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.