This is an OLD town and full of things to do

Swinging on the mooring ball

St. Augustine was settled in the 1500’s and has a museum or landmark on every corner. It is the oldest town in America and we think it deserves a week’s stay. Plus, the same storms that have hit Nashville the last couple of days are now expected to make the weather here stormy and more importantly the weather north of us even shakier. So, we are swinging here on a mooring ball in the shadow of The Bridge of Lions in downtown St. Augustine, doing some sight-seeing, maintenance and taking it easy. This weekend promises a city Art Crawl/Wine Tasting and we plan on doing something touristy every day. Yesterday we visited the Lighthouse—today the San Sebastian Winery—tomorrow the Fountain of Youth (or maybe the Spanish Fort Castillo de San Marcos). We have the bikes out and find them useful plus we bought Trolley tickets that will take us to the beach and around town with the historical narrative. So we have been to the store, gotten a haircut (thank heavens-no more clown angst!) and done the laundry. Bottom line—we have seen the sites and been productive. Additionally, I had the best Sangria at the bar across from the dock (A1A Café). All in all a nice stop.



St. Augustine Lighthouse



Veiw from the top

50 ft. Go Fast Boat --I swear we saw this silver boat in Ft. Lauderdale

As good a sunset as we will get on this coast

The tallest building here--built as a Hilton Hotel

New Smyrna Beach to St. Augustine

We left out this morning and had 70 miles to go and the engines needed to be “blown out” (they do not necessarily like the slow speed we have been going. Additionally, it was a calm morning and the current was going against us, so the Captain called an audible and decided we would go out on the Atlantic rather than stay in the protected Inter-Coastal Waterway. There were factors to consider including the fact that we would bypass Daytona Beach (we were there just last year), it could be rough, we cut off 10 miles and we could go fast. So we took the Ponce de Leon Cut to the Atlantic and ran on the outside. It was a little rougher and not scenic (no homes, dolphin, just seagulls). Elizabeth had gone to the old neighborhood and taken lots of pictures and posted them on Facebook—it was a great stroll down memory lane. Plus Kate posted birthday pictures so we had lots of time at sea to look at those. About half way we got approached by the Coast Guard (no stopping-just yelling across boats) who quizzed us. They wanted to know where we were going/where we had been, had we been out of the country and did we have any business with the sailboat that we could see up ahead. Between the 2 of us we came up with the answers to their questions and must have answered correctly because they said to have a nice day and turned around and left us. I wish I had gotten a picture, the young man looked just like our nephew Ray Fitzpatrick and was as polite as you could be while yelling across boats and ocean waves. It was a little exciting and I must say, all I could think about afterwards was what my mug shot would have looked like. Since I wear a hat all the time now my hair sticks out to the sides like a clown—I must get a haircut. Now we are resting in St. Augustine in the shadow of the Bridge of Lions—more from here in the coming days.


Pelican Island at New Smyrna



Ponce de Leon Light out at the Cut

Ocean marker with a bell inside

New Smyrna Beach

We had a really nice anchorage at Cocoa Village and got up early to roll—we had 50 miles to go with a few bridges –one is 7ft high! After a surprise Skype with the Grandbabies and their Moma and a call from Nick we settled back for a nice relaxing cruise up the ICW knowing all was well back home. Overhaul Canal near Cape Canaveral was especially busy –but we know busy and it didn’t match Ft. Myers on a Sat. morning. Cape Canaveral seemed really empty—I guess it has been hit hard with gov. cutbacks. All the locals were out and the wind (even though promised to be relatively calm) really kicked up. A saving grace was that we had a strong current going our way so we still made good time and pulled into New Smyrna Beach Municipal Dock around 3pm. We decided to pull into a marina so we could watch the NASCAR race tonight. There are so few Saturday night races that we thought this might be fun. Next door to us is the UT catamaran and behind us is a playground for Dolphin.





Everybody had one --a derelict, seemingly abandon, sailboat

Cape Canaveral was not busy-- perfect weather on a  Saturday still empty

7 foot railroad bridge--it was open when we got there

Overhaul Canal--all the locals were out

Exiting Overhaul Canal

Our Neighbor at New Smyrna Beach--a UT Fan?

Leaving Vero Beach

We left out of Vero early this morning and it was pretty hard to leave the fun town with its perfect weather and mooring. Last night we dingy-ed over to the business district of Vero and had a great burger and shrimp at Mr. Manatee’s. But today we head north and follow Orchid Island with its beautiful homes,on to Melbourne and a lot of sandy little islands on the ICW. For a Friday with great weather there was very little traffic. We had no bridges that we couldn’t fit under so we made really good time. There were several dolphin sighted but none to be photographed. Here in Cocoa Village (just south of Cape Canaveral on the ICW) we will anchor for the night. Right now the winds can’t figure out which way they want to blow but it doesn’t matter as long as there is some breeze it is really nice. We are on the Indian River and won’t go past Cape Canaveral because it is actually down another river –the Banana River on the other side of Merritt Island between the mainland and the Atlantic. Sending good thoughts to the Norris’s in Cookeville—they have a big birthday party tomorrow (Leeton’s was last week, Holden’s is next week) and it sounds like they will have a packed house.

Typical Orchid Island Home

Party Sandy Island--reminded us of our Watts Bar Friends

Melbourne

Getting a new roof

Cocoa Village from our anchorage

Marinas, Anchorages, Moorings and Weather just get better and better

We are taking a slow walk up the east coast of Florida –no temps under 60 degrees—and as of yesterday we have gotten out of the gusty winds—at least for now. Vero Beach is a great place for exploring by dingy, bike riding –no big hills in Florida-- and lots to see and do. We are a short bike ride from a huge Veterans Memorial Park flanked by Vero Museum of Art and a theater now playing How to Succeed in Business without Trying. We have moved to the mooring field beside the mangroves and still have a good breeze and a little more privacy. This is the first place we have seen the Spanish moss on the trees —it is really pretty. We have had a great dinner at the Riverside café— paella for me and yellow tail tuna for Fitz—and tonight we are going to Citrus on the beach. We can bike pretty easily to the Atlantic beach (about 5 blocks but across the busy A1A highway so we will come and go before it gets dark. Does that officially make us old-timers if we go for the early bird specials? We are debating a couple more days here in Vero—may wait until Friday to head to St. Augustine.

Fitz with a little dingy in the background

Veterans Memorial Park

Vero sunset

Exercise

Our view from the mooring field--Dolphin play in this area

Perfect Weather

The weather here in Vero Beach is absolutely perfect for this middle aged woman—a little on the cool side for the Captain. It is very comfortable in shorts and a T-shirt for most of us but there are those with long sleeves and light jackets. It is breezy but we are in dock so that makes no difference but we went to the beach and decided we would not want to have the sand blowing in the breeze so we merely observed from up wind. We used the free bus to go to Ocean Blvd and the bus let us out at Waldo’s Driftwood Resort which is a hotel/restaurant/art gallery founded in the 1930’s by Waldo Sexton. It was a fun place to start and offered $5 margaritas (which we partook of after lunch—great!) We walked down Ocean and found the nice restaurants Brennon told us about Ocean Grill and Citrus-- hope to get back to one of these for dinner—they had an elegant lunch crowd. Oh my, is the exclusive (read high price and elegant) shopping fun. Since we moved out of our home, I have been able to resist buying any nice clothes or home goods but they sure were fun to look at. We found a little outdoor place called Casey’s that emanated wonderful aromas -- you got in a line and ordered a sandwich and found a table. Great sandwiches were had and we shared a table with a delightful couple who had just moved to Vero Beach from Miami the day before. We complimented them on their change of venue. Back on the bus and home for a nap and blog—got to watch out for those midday $5 margaritas!

Waldo's

Nice sign

The Beach

A Mclaren--I had not hear of it, Fitz was impressed with it

Nice Store

Vero Beach

Happy Easter! We got up and rolled northward to Vero Beach on what promised to be a bright sunny, calm day….Not…The weather people and apps have pretty consistently been off this entire trip. It was a little choppy and a lot overcast but I think it kept the holiday traffic on the water down so it was fine. Left behind were also the huge mansions and yacht docks so the camera didn’t quite get the workout as before. We got into Vero Beach, gassed up (a little sticker shock there) and got into our slip by 3:30pm. The sun finally came out. Vero Beach is the favored Florida destination for our niece and nephew – Liz and Brennon Fitzpatrick—so we are hoping to get some tips on the places to see and restaurants to hit. So far the dock people have been great and got us in unscathed in a blustery wind. Our neighbors came in right after us --they had bow thrusters so they were in a little easier—we call thrusters cheaters. We have caught up with our mail and packages (maybe we have finally learned how to do that!) and we plan on staying here a couple of days at least. Loopers call Vero Beach-- Velcro Beach because people come here and have a tendency to stay.

Stuart /Manatee Pocket/Port Salerno

The little fishing village (Port Salerno) an easy bike ride from Sailfish offered many treasures. We found the Art Gumbo Gallery www.artgumbo.biz that had several small shops with at art of various local artists. If you like nautical/seaside art this is your place and in several different mediums. Photography, shells, water colors, jewelry, etc plus there was a bar to get a beer. Nice. Then we went to a little hole in the wall for a late lunch that had been recommended called King Neptune. I am not a Reuben Sandwich type but Grouper Reuben was their specialty and I have heard about them up and down Florida so I tried it. It was probably my favorite meal since our trip started. Who would have thought!? Then we left and next door was a boating salvage store where we found a flag pole and lighthouse lamp. Then riding home we went by a waterfront park that had a kid’s birthday party going and a lot of people sitting out enjoying the afternoon. Good way to end the afternoon if we couldn’t be in Cookeville enjoying that party.

King Neptune's

Nautical Salvage Store

Neat house

Pirate's Cove

Park Art

Leeton turns 4!

Well, it is April 19th a red letter day in our family and we find ourselves in Stuart, Florida at Sailfish Marina and the kids in Tennessee gathering for Leeton’s 4th birthday. Hardest day (so far) of the trip. Our Leeton is the apple of our eye (along with brother Holden and the parents and uncle) and we are very sorry to miss such an important day but we hold the promise that we can reenact the birthday in August. But for now---HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEETON—in 4 years she has become an accomplished big sister, ballerina, and soccer player, not to mention a reader and singer of some renown. Fitz and I plan to do a little bike riding/site seeing today (of course the weather apps say it is raining here but it is bright and sunny) and then Skype with the birthday girl this evening. XOXO


Ballerina



Reader





Big Sister



Loggerhead Marina at Boynton Beach to Sailfish Marina at Stuart

Last night was a windy and stormy night but we were in dock before it started and the dock had a HOT TUB! I love hot tubs and that makes up for any bad weather. The Loggerhead Marina was part of a big condo complex but the only benefit we took advantage of was the hot tub. It was great. This morning we were out rolling by 8am and while Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton had mile after mile of fabulous homes with personal docks, this trip north opened up to big waterside estates with huge yacht marinas. We went by the PGA golf course at Palm Beach—a beautiful course and community. The closer we got to Stuart the more the nature areas and mangrove took over. Lake Okeechobee crosses Florida from Ft. Myers to Stuart and now we are back on the Loopers trail. As we came into Sailfish at the mouth of Manatee Pocket we were greeted by a very nice dockhand (Karen) and got tied up. We are due about 40 miles down the ICW on Sunday at Vero Beach and so we are here for a couple of days.

Dingy Docks?

This is a boat lift for the 100 foot yachts!

Our favorite home today

Neat Yacht

Lighthouse at Jupiter

Love the pontoon on the dock--Leeton and Holden would love it too

Ft. Lauderdale/Boca Raton/Boynton Beach

After a lovely evening out with David Ginnett and his lovely ladies, wife- Darla and daughter-Rebecca, we left out early to try to avoid some approaching storms but worse gusty winds. We had to get the holding tanks pumped out and their boat that does this in your slip was down so we had to fight the current and the wind and finally got over to their fuel dock to pump out. We started north on the AIW (Atlantic Inter-coastal Waterway) and were immediately star struck. We had been told this was an opulent waterway but we had no idea. We went through Port Everglades first and saw about 4 or 5 big cruise ships. I am sure that our cruising buddies are familiar with this area and thankfully we were going through in a non-busy time. Then came the slow ride up the waterway where the homes and boats are fabulous and the low bridges are many. Boca Raton was particularly rich. It took us 7 hours to go 40 miles because we had so many bridges to go under but because of the threatening weather (maybe?) there was not a lot of boat traffic. I can see where it would be a zoo on weekends. We got to dock at Boynton Beach at about 3 pm and the storms moved in.

Great  dinner last night at GG's with the Ginnett's

Port Everglades and the cruise ships

Lots of low bridges

Gold Go Fast Boat

Fabulous home with a silver Go Fast  Boat-they are neighbors

Typical Boca Raton home with waterfront pool

Love the yacht with the helicopter

This one is being built and is for sale--yours?