There was another SpaceX satellite launch on the 8th but we were down by Fort Pierce so we could only see the rocket contrail going up to the north. Too bad we couldn't have gotten up to Titusville to see the launch.
When we finally got to our anchoring spot at Titusville it was Fri evening and just in time for the local sailing club race night. Some 25 sailboats were out racing around the triangular course just off to our side.
Next stop up the ICW was New Smryna Beach where we anchor right off the town dock area beside all the live-aboard local resident boats. Our boat is the farthest one on the left.
We always stop at New Smyrna Beach to visit with our good friends Carol and Tara. We had them out to the boat for snacks and drinks, then off for dinner.
We had a great dinner with our friends at the local waterfront restaurant. Tides Inn is anchored just off the restaurant sitting there over Sue's shoulder.
It was soon time to keep pushing north and up through the opening bridges on the ICW.
We would normally visit with my nephew in St Augustine but they were out of town so we pushed through and on up to Fernandina and the Florida-Georgia border.
We were heading for Cumberland Island but ran into a delay at the ST Mary's River. When the ballistic missile submarines enter and exit through the inlet the USCG blocks off the channel. We had to wait a bit for the submarine to clear the channel ahead of us.
Escorting the strategic deterrence submarines is a big deal. Whereas the attack subs in Norfolk have 1 or 2 USCG small boats escorting their passages, the Trident submarine had 2 USCG vessels ahead and 2 more behind it and there were two large contractor manned vessels with lots of guns (and probably short range missiles) guarding either side of the sub. With 24 nuclear tipped missiles onboard its good to see the extensive protection.
After the short delay, it was less than an hour transit up to the anchorage area off Cumberland Island.
