Tuesday 12/27/11.  The highlight of the day was Linda and I walking to the Sunglow Pier and having lunch at Crabby Joe’s.  They had a delicacy on the menu I haven’t had in years…Frog Legs.  Linda made a feast out of two appetizers; fresh shrimp and chicken wings.  It was neat watching the different fishermen carry their gear through the middle of everything on their way to the pier.

Wednesday 12/28/11.    We took a taxi to Sea Love Boat Works because the repairs were finished and they were ready to “splash” us. Their mechanic, Craig Olsen, was in Orlando for the day so I asked if I could pull the props and replace the zincs.  The zincs are expendable collars of zinc that mount in front of the propellers for corrosion protection.  The zinc will corrode before the aluminum, thus protecting the aluminum outdrives.  George gave me permission and I went to work.  After pulling the port side props I noticed that there was a torn seal on the inner prop-shaft.  This really needs to be fixed.  Arrangements were made to have Craig replace the seals tomorrow.  Linda called back to the Days Inn and got a room.

Thursday 12/29/11

Linda, from Sea Love, picked me up on her way to work. Craig replaced all the prop-shaft seal on both out drives.  The work was completed by noon.  Then I offered to take him to lunch and we wound up at the Boondocks.  They have a fresh fish sandwich on a bun as big as a Whopper and the ½ inch thick fillet hangs out all the way around. GOOOOD!  After lunch George and his crew put TwoGether back in the water and we tied her up for the night.

There is another enterprise taking place at Sea Love.  Gary SwanHart, who is retired from law enforcement, makes outdoor furnishings with a life guard or surfer motif.  They are quite the item and are well built.  Gary’s business is called Lifeguard Lifestyle.  The deck at Sea Love has many samples of his items to enjoy as you watch the boats go by.  Gary was kind enough to give me a ride back to the motel.

Friday 12/30/11.    We got an early wake up and walked to Burger King for breakfast.  You can only take so much BK in a week!  We were checked out of the hotel in time for Linda, from Sea Love to pick us up and take us to the boat works.  I think if you look up “sweetheart “in the dictionary you would probably find her picture.  She has really been a life saver during this down time.  The two Linda’s really took to each other. 

By 10:00A we were refueled and on the way south.   Ponce Inlet has what I think is the prettiest lighthouse in Fl.   It is made of a brown brick and stands so majestically in the distance.  It is in a state park and is open to visitors.  As we left the Ponce Inlet area Linda tried to take a few pictures of it.

Soon after getting back on the ICW there were Manatee zones.  Putt…Putt…Putt… for over 15 miles of minimum speed.  It would be great if you ever saw a manatee.  We haven’t seen one yet.  I’m starting to think this zone thing is a compromise between the tree huggers (or manatee huggers) and the boating community.  But I’m all for saving them and must admit it would be heart breaking to know you hit one.  I remember in my teens one surfaced when my family was anchored in the Caloosahatchee River.  It hung around the boat eating water hyacinths then disappeared as quietly as it had appeared.

 

The waterway takes the Mosquito River for about 15 miles then you cross over to the Indian River through the Haulover Canal.  The cut is very narrow and on the Mosquito River side there were people fishing in everything from kayaks to 20 footers.  I was so intent on not running over the fishermen that I passed the entrance and had to circle back to enter the cut.  There is a draw bridge on the cut which opens on demand except it is closed during a space shot. I imagine that because the vehicle traffic is so heavy they want to keep it moving.

Speaking of draw bridges; just north of Titusville, FL is the Florida East Coast Rail Road Bridge (Jay Jay RR Bridge).  This is a remote control bridge.  There is usually no bridge tender present.  The note on the chart reads; “The bascule span is normally in open position, displaying flashing green signals for water traffic movement.  As a train approaches, signals change to flashing red, siren gives four blast, pauses, and repeats four blast etc.  After an eight minute delay, the bridge lowers and locks if scanning equipment revels nothing under the bridge.  When the train has cleared, the bridge span raises and signal changes to flashing green for water traffic”.

We anchored for the night just outside the channel about a mile south of the bridge.

Titusville Anchorage:          N28° 38.635  W080° 48.538

Saturday 12/31/11.  We woke up to a clear crisp morning with a light breeze.  In the distance you can see the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center.  The Indian River is 121 miles long and 1 to 2 ½ miles wide.  Our trip will go about 115 miles of it.  The channel is straight for long distances and the markers can be quite a distance apart.  Because the channel is so far from shore there are no slow speed zones.  We are making good time.  Linda was fascinated at how they have these large electric lines strung across the river. 

We have made good 57 miles today.   All along the river there are spoil islands where the material dredged from the channel is laid.  Many of these have been around for years and have a real growth of trees.  You can boat out and have your own private island.  There is one of these islands just a few hundred yards from where we are anchored.  We can smell the smoke from the camp fire. 

Sebastian Anchorage         N27 52.583   W080 29.189

Christmas Eve Linda and I explored the beach.  About a half mile south are the Sunglow Pier and Crabby Joe’s Bar &Grill.  Half way out the pier is Crabby Joe’s.  The far end of the pier is for fishing.  To get to the fishing pier you must walk through the center of Crabby Joe’s.  So you will see fishermen, with all their paraphernalia, stroll through the restaurant on their way for their days catch.   The catch of the day seemed to be Whiting, ranging from 14 to 18 inches and are quite tasty.  If you’re in a hurry to sample your catch the Crabby Joe’s chef will cook it up right on the spot!

After we came down off the pier I spotted seaweed laid out in very straight lines about six feet long.  I had to check it out.   It was the border on a picture made of seaweed.  I went back up on to the pier and got a look.

Christmas Day was spent walking the beach collectiong sea shells or sitting on the balcony watching others walking the beach or swimming in the pool.  It was surprising how many people came to bask in the sun or play in the waves on Christmas Day.   For many local families it’s their tradition. The temps were around 80 and the wind was calm making it was the perfect day to enjoy the beauty of nature.    

We saw an airplane pulling a banner

 “Julie... will you marry me?... Bob”.      

I wonder how that worked out!

While walking we met a lady named Carol who was here with her family from NJ.  She and her husband are boaters and she shared stories about how she would take her 21 foot boat out by herself and go fishing near Long Island NY.  On the Fourth of July they would anchor out near the Statue of Liberty and watch the fireworks.

We called our son and daughter-in-law to wish them a merry Christmas.  I put us on speaker phone and we were telling “Sharon” all about our great time in Daytona Beach and she was chiming right in with the conversation.  Suddenly she said “I have no idea who I’m talking to”.  I had dialed a wrong number and the girl sounded so much like Sharon we just started jabbering on about our adventure.  We all got a big laugh out of it and wished each other a Merry Christmas.  She was a great sport.

Monday 12/26/11.    The morning was very cool, breezy and overcast.  The repairs should be finished today however the forecast is for rather high winds (gusts of 25-30) today and tomorrow.  Sea Love Boat Works agreed to leave us on the hard until Wednesday.

Wednesday 12/20/11.         Last night after we set the anchor Linda said she thought she could smell oil again.  I checked and there was a little on the Oil-Dry pad I keep under the engines.  Apparently we had two leaks and only fixed one.  This one appears to be oil from the drive unit.  I made a call to Captain Bob James and Dennis Sparks, at Dare Marina, (the mechanic in Yorktown, VA) for a consultation and we decided it ain’t gonna get better.  Bob works with Towboat US in this area during January. He got me in touch with the local Towboat US owner for recommendations on local marinas.   

A few more phone calls and we were headed to Inlet Harbor Marina in Ponce Inlet, FL to meet Craig, a local mechanic. It was determined we will need a haul out. Inlet Harbor doesn’t have a lift big enough (sounds familiar) so arrangements were made to be hauled out the next day at the neighboring marina, Sea Love Boat Works.                       

 

Cruising through the Daytona Beach area brought back a lot of memories for both of us.  I lived here in 1956 when I was in the third grade.  And then we moved here in 1972 when I attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. 

While surfing the net a few years back and searching for pictures of Daytona Beach, I found a picture of the Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church.  I remember going there as a kid in my Dad’s light blue ‘55 Ford Fairlane.  Then it hit me….I’m the kid in the back seat!!  I have no idea who took the picture 55 years ago; but it ended up on the web. 

In the meantime there is laundry to be done.  Inlet Harbor has a no charge washer and dryer available.  After the clothes were in the laundry Linda said “This is the first day of winter”.  “Bet they aren’t doing laundry outside at home”.

Thursday 12/21/11.              After lunch at Down the Hatch Seafood Company, Sea Love Boat Works hauled TwoGether out and Craig confirmed there was a leaking oil seal on the drive shaft in the upper gear housing.  It was decided to do both drives since there was a spot of oil under the other engine.  The crew there was great. Linda (of Sea Love) took us under her wing and called different hotels to find us a room.  The local police and fire department enforce an ordinance that you can’t stay on a boat that is “on the hard”.  She even gave us a ride to the hotel after work.

 
While we were sitting under the pavilion we were in fear of our lives when we saw a dinosaur!  This has to be the smallest chameleon (Green Anole) we have ever seen.  At most, it was an inch and a half long.  Years ago when we lived in Ft. Myers, FL, Charlie the Chameleon lived in our house.  He made himself at home and would startle guests when he would climb a curtain.  Linda even set out water in a bottle cap for him.  They make interesting pets and eat bugs.

We moved into the Days Inn in Daytona Beach Shores.   Walking on the beach was a welcome respite from the daily riggers of cruising.

Friday 12/23/11.       There was a beautiful sunrise this morning.  Soon the shorebirds became active.

During breakfast at Burger King there was a regular customer who appeared to have a mental disability.  The lady behind the counter called him by name and asked him if he wanted coffee and he answered “Yes. That’s all I can afford today”.  She got him his coffee and then gave him a breakfast platter on a tray.  She took super care of him while he was there.  It was moving to see her compassion in this day and age when we tend to just look the other way.

We went for a long walk on the beach and watched two guys on jet-skies jumping the breakers.  It was cool because those guys could really “catch air”. It’s nice that they have designated a public jet-ski area.  They were far enough from the shore the pictures were fuzzy.                     

Then we met a young couple from northwest Georgia on the beach. She was making a miniature snowman out of sand. 

Lunch was at the Cracked Egg Diner.  Only open for breakfast and lunch, and owned by two young brothers, it has been voted “Best Diner in Central Eastern Florida”.  The food was great, the prices reasonable and the portions BIG.

Linda is loving this.             No Cooking...No Cleaning…No Navigating.

Sunday 12/18/11.    Our 50^th day we are in FL.  …. The north shore of the St Marys is in GA and the south shore is in FL.  We said good bye to Mr. Wilson and started eastward on the St Marys River.  There is a shoal that comes out past the markers after a turn in the river and guess who touched bottom.  But the GPS was working and showed the error of our ways. (Notice when there is a problem its “our”.)  My trusty navigator had me make a quick turn to starboard and sure enough the water got deeper. 

The ICW skirts along the eastern edge of Duval County so we should not have to deal with the heavy commercial and Navy ship traffic in and out of Jacksonville, except for the ¾ mile crossover of the St. Johns River. 

Studying the charts there are few really good anchorages along the ICW in this stretch.  We have to figure the distance we usually travel and see if there is anything close.  Some days will be short so we don’t end up between suitable anchorages at sundown.  Today will be one of the short days.  Tonight will be spent anchored alongside the ICW, outside the channel, on a wide turn, 1/4 mile north of the St. Johns River in Sisters Creek. Just across the ICW is a county park with large floating docks, a lighted parking lot and restrooms, but you’re not allowed to tie up there overnight.

Sisters Creek:           N30° 23.722  W081° 27.347

Monday 12/19/11     FL is manatee country.  Along with the charts we also have a copy of the county-by-county Manatee Protection Zones.  These are basically speed limits listed as, Idle Speed; Slow Speed Minimum Wake; Slow Speed outside the ICW and 30 MPH in the Channel.  The state does a great job of marking the areas with large signs for boaters.  I’ve not quite figured how the manatees know which is which.

The crossing of the St Johns went easy enough except for a bit of a contradiction.  Sisters Creek meets the St. Johns making a T.  On the one corner there is a large ship building company and the ships obscure the entrance to the river. On the pillar of the draw bridge, just before the entrance, there is a sign warning that there is a dangerous intersection ahead and to give way to large vessels on the St Johns River.  It also tells you to cross the channel without delay.  Then when you come out the other side of the bridge there’s a sign for a slow speed manatee area.

What a difference 50 miles can make. Just taking cursory look at the landscape the savanna lands look much the same.  However I noticed some subtle changes.  The cord grass we saw in much of GA, covered square mile after square mile.  Sometimes there were stretches that went on to the horizon hiding the meandering waterway.  There was almost no visible land.   Clumps of trees were way off in the distance.  The cord grass, that looks almost like skinny bamboo stalks, was six to eight feet tall and grew in extremely dense clumps.  There is no way you could walk through it.  Birds, fish and dolphins were the only wildlife in sight. 

Now, in northern FL, the grass is two to three feet in height. While still dense in places you could walk through or around it on visible land. There are clumps of trees several acres in size and even large wooded areas growing near the water’s edge.

As we neared the place where we had planned to anchor we noticed a large cloud of smoke ahead.  It appeared it might be where we were going.  It turned out to be a grass fire about one mile north of an ox-bow section of the Tolomato River that circled Pine Island, our destination.  After dark we could see the light from the light house at St Augustine.

Pine Island    N30° 03.095  W081° 21.916

Tuesday 12/19/11.   Today is St. Augustine; the oldest city in America.  The channel here is narrow and turns you toward the Atlantic and then doubles back toward the skyline of the beautiful city of St Augustine. 

The first thing you notice is the sun lighting up the Great Cross of the Mission Numbre de Dios.  This cross, which rises 208 feet above the surrounding marshes, was erected and dedicated in 1966 in celebration of the establishment of the mission 400 years earlier in 1565. 

Next sight is the massive Fort Castillo de San Marcus. Construction  started in 1672 and took 23 years to complete. 

Then the city skyline made up mostly of Spanish architecture in the old-town.

This is also the northern end of the Matanzas River.  There are turns in the channel of the Matanzas River that are a constant shoaling problem.  Near Ft. Matanzas, 14 miles south of town, there is a thirty foot high ridge of sand, about a quarter mile long, where the dredged spoils have been laid.  It really stands out in a terrain that is flat and barley above sea level.

We passed through the area known as Palm Valley.  This is a straight man made cut lined with very large homes similar to those we saw in Myrtle Beach SC.  However, there is a strange phenomenon that takes place here.  The people who live here only cook meat on one side! ... It’s true! … Look at the picture and you’ll figure it out .

Okay, if you didn’t get it…All of the houses are on one side of the water way.  So they only cook meat on "one side".  (This was pulled on me by Linda’s Grandmother Mable [we called her Bable] as we drove through Toland, Pa, where all the houses are on one side of the road and the garages are on the other)

Just south of Flagler Beach is the J. B. Knox Bridge.   Linda called and requested a bridge opening and the bridge tender said keep coming Cap’n.  This is one of the bridge tenders who try to time the opening with your arrival.  Just as the bridge started to open I realized I didn’t have any power steering.  Then I saw the port engine had quit. 

Now the bridge is almost fully open we’re only about 200 feet away and the starboard engine quit.  Now we are adrift with an open bridge and the wind blowing us back away from the bridge.  We had run out of gas in the main tanks.  Linda called the bridge tender and apologized and told him what happened.  We dropped anchor in the channel and I’m rushing back to switch the valves to the auxiliary tanks.  In the meantime a Canadian sailboat called for an opening.  The bridge opened again and the sailboat slipped by just 10 feet from our starboard side.  The bridge closed and now I have our engines running and half embarrassed to ask for another opening in less than 10 minutes.  Matter of fact when I called the bridge he refused to answer.  But when Linda called he said “No problem Cap’n bring ‘er through”. 
That’s enough excitement for one day.

It’s now getting late and there is really no place to anchor.  Outside of the channel there is two feet of water.  So we continued another hour to the wide, but shallow, Halifax River.  After several tries we finally found a place at Green Marker 13 where we had five feet at low tide about 100 feet outside the channel.  Splash went the anchor…This is home for tonight.

Halifax River:            N029° 18.750           W81° 03.752