Retracing Our Steps

(Ponce-de-Lion inlet lighthouse a few miles before Daytona Beach)

Sal returned to me Monday afternoon, a few hours earlier than expected. I promised to be ashore where he could find me, instead I was hanging out in the cockpit, trying to stay cool. The heat that week was a few degrees away from unbearable. He got a dinghy ride over with a couple that we had met briefly back in North Carolina.

(Sal pulling up the anchor)

To describe my week in Vero Beach in one word: hot. Days were in the 30’s and nights only cooled down a little. I planned to have my showers at about 6pm when things would finally cool down a bit. I did a bit of exploration on my own around the area. I also met quite a few people in and around the marina or people stopping by the boat to say ‘hello’. I was even fortunate enough to be invited aboard for dinner with a couple from Newfoundland when my planned dinner of hummus and chips turned into a delicious meal of ham/turkey and salads with DESSERT!!

I was glad when Sal got back as this meant we could start to travel again. Staying anywhere for more than a few days starts to give me the itch to move on.

(Fort Matanzas)

Tuesday we had a long day of traveling and made 53 miles in 10 hours. We anchored in Cocoa, where we had dinner and promptly crashed into bed afterwards. We had a relaxed morning and went ashore at Cocoa to catch a few sights. We enjoyed coffee on an outdoor patio, shopped in a farmers market and bought a few small items. When it was time to head back to the boat, we got in our dinghy and tried to unlock our combination lock. Then we tried again, and again, and then started banging it, swearing at it, and got some tools and tried to hammer it open. Nothing could get that lock open… the rust had taken hold. We were discussing walking over to the hardware store when another boater offered to get his bolt cutters and we thankfully accepted the offer. One cut and the lock was free and we were finally able to get on our way. We left shortly after getting back to the boat as we had about 20 miles to Titusville. We arrived in the afternoon with enough time to fit in a short run and shower before dinner and bed.

(Sal's Crocs went for a little swim in the river, but were luckily saved by another cruising couple with a dinghy)

Thursday was another long day of travel. We take turns, switching tiller duty ever half-hour to an hour. On our time off we read, spend time finding a good radio station, or in Sal’s case, make a conch horn. We had brought back a few conchs from the Bahamas. Sal cut off the tip, which is not easy as the conch is tougher than steel. After a few broken hack saw blades and some sore arm muscles he proudly picked up the conch and blew into the end, producing a loud horn type sound. Then he blew it again, and again, and again until I had to yell at him to stop as it was driving me crazy.

We spent a somewhat rough night anchored outside of the channel at Daytona Beach. We find once we get into the larger cities the boater courtesies tend to decrease which means we get rocked with wake. From Daytona we made a stop over at Matanzas River for a night. The anchorage is near the inlet and the current was very strong there as a full moon was approaching. We could hear the rush of the current around the boat as we tried to sleep after a movie night with popcorn made in a pot on the stove.

Finally after 5 days of travel we made it to St Augustine just before the gusts of almost 30 knots started roaring through the area. We gladly picked up a mooring ball and got to exploring the city as soon as we were settled. We took many leisurely walks around the historic city and relaxed and enjoyed an ice cream and some beers.

(Blessing of the boats on Palm Sunday)

We spent the weekend in St. Augustine enjoying the atmosphere and the vibe of the city. We had our fill and were ready to head off on Monday morning. Less than an hour out of the city along the ICW we were in complete isolation. Trees and grasses on both sides, not a person or boat in sight for hours, with just the amazing Florida wildlife to keep us entertained.

(Curious bird checking out the dock at St. Augustine)

Florida has a remarkable amount of wildlife. One day we had hundreds of butterflies fluttering across the waterway en route to some destination only known to them, manatee noses appearing along the way followed by gentle tail splashes as they retreat from the surface, the sleek dorsal fin of the dolphin gliding by or one of the many birds searching for a meal in and among the luscious habitat of the waterway.

Next Destination: Jacksonville