Bigger and bigger and BIGGER

The houses and the boats are getting bigger.

Sunday November 30th no adventures so far

Yesterday we left Palm Beach Gardens about 10:15. We cleared two opening bridges and headed for The Blue Heron Bridge. The height of all Bridges at high water is suppose to be 65 feet. We saw just under 64 feet. Since there were no waves and we draw 63' 3" now we proceeded slowly. 

We hit the bridge hard backed up immediately and checked for damage. Everyone on the boat was OKAY and the boat was OKAY. We decided to go back North to the North Lake Worth anchorage. We had a very pleasant day and night sandwiched between Tiger Woods boat.

And Jack Nicolas's home. I do not know exactly which is his so I will just include this one.

This morning we passed under the bridge at low tide 8:23 and proceeded on our way.

The offending bridge from the south.

The boats are getting bigger.

Saturday and another adventure but first Friday's Adventure

Yesterday we hit a bridge The Ernest Lyons Bridge. We bend the VHF and took the Tri-Light/Anchor Light off, but not down.

So this morning Trish went back up to investigate and found the base had torn part still on the top of the mast and part on the light which was hanging over the side. While the light still worked Trish was not able to set it up so she taped it and came down.

We were staying at Loggerhead Club and Marina Palm Beach Gardens. This morning I looked around and found America was docked there for the winter. Here are some pictures Trish took from the top.

November 28 Day 95

Yesterday was The American Thanksgivings Day. We went to the Vero Beach Cruisers Party. The cruisers who have sold their boats and settled in Vero Beach cook the potatoes, ham and turkeys. The cruisers bring side dishes, salads or disert.

I hope to have pictures soon. Our internet is not good enough to send them from the computer to the IPad.

The pictures have arrived

Today we are headed for Hope Sound just past Stuart.

I will look and see if the is a non party picture I could send to keep everyone interested.

Day 2 of a 4 day stay at Vero Beach

Today we took the free bus to the store, had lunch then to the beach.

Vero Beach North Mooring Grounds

The Atlantic Ocean 

Kelly fitting in well in Florida

Kelly is actually hot and put on shorts.

Vero Beach

As I have said we really feel we are in Florida. Now the houses seem to be getting bigger.

Day 91 I think and it is feeling a lot like Florida

We left Eau Gallie today for Vero Beach. Last night we ate at a very nice restaurant Squid Cheeks. I had shrimp which was excellent. As an appetizer we ate Conk Fritters which were good but did not have a lot of taste.

It is overcast but not raining and the sun is really tring to come out. It is hot and humid. The te pasture is about 80 or in Canadian 26 or 27. The humidity is in the 90's.

Eau Gallie

A peaceful scene on the ICW

Laying in wait.

Titusville on to Eau Gallie

We got into Titusville in time for me to walk over to the Catholic Church for 5:00 Saturday Mass. Regrettably not in time for me to find the church. I found it easy enoght on the IPad map, walked over, but no church. I think they ran a thrift shop there but not sure. It turned out the church was 4 miles away. 

I had asked if there was a restaurant near by and was told they generally just went to the one under the bridge. On the way home from the nonexistent church I headed for the restaurant. It was to far even if the park had not been fenced off for a concert. I got Kentucky Fried for Kelly and at the grocery store shrimp for Trish and I.

This morning is not the best of days. There is no reason to stay here so in the overcast we are headed for Eau Gallie. We tried to get into the Yacht Club but we're told we could not come without talking to the membership lady who would be back on Tuesday. We will stay in the basin.

I did get a picture of a group of Wood Storks before we left.

Be thankful for the little things

It is Saturday the 22nd of November. We are motoring from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Titusville. I cannot tell you exactly what the wind is but most likely 20 knots. It is from the east. We are in an open part of the ICW and thus exposed to the wind, wave and spray. Thanks to our enclosure we are warm, dry and comfortable.

And thanks for the auto pilot.

Day 89 (I think) and Life continues to be an Adventure

Two days ago Trish and I fixed up our boat tilter and had it all ready for yesterday. During the night I woke up concerned something could go wrong. I decided to change plans. When we got up the decission was made to send Trish up the mast to retrieve the wind instructments. By my calculations the top of the mast is just over 63 feet. The trilight is 2 1/4 inches. This makes the mast 63' 3" not counting the VHF antena which is 66 and bends. 

We went under 5 bridges all at high tide. The VHF banged and bent but did not break.

Life continued to present challenges. As we approached the Marina we were going to stay at we went aground in the middle of the channel. We tried the right side then the left side to no avail. The Marina sent a boat out and we followed her in. This made four groundings. We headed for another port. It is starting to feel and look like Florida. Both Trish and I put shorts on today. Here are some pictures of Inlet Harbor Marina.

more from Marineland

Yesterday we went to Marineland just across a road from the Marina. we got to pet and feed a Daulphin . It was really cool.

We also saw Sharks.

Turtles

And Birds

Marine land Marina

In an attempt to get away from the cold we went to St Augustine's on Monday. We where fine but nothing to report. We had luck with the tides and went under 4 or 5 bridges without touching. Tuesday we came to Marineland Marina. We decided to stay three nights and rest a bit go shopping in the courtesy car and cross the road. Across the road is the beach, the ocean and a Marineland training center.

Today Thursday we went and saw the Dauphins. We got to pat them and feed them, very cool. The pictures are on a CD which I have not been able to download yet. I will get some of the Dauphin pictures I took, but they are not ready yet either.

Tomorrow we have several trouble bridges, so we have rigged out tilting system and are ready ti go.

On Tuesday when we turned the heat on it would not go. Fortunately we had a couple of small portable ones and where ok. The next day we got the name of a company who could fix it. While Al was fixing the boat we went shopping. I left Trish and Kelly at the Publix and went to Lowes. I then got losses. Finally found the ladies and all is OK.

I will see if I can find a couple of pictures.

Fernandina Beach

We got to Florida today and where met not by cold weather but cool. We had a very nice dinner in a quaint tourist town. To get to dinner we did have to cross some railroad tracks. It is really an industrial town.

On the way we passed a very large submarine base but did not see any.

We have seen a lot of birds. The birds and the number seem to be getting larger.

The next two pictures are a little out of sequence. This is Trish and I at dinner on Isle of Hope.

Here is Trish and Kelly at lunch in Savanah

November 15 Florida

Today we will stay in Florida. We are doing this for a couple of reasons. First it is cold and we decided to hurry south. Second it is the 15th and Thanksgiving in St. Mary's is 12 days away.

On the way to Fernandina Beach kelly saw some horses. I tool a picture hope you can see them.

We did not go under this bridge but did go over it last March on our way to St. Simons Island.

On the way Kelly's life jacket gave out and decided to open. We all had a good laugh after the shock wore off.

Next we passed a large submarine base, but did not see anything.

We are almost there so I had better pay attention.