It was nice and sunny when we departed from Vero Beach but we knew there was a cold front coming through so we were heading for the Banana River anchorage which has good protection from all wind directions except due north.
Just as we went under the bridge and turned towards the river entrance, the front overtook us with heavy rain and lots of close aboard lightening. Fortunately, no strikes on us.
We loitered about for a half hour waiting for the thunderstorm to pass over before entering into the narrow river entrance.
Very thankful for our full enclosure of the cockpit that keeps us warm and dry even in hard rain.
Soon we were in the protected river and anchored just north of the Mathers bridge. You can see the narrow Banana River provides good protection from winds except straight up to the north - which will become a problem in a couple days.
Our plan was to spend several days anchored in the river enjoying the protection and walks ashore but, the winds were not to cooperate.
From our anchoring spot we can dinghy into shore up a short canal that leads to a public park. At the park is the local rowing club and the rowers were out every day in racing canoes, single, double and 4-man sculls. They have 8-man sculls but we didn't see any out.
We had warm, short sleeve weather while in Vero but, with the cold front that blew through it was back to quite chilly temperatures and north winds on the beach.
With 20-30kt north winds forecasted, we decided to leave the Banana River and move up to the Pineda Bridge and anchor behind the protection of the causeway. This turned out to be a smart move as the waters were very calm despite the 20-30kt winds,
It was a smooth night as the wind howled and we played dominos enjoying the calm waters.
The only problem with the Pineda bridge anchorage is there was no where to go ashore. So the next day, as the winds came down some, we moved up to the next bridge at Cocoa Beach where we could dinghy ashore.
Anchoring on the southeast side of the Cocoa Beach bridge, the dinghy path takes you through a small, low cut through of the causeway to get to the dinghy docks on the northern side.
Walking to WaWa at Cocoa Beach, Sue noted the Big Red Bus blood donation bus. She donated blood and got a $20 WaWa gift certificate.
Next stop up the ICW from Cocoa is Titusville. With the winds now light from the northeast, we anchored on the southern side of the Titusville bridge.
This is a great spot to watch rocket launches from Cape Canaveral. You can see the Space Shuttle construction building in the photo.
We watched another Space-X satellite rocket launch from the Titusville bridge. I think this was our 6th Space-X launch we watched this trip.
A stop in Titusville means another trip to the Hardware Brewery for an IPA and stout. We were able to make it here two days in a row.
So, mechanically everything has been going great this trip - until we got underway from Titusville. Within a few minutes, the engine overheated and we had to clear away access to the engine compartment and investigate.
It turned out, the coolant hose within the hot water heater had sprung a leak and we lost all our coolant into the bilge. We were able to anchor, dinghy to shore and walk to Autozone for a short piece of radiator hose to bypass the hotwater heater. Then back on our way.
By the 23rd, we were back in New Smyrna where we will spend a few days.
Tides Inn looks pretty small next to the Nordhaven 55 trawler parked beside us. You really have to wonder why people want a boat (ship) this size just to cruise the East Coast.
