alligator

We were early, so the party people weren't there yet. They had the horse races on the ESPN channels on the TVs. Service was quick and efficient. We were parched, so I asked for water, and it came in LARGE glasses which were kept filled. I had a steak which came with a Ceasar salad, and Bob had a shrimp basket, which they steamed the shrimp for him instead of frying them. I had a cheesecake, and Bob had a chocolate cake for dessert. Our bill was $34.77.

Mural

Afterwards we walked out through town. The old restored section of town is just across the street from the marina. It is made for walking and not for cars. The sidewalks are all nice brick. Most of the shops were open still, and there was a street player, and there was a lady who brings her black Percheron gelding Thunder, her carriage and one of her Jack Russell terriers, and gives carriage rides for the benefit of a Horse Sisters - a rescue and handicapped riding group.

Thunder, the Percheron gelding

I was born O. LA-JO'S SILVER ROCKET (but somewhere along the line, Rocky became Thunder), May 20, 1994 in Bremen, Indiana. I came to Ocala Florida with a draft farrier as a 10 month old. .... HorseSisters acquired me in January of 2000 and from what Mom says, she is keeping me forever. I do hop right into the trailer when she comes for me as I love to pull the carriages and hay wagons. Yes, we go all over the state of Florida, doing parades, festivals, carriage and driving events, shows and private parties and weddings, but my favorite thing to do is love the children. ..No telling WHO has treats for me... At home when I should be resting, Mom has me doing Dressage with that tiny little black saddle and takes me to horse shows in Western duds, and rides me on the Florida trails.. Folks seem to love me and that is great with me because I love everyone !

Myrt Tharp Square

We also saw Myrt Tharp Park "Once upon a time," starts the story in the March April 2002 Cocoa Village, (as any good story should), "Stone Street (formerly Magnolia Street) came all the way through from U.S.1 to Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Village. There was no tranquil little park, bubbling water fountain, carefully tended plants and flowers or a charming gazebo. In the 1960’s there was a wonderful woman, a city councilperson who loved Cocoa and devoted herself to its improvement. Her name was Myrtice Tharpe (1913-1982). She owned Myrt’s, a popular restaurant (where the Black Tulip is)

Black tulip restaurant

where city business was conducted over a good meal. After she passed away, the intersection at Brevard and Stone was closed. The Rotary Club built the Myrtice Tharpe Square landmark to honor her memory. Today, the gazebo is used for weddings and celebrations. Story tellers tell their tales and, of course, jazz , blues, country and other musicians perform on Fridays and Saturdays to put us in an upbeat frame of mind. We savor our lunches or sip our evening coffee, tapping our feet, wrapped in warm breezes and the good company around us

Antique car in town

I'm not sure whether this car was giving rides or what. It was an late closing Saturday night, and he was parked opposite the carriage ride station.

Afterwards we came back and reset all the clocks, watches, cameras, GPSs and computers to Spring Back for Daylight Savings. When I reset my watch to daylight savings, I accidentally also advanced the date by one day.

Sunday April 4

The dockmaster said he'd open up and let me do email, so I'd better get this finished. I've got the black dell plugged into 110 to see if that will recharge the battery. Pocketmail is still screwed up, and I can't talk to them until tomorrow.

There are new bathrooms, but Bob says the toilets in the mens were all clogged except one and there appeared to be a homeless person camping in that stall. The bathrooms are not locked except for the handicapped one. He used the ladies room instead. The bathrooms and office are on the 2nd deck and the elevator is sometimes a little flakey - the door to the marina side on the first floor won't close. It kind of changes its mind in mid close and opens again. It will work though after you wait through several cycles of this.

There is a pool which is for the condo people only, and there is also a sauna - I don't know who can use that.

I met one distressed lady in the shower who couldn't get any hot water, and when I suggested that maybe she try to point the handle the other way, she got hot water right away. There were no H or C labels on the shower. The ladies shower at Marathon Marina and Boatyard on the boatyard side is plumbed backwards, and so is at least one shower at Miamarina. So this is apparently fairly common at least in the ladies showers in marinas.

We walked around Cocoa

Taylor Park

White ibis

and we did take the City Tour carriage ride for $6.00.

Carriage ride

Somewhere I have the Historic Cocoa brochure, but I can't find it now. I do have some photos - like this one.

Masonic Lodge

Also known as the Village Tower, the Masonic Temple is a three story brick building, which was where dances were often held, and during Prohibition it was a favorite watering hole. At one time there was a large clock next to the right balcony. Little change has been made to the exterior. You can still see the Masons emblem in the brickwork. It is one of the original buildings in Cocoa that has survived fires, wars, depression, land booms and development.

Cocoa's Oldest House

This is the oldest existing commercial wooden building in Cocoa Village. According to the Cocoa Village newspaper, it was built in 1888 by Miss Julia Roberts who was the city dressmaker. "..The building has a tin roof, built over cedar shakes. In 1889, a terrible fire destroyed all the other wooden structures along Delannoy Avenue. Only Miss Roberts’ house survived. Over 100 years old, it is virtually untouched and remains the same as it did in 1888. Today, Charlotte Griffin uses the building as an art gallery and studio. Miss Griffin has been in Cocoa Village for 26 years."

Porcher house

Porcher House is about as much of a 'thing-to-do' as anything in Cocoa. It is closed on Sunday though. We walked up there (because we couldn't find anything that said when it was open)

Bob looking in the window of Porcher house

and we saw a lady come out, so we walked in. But she had left the door open by mistake, and they quickly shooed us out because they were getting ready for some kind of event.

Porcher House

The neoclassic building was built in 1916 by Edward Postell Porcher, a pioneer in the citrus industry. His groves were on Merritt Island and the fruit was brought by boat to a dock which was in the back of the house. It was then transported by railroad from Cocoa.The house incorporated coquina block construction and was designed by Edward Porcher's wife, Byrnina Maria Peck. The carriage driver told us that she liked to play bridge and you could see a club, diamond, heart and spade worked into the outside facade, but I thought they were making it up - like seeing shapes in the clouds. The City of Cocoa received a grant in 1987 for restoration and it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is used for weddings, business meetings, family gatherings, engagement parties and many other events and celebrations. It can accommodate up to 200 people and seat up to 80

I heard that there was a very good hardware store in Cocoa - S.F. Travis Hardware Co. INC which is the best on the east coast. This store includes not only the store which has the name on it, but the whole next building (35,000 square ft.). It's one of the oldest (or IS the oldest) business in Cocoa - dating from 1885 which is 10 years before Cocoa was a town. It is now a True Value hardware store.We looked in the windows and they have a fantastic displays and it looks as if you could buy anything you wanted to buy.

S.F. Travis Hardware Co. INC - Best Hardware Store on the East Coast

The building on the right is Masonry Vernacular style (characterized by flat parapet roofs, decorative brick work, belt courses, and name and date panels) and was added in 1907.The building on the left was extensively renovated in1926 including the enlargement of display windows, removal of the transom which had run over the windows and door, and the addition of a stucco covering.

Unfortunately we didn't walk that direction on Saturday, and it was closed on Sunday. Bob refused to run over there and look at it on Monday before we left because 'he didn't need anything'.

Threadneedle Street Mall

After a bit of shopping

One of the interesting stores in Cocoa

we walked all the way up to Murdock's restaurant on Sunday night and found it was closed.

Murdock's Restaurant sign

I found this very annoying. Since it was Sunday night and most places were closed, we ate some pizza at Martini's. They had tables so you could eat outside.

PIzza at Martini's

They didn't have much in the way of desserts. {It appears that Martini's is now closed. } Afterward we went to

OSSORIO Bakery & Cafe

for ice cream.

Getting ice cream

Their ice cream is home-made, and they also have pizza, sandwiches, salads, fresh roasted coffee and various kinds of tea.

Cocoa Murals

We saw SANCTUARY (a CSY 37) at the old docks. Also got to watch a comedic docking operation by a power boat. He could not get docked stern to the dock even with about 5 or 6 people standing on the docks and finger piers to help pull on lines.

Docking disaster

April 5, 2004

The black Dell did recharge OK on the 110. I talked to pocketmail and they said the oriental characters were screwing up my bulk folder and they cleared it out for me.

We left relatively early April 5th while the wind was not too strong, and went up to Titusville - a short run.

Max E. Brewer bridge

I was able to do some email from there, and also take some photos of the manatees in the marina.

Dinghy Dock Rules

Manatees in the marina

Marina manatee

Horseshoe crab

We ate dinner at Azteca.

Azteca Mexican Restaurant

April 6, 2004

Sunrise

We met the owner of ENID K (CSY like ours) there as we were casting off in the morning.

CSY ENID

Reflections

Haulover canal

Haulover Canal bridge

Restricted area (Haulover bridge)

Cormorant

Indian Mound Fish Camp

Today we got as far as Daytona. I can do email tonight and won't be able to do it again until Thursday. We had two somewhat interesting incidents. Bob and I were listening to the weather, and he almost went out Ponce Inlet by mistake. Could have done it - not too much wind.

Ponce lighthouse

But we turned around and went back to the ICW.

Pontoon boat

Also we saw a number of floating buoys at the north end of the inlet. After we got past the inlet into the Halifax River, Bob asked if there was another red floating buoy. I looked and thought it was a kayak. Then I looked again and it was a red PWC in the channel. As we went by, I saw there was a girl with a red PFD next to it. She waved and did not seem in any distress.

I was afraid someone might run her down (lots of idiots out although not as many as on weekends), so I called on the radio her location and that she was in the water. The CG responded. The two trawlers behind us (one of them was GORFROG which I have just figured out is frog frontwards and backwards) stopped by her, and a gofast boat came along from the north. But the first one to get to her was a fishing skiff which put a line on the PWC to pull it out of the channel. Then Towboat US came out of the nearby marina, a police boat arrived, and another PWC. Apparently her motor stopped suddenly and threw her into the water and she couldn't get back on.

When we got to Daytona we called our friend Charlie who was at Caribbean Jacks.

Snowy egret

Great blue heron

He was going to come over and take us to a restaurant. But his car was blocked in (by patrons of the restaurant at his marina), so he rode his motorcycle over to our marina and met us at the Stock Exchange restaurant

Stock Exchange sign

which was brand new and had just opened. We ate out on the patio, which was a little chilly later on.

Our reflections

I had the

Queens Cut prime rib for $15.95

It came with a garden salad, rice (which I had) or garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable. Bob had the Exchange Caesar salad with shrimp ($10.95), and Charlie had the pan seared salmon ($15.95). I had

Fried cheesecake for dessert ($4.95)

Iced tea or coke was $1.95@Service was a little disconnected, but they had only been open for 2 or 3 days. They have live music and dancing.The bill for the three of us without the tip or Charlie's drink was $57.14.

We expect to be anchored out in St. Augustine tomorrow night, and hope that the expected showers are not too bad.

April 7th

Later: When Bob told someone "SHE wants to anchor in St. Augustine", I remembered that he didn't like to anchor in St. Augustine. So I made a reservation at the municipal marina, which is expensive and has no email unless you pay which I'm not inclined to do.

After we got to Daytona, Bob said he didn't have enough quarters to do the laundry, so I made a reservation at Beach Marine in Jax Beach for the purposes of laundry. After we ate, I went up and did email in the little kiosk - a taller lady had to help me plug in as the plugs are back of the washers and dryers. The email places are made for you to stand at, but I was sitting on the floor. Then I got a shower. When I started back to the boat all the sprinklers were on, and I got confused dodging the water drops and went almost all the way down J dock before I realized that I'd got the wrong dock.

Bob cast off from the dock almost before I was up. That's because the bridge right outside the marina goes on restricted hours at 7:45. They get the bathroom keys by holding out a net on the end of a long pole for you to toss the keys into as you pass the gas dock, so I did that and then called the bridge and set the computer up. There was a tug type boat called WOTAN that came out of the marina right ahead of us. We both went through the bridge together.

SOLARIS who anchored out just made it through the bridge (Memorial Bridge) before the restricted hours. Then he and the Main Street bridge tender had quite a conversation on channel 9 on the radio about the philosophy of the cruising life. (The Memorial bridge wasn't going to open for an hour anyway.)

April 8th

Passing

A big Carver named NIGHT SHIFT from Canada passed and later I heard someone yelling "Thanks for the wake you Canadian NIGHTMARE".

Climbing?

Passed Marineland

Marineland

and the marina is still not open, and went through Matanzas Inlet.

Ft Matazas

It was high tide and most of the channel is 16-17 feet although there was one 7 foot place. They have 7 floaters - i.e. floating buoys that they move around so that the deepest part of the channel is marked.

There are lots of dragonflies around in this section.

CSY Banjo

We got to St. Augustine and they put us next to WORTH DOING and SOLARIS came in on the other side of us. Bob's bathroom key refused to work for him - they gave him two different ones, and finally he got a staff key, but even that failed after two uses. Don't know why.

Bridge of Lions

We met our friend Norm at the Wednesday wine and cheese party with a guy in a 17th century sailor costume dispensing the wine and cheese. Also a guy playing a guitar. I brought a water glass and they gave me ice because I don't drink wine and that was all they had.

Wine and Cheese party

There was a guy at the party (with a power boat but I don't know which one) who said that he never bothered to slow down for sailboats under power because there were too damn many of them, and he'd never get anywhere if he did that. He did slow down for sailboats under sail of course. However his way of slowing down was to come to half throttle which I think makes a bigger wake because he's come off plane.

Ponce de Leon statue

Trolley tour train in front of the A1A Alehouse

After the wine and cheese party, we walked around town, and then went to the A1A Ale House.

A1A Alehouse

It was a Friday night, and there was too long a line upstairs in the restaurant for us to want to wait. So we ate dinner downstairs. It is the same menu. You just seat yourself and the bartender takes your order and runs upstairs to put it in and then has to go back up to get it. Bob had a pineapple chicken dish. Norm and Jan came in later and ate at the bar. We told Norm that we wouldn't be back next year.

April 9th

There's a lot of current in St. Augustine and Bob wants to leave after 8 when the Bridge of Lions doesn't open and go through the 8:30 opening. The current is pushing us into the slip and the wind is pushing us out of the slip, so the result is that we can maneuver OK. Bob has me take the wheel while he takes care of the lines etc, and I am almost at idle going with the current away from the bridge as I wait. We do go through at 8:30.

Passing the St Augustine Inlet

The forecast showers did not happen yesterday, and it is overcast today.

For the first time in 2003, I saw and took a picture of this 280 foot stainless steel cross. I took an additional photo today

Cross

The cross marks the spot of the founding of the city of St. Augustine and was erected to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city. It is at the Nombre de Dios Mission (translated as "Name of God" Mission), which is an original Spanish mission which was founded in 1565. The site includes the "Our Lady of La Leche Shrine" and numerous other shrines and statues. It is at San Marco and Ocean Avenues.There is no charge for admission.

Tideboards

We passed a little airport - there is a big flashing yellow X which Bob says must mean that the runway is REALLY closed.

The Runway is REALLY closed

About 1100 we had about 20 minutes of really hard rain with some lightning and thunder, We were in a narrow cut or canal at the time, with tall trees all around, so it wasn't too bad. Then we had showers off an on until about 1300. I saw some interesting lawn ornaments - a manatee statue with rabbit ears,

Manatee statue with rabbit ears

and a topiary in the shape of a gardener.

We went through the McCormick bridge right by Beach Marine where we are spending the night during one of the showers. (I called the bridge tender and asked him to open when we got there, and he actually opened in plenty of time - maybe even a little early). We tied up at the dock in a slightly smaller shower. After I went up and paid and sent the emails off, I came back to the boat. They have 5 bathroom locations each with men's and women's showers if you include the building at the end for mechanical work and dry storage. However we were completely and immovably aground at low tide on the west end T-head of dock #2. Boat could not be moved and the stern was up with bottom exposed. We draw 5 feet.

RosalieAnn aground

We went and ate dinner at the Boathouse Grill.

Boathouse Grill

Bob had a hamburger and I had the surf and turf which gave me a choice of several items for the surf part and I picked swordfish.

Surf and Turf

I also had a creme brulee for dessert. After dinner I walked up to the bridge so I could get a better view of the area.

Marina from the bridge

9 April 2004

At about 7:30, Bob walked up to the bathroom and got a paper. He found out from the dock master that low tide was about 8, and he was afraid that we would not be able to get off the dock until after nine, so he proposed that we leave right away. A boat named JAZZ from Annapolis was going out of the marina and said that they only had 3 feet in the center of the channel.

So I threw on some clothes and he removed all the lines (didn't matter - the boat was almost aground so it wasn't going anywhere- and then Bob pushed the boat out from the dock and to the rear. Then he got back on board backed into the fairway between docks one and two and turned around and went out. The moon was still pretty high in the sky.

We went by the decimated Pablo Creek where there used to be a marina (condos being built now), and under the two new bridges being built and crossed the St. Johns River.

Construction

A larger power boat NEVER BETTER III passed.

House under the bridge

We crossed the St. John's River

St John's River jetties

Ship in the St John's River

There were big ships in the river. There was a Navy ship in the dockyard

and there was an anxious little Navy gunboat boat patrolling in front of it to be sure no one got close. There was also an EPA boat over there.

NEVER BETTER III was turning into Sister's Creek so I called the Sister's Creek bridge for an opening when we were still out in the river.because I thought NEVER BETTER III might get him to open and then we'd have to wait. But they didn't need an opening, so the bridge opened just for us. I had to ask Bob to slow down a little so he wouldn't give the bridge tender a heart attack by trying to thread the mast through the bridge when it was only open a couple of feet.

Sister's Creek bridge

We were passed by NIGHTSHIFT, the big Carver from Canada and LOOKEN GOOD also passed about 0900. 1115 TIE BREAKER, a power cat from Mass passed. We saw some more white pelicans,

White pelicans and other birds on a sand bar

which are much rarer than the brown ones. We went through the fixed bridge - the current is really whipping through there, and also went by the railroad bridge which looks very dilapidated - like it couldn't possibly have been used in recent memory (but we know that is wrong). This time I got a picture of the sign which says it has 2 coats of red lead and one coat of aluminum.

I hear the small cruise ship AMERICAN EAGLE calling for the Nassau county sheriff with no result. Then we hear the boat WALKABOUT asking the Fernandina City Marina for a slip for a 96 foot boat. Fernandina tells them to tie up behind the 300 ft long marked off area south of the fuel dock (which was reserved for AMERICAN EAGLE after they finished taking on fuel). We see WALKABOUT on the pier as we pass. I hear a somewhat amusing exchange between AMERICAN EAGLE and another similar size boat (CAROLINA QUEEN?) which went as follows:

American Eagle

CQ wanted to go in to Fernandina and tie up.
AE - We will be getting underway and (some phrase I don't remember but means they will be going over there in a few minutes).
CQ - I think I can tie up ahead of the large power boat facing north (which was Walkabout) if that's all right with you
AE - We are going to be leaving the dock soon and are going to tie up just past the angle in the pier (i.e. ahead of WALKABOUT).
CG - If it's OK with you I think I can get tied up behind the schooner (which is the area ahead of WALKABOUT) before you leave the gas dock.

AE - It will be OK with us if you wait to tie up until we get tied up. (IOW - it is NOT OK with us if you take our space on the dock)
CG- (finally gets the message) OK we will stand by until you get tied up.

RosalieAnn in St Mary's Georgia

We arrived at Lang's marina in St. Mary's Georgia at 1345, but LOOKEN GOOD was there before us taking on fuel. They took 245 gallons and it took them about 45 minutes. We were afraid that we'd not have any fuel left for us, but they were getting gasoline. Our trip was 41.1 sm at an average speed of 6.2 mph.