9-11 Mar, Pineda Causeway Bridge

 

   This was a new anchorage for us in this area. We normally move from Cocoa to Eau Galle, but we needed to get medicine for Rivah and we learned there was a new Costco at the Pineda Causeway I-95 exit. 

   The weather was cooperative so we anchored northwest of the bridge and took our dinghy into the Grills restaurant.

 

   This turned out to be a great stop. The restaurant had some great seafood and beer.

   It was a 9 mile walk out to Costco but they had Rivah's medicine and their was a sidewalk all the way for the walk. Mark was able to get a hotdog and ice cream sundae at Costco - plus a bottle of high test Kirkland Baileys. 

 

   Topping off our visit to Pineda was another Starlink launch. This one in the middle of the night, so no jellyfish, but a good red/white/blue trail.

 

   The phone camera doesn't focus too great on these night shots but the view from your eye is very impressive with a red/white/blue trail from the rocket up high in the sky.  

6-8 Mar, Cocoa Beach

   Next stop down from Titusville is Cocoa Beach.  We normally anchor off the city dock at Cocoa Village but there were two problems: one, the winds were blowing strong from the south so that side of the bridge is very rough and, two - the city dock has still not been repaired from hurricane damage a couple years ago and we confirmed there is no place to land your dinghy.

  Consequently, we anchored on the northeast side of the bridge and dinghied into shore on the beach side. 

 

   We were able to walk everyday on the Cocoa Beach side, walking to WaWa or 7/11 for coffee and an ICEE.  One day we walked all the way to the beach from the bridge. We thought it was 4.3 miles to the beach but were mistaken - it was 6.5 miles. So that was a 15mile day including the 2mile walk we did earlier in the day with Rivah. 

   We also took the bus over to the Cocoa Village side to visit the new brewery over there. 

 

03-05 Mar, Titusville

 

   Next stop down from Mosquito Lagoon is Titusville. We anchored off the mooring field and dinghy into the marina for a shower and trip to the brewery.

 

   We were fortunate, with a bit of planning, to be at Titusville for a Starlink rocket launch and it was quite spectacular because the launch was timed at one hour before dawn. That meant that it was dark for the launch but, once the rocket is up in the stratosphere the sunlight can reflect off the exhaust gases.

 

   The sunlight on the exhaust gases in space creates what's called - the "jelly fish" look. Its quite amazing.

 

   We were very lucky to be here at just the right time to see this event. 

 

   And a stop at Titusville has to include a visit to the Hardware Brewery. As good as always.

 

01-02 Mar, Mosquito Lagoon

 

   Just about 10 miles south of New Smyrna is Mosquito Lagoon, a place where the Indian River spreads out over a mile wide. It is all about 6-7ft deep and as long as the winds aren't too strong creating uncomfortable waves, you can anchor out in the middle of the lagoon with no other boats or houses around.

  We spent a full day and couple nights just sitting in the lagoon. 

   

28 Jan - 28 Feb, New Smyrna

 

 

   We finally made it to New Smyrna Beach. We're here for the month of February. We decided this year we would just stay in the city marina for the month and visit with Carol and Tara and tour around New Smyrna by stepping off the boat, rather than having to dinghy in from the anchorage every day. 

 

   Rivah is overjoyed to meet her old friends. She definitely remembers all those treats Carol always had for her. 

   Its always a joy to see Rivah meet her old friends. She definitely lets them know she has missed them.

 

 

 

   The best part of staying in the marina is it enables us to plug into shore power which means we can turn on our heat pump. It was 24degrees the night of 1 Feb but a toasty 68 inside the boat. We also get to plug in the electric blanket so the bed is warm when you jump in at night. This is the coldest we have seen it in Florida, even colder than we expect in North Carolina.  That's ice on the ground at the marina. Sure glad we are not out at anchor.

   

 

   We had 3 cold front blow through the month of February and were sure glad we were plugged in to shore power with heat for the month.

 

   Hopefully this is the last of the cold weather, on 21 Feb.  At least it is sunny and not raining. We can always throw on another layer and still walk the bridges.

 

  Its still a bit cool and breezy but sunny on the beach. Its a little over a mile walk to the beach from the marina. Easy walk. 

    We walk the bridges route most days, about 4.5miles. This is a photo of the anchorage area where we normally anchor when visiting New Smyrna. The dredging pipeline you see disrupted the normal anchor anchoring area and our normal spot was taken by anchor boat. Good thing we weren't planning to anchor this year.  

   There are more anchoring spots but they aren't as convenient to the town docks as this area.

    February is Daytona 500 week in this area and the Goodyear blimp was in town for the week, passing overhead as we walked around town. 

 

 

   In town for the month gives us time to refill the propane tanks. Its a little over a mile walk to the U-Haul shop where we can get the tanks filled. We were able to get both of our tanks refilled during the month we stayed. Fairly convenient. 

 

   Sue was able to take advantage of the 110v electricity and time at the dock to repair some of our canvas items that needed restitching. 

    A big job for Sue was to climb in the anchor locker and epoxy on a wood guard that would keep our anchor chain from hanging up on one of the bolts holding the new windlass in place.  The block didn't completely solve the issue so we have to still modify it some. Always a project to do.

   I also was able to tighten the packing gland on the shaft which needs doing a couple times per year.  

   And we defrosted the freezer and ran clorox through the water lines. All projects more convenient to do at the dock and with shore power.

    Feb is Mardi Gras month and New Smyrna has a great parade with lots of decorated jeeps, trucks, floats and lots of beads. 

 

   By the end of the month the temperatures were staying in the 70s and the sun out nearly every day. We had to check out the hamburgers and beer down at the beach - and, confirmed they were as good as everyone promised. 

    We also finally made time to have breakfast at the local people's diner. It was excellent and we see why it is full every day.

 

  But our month at New Smyrna was coming to a close and it was time to start moving on down the ICW. We heading out southbound on 1 Mar. 

 

      

 

20-27 Jan, St Augustine

    On our mooring ball in the St Augustine north mooring field, with the San Marcos fort in the background. 

   We arrived on a blustery day with the wind against the current, tough conditions for snagging the mooring ball pennant but, Sue got it on the first try without any problem. (We watched a trawler coming in later in the day that spent 45minutes finally getting properly attached). We like the north mooring field because it is closest to the marina, a short dinghy ride but, in northeast winds it is a bumpy and wet ride. Fortunately, we only had one day of strong NE winds. 

    Rivah is ready to hit the shore even though it was only a couple day trip down from St Mary's. 

   We decided to have breakfast at St Mary's before departing for St Augustine which meant we couldn't make it in one day so we anchored just off the ICW about halfway. Was a quiet night and easy transit with the current behind us to St Augustine.

 

    Walking Rivah down by the San Marcos fort. Nice sunny day but the temperature is only in the 50s in the afternoon.

    Stopping by the brewery on St George's Street. Sue also got some jalapeno popcorn on the strip but we passed on the Nation's Second Best pizza at $9 a slice (it is a big slice but...).  

    We were able to watch Johnathon's son Crewe race on Thursday BMX race night.  He finished 2nd in each of his races. A future star??

    Sue walked out to Aldi's for groceries (7 mile hike) and stopped by the Big Red Bus to donate blood along the way. 

 "I could live on that one," Sue told me. Not sure where we would dock the 70footer. 

   

    Soon it was time to push on further south for our reservations in New Smyrna. It will be a few degrees warmer there than St Augustine but, this is definitely not Florida weather. Running 35-40deg at night, which is a bit chilly when on a mooring ball with no heat. Fortunately the sunny skies lets the enclosed cockpit heat up some. 

    Heading south through the Bridge of Lions on another sunny day. Its a 2 day transit to New Smyrna, so we waited till mid-morning so the cockpit would heat up some. We'll spend the night at anchor around Daytona Beach. Supposed to be another cold night with temps in high 30s.

 

    This guy didn't make it safely through the Mantanzas shoals. Not clear what the problem was as the channel is clearly marked - and, he's not in the channel.  I wonder if he dragged at anchor upstream and the current brought the boat to this spot??

    We anchored just north of the northern Daytona Beach bridges. Was a quiet night until the north wind came up at 3am, blowing against the incoming tide which set up sharp waves banging against the hull. Conditions eased by 6am when the current shifted and the wind came down some, but it was a restless 3hrs listening to all the noises from the anchor chain, rigging lines, dinghy in the water, etc - and not wanting to get out of the warm bed in 30 deg weather to check anything out. 

    Sue, experimenting with her Google phone night shots. 

    Through the George Munson bridge and approaching the marina at New Smyrna.

    Finally at New Smyrna where we will stay in the marina for the month of February - plugged into shore power for heat thankfully as its forecasted to be 28deg this Sun and Mon mornings - but, at least we're not getting snow here. As long as the sun is out we'll be walking the bridges and enjoying the 50-60deg weather in the afternoons. 

14 - 19 Jan, Fernandina, FL and St Mary's, GA

 

   We arrived Fernandina mid-day after the 24hr offshore transit from Charleston. We're getting tired of these offshore passages, especially when they are cold, but a 24hr trip is lots better than 4-5 days winding through the Georgia grasslands with numerous shallow spots and 8ft tides to deal with, and with 40deg weather.

  We anchored right off the marina, which is normally a mooring field, but all the mooring balls have been ripped out of this area by storms. Eventually, Fernandina has great plans to renovate the mooring field and the marina.

 

   Welcome to Florida. The good news is it's not snowing or freezing (that comes later). The bad news is that it is still in the 40s and windy, which is cold on the water.  We're bundled up for a daily walk to get fresh produce, coffee and a beer.

   The other bad news we encountered is that Fernandina Marina no longer lets you use their showers and laundry if you are anchored - and still charges you a $10 dinghy landing fee. Everything is getting more expensive.  Fortunately, one of the dock hands that loved our dog told us to find him in the afternoon and he let us into the shower. A hot shower was great after our 24hr cold trip offshore.

 

  Even more bad news, our favorite brewery in Fernandina, the Amelia Island Brewery, with its great stout beer, has closed.  But that was only one of 3 breweries in the city so we walked the extra half mile to First Love brewery and had their stout, while sitting in the sun with our winter coats on.

 

   Being at anchor, there is no heat on the boat so its a great idea to do some baking that helps heat up the inside a little. Sue made these sour dough biscuits which were delicious, especially when nice and warm just out of the oven.

 

   No matter where you are, sunsets are pretty. 

      Despite finally being in Florida, the forecast for the weekend was for 31degrees and the possibility of snow. 

   We decided we needed to be plugged into shore power with heat for 30deg weather. Since we had never been to St Mary's and heard good things about it, we decided to drive up the river an hour and spend a couple days there, plugged in!

 

   Well it didn't snow here (it did in other parts of Florida) but the frost was deep on the docks. 

   The St Mary's Marina was great with good services, hot showers (not unlimited hot water though) and free laundry. Yes the machines were very slow and it took 2 days to complete our laundry but we're not complaining given the price. 

   The town had numerous restaurants that all had good reviews. No fast food joints in town - all of them are out by I-95. 

    Saturday morning was a washout with hard rain all morning (but no snow) then, it cleared up (warm and rainy or cold and clear are the choices here), so that afternoon we took a 7 mile hike out to get coffee and produce at Aldi's, then stopped at the one brewery in St Mary's, the Brackish Brewery. The selection was very limited - the owner said "we are not a micro-brewery, we are a nano-brewery."  They had just run out of stout so we had to settle for a jalapeno ale, which turned out to be quite good - and hot. Interesting glasses they have there. 

 

   Sunday was clear and cold. We made the 7 mile walk for coffee (there are closer places but the goal is the walk, not the coffee), then we relaxed on the boat with the heat on while getting our laundry done at the marina office.  

    Monday morning, cold and clear again, it was time to push off for further south. We are in no hurry this year so we had breakfast at a local cafe first, was great, and departed at 10am.

   On the horizon in the photo is Fernandina with its paper mill and wood processing plant which smell up the town.  

  Given the significantly lower cost of living at St Mary's, that would be my choice of where to live down here.

    Heading for St Augustine, which we won't make today, we have to cross the St John's River outside of  Jacksonville. Watched this car carrier pass right in front of us as we made the crossing of the river. 

    We had hoped to stop at the free dock at Sister's Creek near Jax but there was no room for us for a couple of disappointing reasons. On the left of the dock we have moored here on the inside before but now there is a sunken boat there. Being a free dock, it will be years before the derelict is removed. Meanwhile, on the right side that catamaran is midway between the trawlers leaving no room for another boat. If he moved fore or aft he could make room for someone else. C'est la vie, we continued on and anchored further on down the ICW.

    Tuesday morning and arriving at Lion's Bridge in St Augustine on another clear and cold and windy day. The wind is blowing from the north at 20-25kts and the current is flowing from the south and Sue is worrying about catching the mooring ball.

   Turns out she got it right off on the first reach and had it tied off in no time. Feeling pretty proud. She did a great job. We are here for a week hoping the temps will warm up. It is supposed to be in the 60s for the next week.