Just another day in Vero

Just another fine day in Vero. Today I did some WORK!! Just a couple of projects that needed to be done. I troubleshot the stiff steering and once again proved the stiffness was not in the pedestal or cables. There really isn’t anything to adjust on the rudder shaft!! So I put it back together and adjusted the cables as loose as I could and the steering effort improved . Still not ideal but okay. I’ll wait till I get to some clear water then inspect from the underside.

I have had in termittant trouble with the fresh water pump sort of losing its prime and it just takes off and pumps its heart out without moving any water. One of the incidents caused the diaphragm to rupture. When you are under way with the engine or Gen Set running you cannot hear the pump. Thus I installed a small indicator light near the sink so that whenver the fresh water pump is running then the light is illuminated. If underway and we se the light on, we know it shoud turn off within 60 seconds or the pump needs to be reset. Not a big job but routing the wiring and not drilling any holes took about 3 hours.

Then I finished installing some battery straps on my 175lb 8Ds – like they could go anyplace!! Anyway they can be held in place if the boat turns turtle. Like I would worry about that huh??

This afternoon there was an impromptu Cruisers “appetizer” picnic that began at 3pm and went on – we left at 5pm. It was good – lots of taste treats brought by everyone.

Unfortunately the pictures I took were near the end and didn’t really capture the true size of the crowd here. I need to take a picture of the dinghy dock here. It is huge but still it was overflowing with dinghies this afternoon.

Time for a cup of soup and call it a night. I found a good book by Craig Dirgo which I’ll start tonight.

Ohh it is still cold here – only got up to 67 today and will dip to 49 tonight. Brrrr – definitely not Florida Weather.

Comfortable in Vero Beach

Just enjoying Vero Beach. Ohh it is so nice to be securely tied up in a sheltered harbour. Another strong cold front is coming through today and it is blowing 20 with higher gusts. Fortunately we are just 25 yds from the NW bank and that is the wind direction. Not bad with such a short fetch, of course we are moving around on the mooring.

We went to the Publix this morning using the local bus service. Really convenient. They pick up right at the Marina and drop you at the Grocery Store. Thirty minutes later they are back to pick you up or even an hour – about every 30 minutes.

They have lots of shops at that mall and the bus service has connections to Target, and Wal-Mart, and Lowes but you have to do a transfer which is no big deal – just takes awhile.

Back on the boat we had nice warm showers via the Genset to heat water and charge batteries. Showers are available here to the mooring crowd but it is $1.06 per shower per person. No big deal but just more convenient on the boat and since I have to charge batteries – why not heat the water. Energy management is the name of the game.

Which reminds me of a couple of decisions I made before we left that I thought were questionable. Should I replace the hailer speaker?? never used one before, and should I bring along the Origo alcohol heat PAL? Both have been excellent decisions that I have used extensively now and would recommend for other cruisers. The cold weather has been unusual but the Heat PAL takes the bite out and it is convenient. Just buy your alcohol from Lowes and not a marina -- $13 dollars a gallon at Lowes -- $28 dollars a gallon in Beaufort, SC City marina.

The hailer has been great. Not all folks leave their radios on like the couple we rafted to yesterday. But a friendly HAIL from the hailer got them on deck and we had welcome, helpful hands.


Just a short blog today.. Have already been invited to a Sundowner on another couples boat so got to get my “famous” deviled eggs ready and head over.

Sorry no interesting pictures today.

Finally here in "VELCRO Beach"

I almost feel like we have arrived!! Vero Beach today – on a mooring ball with one other boat – an Out Island 41 called Ten Years After from Canada. We only briefly met the couple on board when we arrived. They were on their way to the bus stop but delayed to handle our lines. We will meet them formerly later today.

This place has been called “Velcro Beach” because many cruisers who have weathered many a night anxiously worrying about their anchors holding, enduring bouncy, rolly anchorages feel very secure in here plus there is a free bus service (donations welcomed) that can take you just about anyplace in Vero Beach. Sometimes cruisers decide this is the place to spend the entire winter and don’t go any further south. That and the mooring fee is less than slip rental.

I took Karen on a brief tour of the place to get oriented. Not that I’m an expert – I’ve only been here once before and that was for only one full day!! It was the springtime too and a lot more crowded than it is today. Then there were three boats on every mooring, now only 2 –3 with one on a few moorings.

We plan to stay here through Thanksgiving but if the wanderlust becomes too strong we will move on before but I’m ready for a break. You can here the Velcro grabbing me right now.

Enjoy some pics taken of the mooring field from the boat. We are directly across from the fuel dock and an easy ride to Mega Dinghy dock here. We even have neighbors from New Bern, NC!! I also included one pic of one of the “slum” houses that adjoin the marina grounds here..

Ahh Safe Harbour at Dragon Point

Today was a surprise. The wind built much stronger than forecast.

We left in mild winds from Titusville then as the morning wore on I noticed more and more whitecaps. A couple of times the Wind Machine was showing 27kts then stayed above 20. The waves and white caps just built. Fortunately we were running with them so the ride was not uncomfortable but the steering was stiff with the waves directly behind to quartering on us. It was COLD too but we did not feel it in the full enclosure. Now I didn’t strip down to a T-shirt today but kept the sweatshirt on till we anchored in Dragon Point.

I was concerned with how rough it had become on the Intracoastal and the Banana River where Dragon Point is at the mouth and runs parallel. Through the binoculars I saw white caps all the way to Dragon Point and I thought in Dragon point. However when we got here there was just a mild ripple on the water even though the wind was still strong.

We dropped the hook with plenty of room – only 2 cruisers had beat us in. As I write this 4 more have arrived and are anchoring.

I’ve attached a photo showing the waves on the Indian River breaking on the north-facing causeway of Eau Galie, which the anchorage overlooks. I also show pictures of the peaceful water here at Dragon Point along with some playful dolphins that have been with us since we anchored this afternoon.

Ahhh tomorrow Vero Beach where will hole up for at least a week and spend Thanksgiving there. I’ve never heard of boaters being turned away there but there is a “crap” load headed there this week. I should probably plot an alternative landing just in case tonight.

Rocket Town U.S.A.

Titusville -- I love this place!!

I think why I like Titusville so much is because it embodies my two most favorite things as a child – trains and rockets!! It is directly across the Indian River from Cape Canaveral and the awe inspiring Vehicle Assembly Building. My favorite toy as a kid was a Cape Canaveral mock up with spring loaded rockets that were current at the time -- Redstone, Atlas, etc. I played for hours with that. Then when they renamed it the Kennedy Space Center – I never accepted it.. It was always “Cape Canaveral”!

Here in Titusville near the marina are now 3 space parks commemorating the astronauts that participated -- Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. The Mercury was the first and much better exhibit than the others but it is so cool to walk through each and read the names of the astronauts, their flight number/name/date and look at their hand prints captured in monuments. Hand prints of all but Gus Grissom who died tragically in Apollo 1 fire.

Across the street from the marina less than 100 yds is a train track which is the main line north/south. Trains pass up and down all day and night. It is near some crossings and a bridge right there on a curve so you hear the POWER, the screech of the wheels, and the train whistle sounding. I just love the sound of a train whistle at night..

There is another strong cold front passing through today and tonight so I had reserved a space here at the marina for today. It was getting a little bouncy in the anchorage shortly after we got up this morning but I moved into the marina about 9:30am before it really started to blow.

It is ROUGH here today. The boat is bouncing in the slip and just a bit uncomfortable but for all those boats on anchor it is very bad. Bouncing and the constant worry of an anchor breaking loose. Fortunately the holding is good and the anchorage is only 8 – 9 feet of water. Look at the picture of the anchorage with boats showing taunt anchor lines and flat flags!!

I took the slip for both the peace of mind and it would be easier to get the bikes off the boat. Today was the first day that Karen could ride her new bike and this town is so full of parks near the marina it is just great to get re-accustomed to bike riding.

We took the bikes to several stores and stocked up – liked we really needed to – NOT. But it is always nice to keep the larder full.

Tomorrow the high is only expected to make 63 degrees – whew cold by Florida
standards. Will get near to freezing but we have those custom “bug Rugs” Karen made
us so we will be toasty with no heat. Then again I can kick the 25K BTU heat pumps in
if needed.

Finally entering Central Florida -- TITUSVILLE

Just another day of ticking off the miles. The lead picture is what it's like to sail on a day like today without a full enclosure. We are in our T-shirts looking for ventilation!!

The waters around New Smyrna Beach have a reputation for shoals and we found one to 8 feet just passed R34 but no other problems after that. We saw a fire boat practicing with his high powered nozzle and that was cool. After that it was just a long day keeping the boat between the marks down the Mosquito Lagoon, Haul over canal, and the Indian River to Titusville.

We are anchored out front in mild conditions this afternoon. I have a reservation at the marina for tomorrow morning to weather the next cold front – and this is a great place to ride bicycles (Liquor store 1.5 miles away, CVS ½ mile, and the great SPACE PARK ½ mile away. Well maybe not in that order.

Ohh on the VHF I kept hearing a boat hailing “Sea Island Girl” on 16 – no response. I could tell they had already passed the bascule bridge here so I called “Sea Island Girl” on 9 (many times I switch to 9 to hail a bridge and don’t switch back to 16) and found it was the very Robert Wilson I had suspected. He took care of the call on 16 and then we chatted. He is heading for Vero Beach and we will meet there this weekend. Mark will remember this guy and his wife Carolyn from the IP38 Gypsy Common. Thanks for introducing me to these folks Mark!

The rest of the afternoon has been light maintenance of adding 12 gallons of diesel from the deck jugs to the tank. The Marina here is doing maintenance and has no fuel. I’ll have enough to reach Vero now. I also investigated why my steering has suddenly become stiff again. Haven’t uncovered the root cause yet but that will probably remain until Vero too. I also filled the alcohol heater this afternoon – I suspect I’ll need it in the morning AGAIN!! When will this cold weather end!?

We expect to stop at Vero Beach for a week and celebrate Thanksgiving there with some cruisers.

I need a buddy boat!!! I can’t believe how alone I feel with no buddy boat even though Karen is traveling with me. Hopefully I’ll meet on in Vero or Vic will finally catch up.

These pictures at the end are of a Personal Observatory seen near New Smyrna, I barge I shared the narrow part of Haul Over Canal with and a fractional picture of the anchorage here -- couldn't take the whole anchorage because it was backlit by the sun. Enjoy..

Just Slogging South through Daytona Beach.

Weather was not so bad after all. The potential was there for terrible weather yesterday – looked like we were going from 87 to 47 degrees in about 5 hours!! Severe thunderstorms were predicted and the sky was threatening. Well the evening was pleasant with only 5 kts of wind in the morning. The temp was 47 degrees too.

No strong winds expected today or tonight so we pushed off about 8am and headed south. It is just a long slow passage to and from and across Daytona. Lots of beautiful homes and a lot of not so nice scenery. There are only 2 good anchorages after Daytona until you hit two marginal anchorages in the mosquito lagoon before Titusville. We hit the first anchorage at Rockhouse Creek just before New Smyrna. Luckily there were no boats there yet so I took the sweet spot – very rarely I get to do that but then again it was only 2:15pm. About an hour later 3 boats came in then another and another. The last was a Trawler from CT and surprisingly?? I don’t think so – he took the most inappropriate spot being too close to us and another boat. I got my air horn out. I won’t complain now but in the wee hours if he is too close – look out!!

The day was filled with anxiety. When we hit the Main Street bridge in Daytona he told us he could only lift one span. So look at the picture and imaging heading through with one span completely horizontal -- very anxious – sorry we didn’t get a picture of that but my hands were full!!

Then there was the Ponce DeLeon Inlet junction. Skipper Bob was full of warnings about this area and we were heading through at 2 hours before low tide – not good. I had also read that some cruisers reported a dredge there back in April -- well that was the case. Even though the floating can buoys looked pretty Mickey Mouse they identified a channel that had at least 14 feet of water all the way.. Use the Intracoastal path and not the inlet pass.



Tomorrow we will head to Titusville for a day or two. Depends on the predicted strength of the next cold front due here Tuesday.

Enjoy the pics of the anchorage here before and after the “invasion”.