Vero Beach Marina to Hobe Sound (100 yards short of the 1000 Mile mark on the ICW)

We got underway at 8:45 this morning after adding 12 gallons of diesel, topping off with fresh water, and emptying the ever filling holding tanks.  Yesterday there was not a cloud in the sky.  Today there were more clouds which helped the sky look that much bluer.  A great day.  We did not go as far as we set out to go...but we're vacationing.  We ran into a little more current than we had in the past couple of days and that slowed us.  Going by the St. Lucie River and inlet water was going every which way and boats were the same.  Today being Saturday there was a lot of traffic out there.  The inlet is only used by small boats with local knowledge and many were coming in from fishing in the ocean.  Turning west to go up the river would have taken us to the west coast of Florida through Lake Okeechobee and various rivers, canal, and a couple of locks and a couple of bridges too low for us.  Not as much work today.  I did make Bloody Marys and cleaned up the pistachio shells we spilled at lunch.~~~(\_~~~D & M
Google Earth track file

This sums up a great day. Some areas had homes. Some were wider.
Most were like this.

Eau Gallie River to Vero Beach

Another quiet day.  Beautiful blue sky and a west wind in the morning for a while that seemed to help us on our way south.  Later it switched around to the north but got lighter.  We traveled from mile 915 to mile 952, Vero Beach.  The Vero Beach Municipal Marina has moorings that they rent for $11 a night.  You are required to allow folks to raft with you if there is a need (up to 3 per mooring).  We dinghied ashore and took the free bus to Publix for supplies (hadn't had a chance to shop in 2 days!!!).  At the Marina we got showers and Jay and Pegg did laundry.  We got ice for the beer and came back to the boat to find someone had been assigned to raft to us.  We had another nice dinner and, as usual, we (some of we, anyways) are ready for bed (Pegg and Martha are getting ready to watch a movie as I type...the males are going to "read").  ~~~(\_~~~D & M
Google Earth track file

Martha ventures from the cockpit to read and to get into the sun!

The view of Vero Beach mooring field from the bus heading to Publix. Note the rafted boats.

Returning to Brunelle we find a 45ft+ motor sailer rafted to us. They are headed to the Bahamas as soon as they can.

Mosquito Lagoon to Eau Gallie River entrance

Yesterday's storm and clouds were replaced by crystal clear skies and a pleasant west wind.  We were able to motorsail most of the day and made good time traversing the Indian River.  Very little traffic in either direction, so we were very surprised to pass a Monk 36 heading north whose hailing port was Spring Grove, PA!  Dan got on the VHF and began to chat with the "lady of the ship" as they tried to compare notes about SG.  I recognized the voice right away and kept trying to tell Dan, "It's Polly!"  They finally realized who each other was---"Flight" belongs to Ralph and Polly Bucklen who we have sailed with in the past!  They were on their way to Marathon to meet up with their kids but had mechanical trouble and realized they wouldn't make it, so were heading to a marina where they could leave the boat and fly to Marathon.  The rest of the trip was quiet except for the birdlife.   We seemed to have quite a following of gulls without doing any sort of chumming. Jay got bored enough to get stainless polish out and Dan felt guilty so he got the cleaner/polish for the dodger windows out.  We dropped anchor here at the mouth of the Eau Gallie River around 3:30 and look forward to the almost full moon. ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file

The entrance to Haulover Canal which was our pass from Indian River
North to Indian River.

A. Hitchcock's buddies following us just in case...

Pelicans standing guard as we go under one of the 8 bridges we dealt with today.

Daytona to Mosquito Lagoon on the Indian River North

We got away from Halifax Harbor at 9:15 this morning after filling the water tank, emptying the head "suitcases", and having breakfast.  The forecast for the day was not great but since we have places to go and people to see we headed off.  All went well until the George Munson Memorial Bridge in New Smyrna.  We had called for the 11:40 opening and got an OK but at 11:35 the weather we were watching hit with 30ish winds.  We were unable to keep the boat the way we wanted to in the tight quarters so we dropped anchor quickly (!!!!) and called back to the bridge to cancel the opening.  The bridge tender wasn't looking out the window, didn't hear the cancel, so he started to open.  We reached him finally but he hadn'tn noticee the squall or our scrambling around the deck!!  We made the noon opening (we were the only boat trying for it) and the rest of the day was uneventful.  We were with the current all day until New Smyrna then we spent the afternoon fighting a knot or so.  Finally rolled out the jib for a bit of an assist.  Today we went from mile 831 to mile 862.
~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file

Pelican Island (just south of Daytona) be thankful this isn't smell-a-vision!

Martha must be feeling better! (Thanks Pegg for being my purchasing agent)

Sunset was the best part of the day! "....sailor's delight"

Lambert Creek to Daytona Beach

Very short day, only 21 miles because we had a dinner date with Pegg's dad and his friend, Annie, who both live in Daytona.  We stopped at Halifax Harbor Marina and got diesel for $1.94, (who would have believed it last summer!!) and took a slip.  We had a lovely visit and got some laundry done to boot.  Annie cooked us a feast and we enjoyed exploring the Pelican Bay community.

            ~~~(\_~~~D & M

Google Earth track file
Had little room for fuel but topped off anyway at these prices (10
gallons of each is what we took).

Dan and Martha "navigating" down the ICW this morning.

Everyone below except for Dan who is taking the picture and "at the
helm" with his wireless remote!!

St. Augustine to Lambert Cove

Happy New Year! We're back! We flew down to Jacksonville on New Year's Eve and for the first time in 50 years, Martha did NOT see in the new year! New knees tend to make a person tired! We started preparing Brunelle for the next leg of the voyage after the New Year holiday which included a birthday party for Dan's brother Jay. We arranged to be hauled and washed today, so it was 1:15 before we left Camanchee Cove Yacht Harbor and headed toward the Bridge of Lions and on down the waterway. Our crew has expanded for this leg; Jay and his wife Pegg are with us for the trip to Key West. Dan received a new toy for Christmas, a remote for the autopilot and all SeaTalk instruments. Our late start meant we had to keep going past sunset to reach a spot where we could pull off, so here we are anchored off an abandoned cement factory.
Google Earth track file

Brunelle (note bikes have moved out of the "attic" to make room for Jay and Pegg) waiting to be hauled at Camanchee Cove Yacht Harbor, St. A

Jay supervising Brunelle's quick haul

Pegg and Jay practice steering from the bow with the new remote.