Patrick AFB to Daytona Beach

March 23 - April 6
Boat at Patrick AFB -  drove home to The Villages

Wednesday, April 08, 2015

We left the boat docked at the marina at Patrick AFB in a very protected spot while we took some time to drive home. It was a nice change to have a week off the boat at our Florida home to see friends and make sure the house was all closed up for the summer. Our place felt like a palace after living on the boat for so long!

Mark and Melinda are always so much fun to be with!
They appeared on our blog before when they visited us by RV in
Brewerton, NY.

 

Ron and Kathrin with us at our favorite BBQ spot.
We will follow their boating blog as we travel up the East Coast!
They were on our first blog page.

A pair of sand hill cranes walked across our lawn and on to our neighbor's.

Serenity was waiting at Manatee Marina and it was good to move back on board and get settled in again. It was also good that the commissary was right there so we could re-provision before we left. After a drive over to the beach where we could have a good walk, John returned the car and we were glad to get back to traveling on the water.

Serenity (left) at sunset docked at the Manatee Marina on the
Banana River, Patrick AFB

We were up early and cast off our lines just as the sun was coming up. We had to go south, back down the Banana River, and met with some Looper friends who had anchored on their boat, Mara Beel, on the river. We hadn’t seen them since they were in Bradenton in January. We waved, called to have the Mather swing bridge open and had an uneventful trip up the ICW to Titusville.

Early morning practice for members of a rowing team - the
boats say Canada

 

The Mathers on Mara Beel passing through the Mathers swing bridge
on the Banana River

 

Remains of a dragon figure on Dragon Point where the Banana River
meets Indian River - both are technically lagoons*

*A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by barrier islands or reefs.

We were joined by dolphins for a little while - so much fun to watch

Happy captain! We both enjoyed the beautiful day on the ICW

Our Gold Looper friends, Gus and Row, on Summerland were right next to us
at their home marina in Titusville and gave us a very warm welcome


Captain’s Log April 8, 2015

Departed: Manatee Marina at Patrick AFB 7:02 a.m.
Engine hours: 7.2 hrs. - 599.8 total for trip
Actual hours: 5 hr. 50 min
Miles covered 46.61  Total for trip: 4210
Arrived: Titusville Municipal Marina 12:50 p.m.
Wx: wind SE @ 5-10 mph, left at sunrise, clear, became hot in afternoon, no issues
Met up with Mara Beel at Mather’s Bridge, cruised with them the rest of the way

April, 9, 2015

It was another sunny Florida day at the Titusville Marina. A couple of other looper boats came in, Charis, Quo Vadimus and Joint Adventure and we greeted old friends. We watched lots of manatees and in the afternoon Mark and Becky drove us to the national seashore at Canaveral and we had a wonderful walk on the beach. There are 26 miles of pristine seashore along this protected area - the longest in Florida.

Ann, Becky, Kathy and Mark at the beach

 We all gathered in the late afternoon to share experiences because we hadn't seen some of our friends for a while...and that is what Loopers do!


Loopers almost always gather at 5:00                                  Photo by Ann S.
Ken, Foster, Susan, Becky, Mark, Jim, Kathy and John

Friday, April 10

An early departure for us in the morning seems to be the norm as we set out for Daytona Beach. We went back out on the Indian River along the ICW Channel. As we approached the short Haulover Canal to Mosquito Lagoon we heard the boaters ahead of us warning to watch for pods of manatees in the canal.

Previously we had learned that this is manatee mating season when they gather in groups and are much more active than other times of the year. We did see a lot of activity ahead of us, but they swam below as we approached. Looking back at the canal we observed them cavorting again.

Manatees surfaced as we entered the canal

We could fit under the Haulover Bridge, but these two sailboats behind
us had to call to have it open

Burgees flying from our mast - MTOA is for Motor Trawler Owners
Association, the second is from the Manatee Marina at Patrick AFB where
we became members, and the RSYC - Royal Savage Yacht Club of Vermont

Anhinga spreads it's wings to dry and warm itself in the sun

One bird we often see is the anhinga which is often called the snake bird because when it swims in the water only it's long neck and head show so it looks like a snake. They do not have oil glands like ducks do to keep their feathers dry and this allows them to swim deeper and longer. However, their wings get wet and they are too heavy to fly so they have to extend their wings to dry them and to warm their bodies...I sometimes wonder what they do on a rainy day. After passing New Smyrna Beach we arrived at Daytona Beach and the Halifax Harbor Marina, one of the largest we have stopped to stay. As we pulled in for some fuel and a pump out, I watched even more manatees up to their shenanigans.

Take a deep breath

Even manatees get barnacles on their hide.

We will be here at Halifax Marina for the next several days as we attend an MTOA Rendezvous. There are all kinds of seminars and events planned and we will meet lots of other boaters - should be a great week!

Captain’s Log Friday, April 10, 2015

Departed: Titusville Municipal Marina 7:00 a.m.
Engine hours: 6.4 hrs. - 606.2 total for trip
Actual hours: 6 hr. 15 min
Miles covered 48.28  Total for trip: 4259
Arrived: Halifax Harbor Marina at Daytona Beach 1:15 p.m.
Wx: left at sunrise, clear on departure, winds picked up by 11 a.m., very pretty cruise, Mosquito Lagoon, ICW through New Smyrna