Saturday out of St. Augustine to Daytona

This won't be terribly exciting I'm afraid and I have tried to cull the photos so I don't get a reputation for forced slide show watching.  It's overcast with light rain on and off now (Sunday at 1109) and we are making our way to Titusville with Island Khaya and Pamalynn who we ended up crossing paths with in Daytona.  But let me start at the beginning.

Once upon a time, in a land called St. Augustine (that I keep calling Charleston), on a nice Saturday morning, two Island Spirits left the mooring balls to make the 0700 bridge opening...only the bridge didn't open.  Hmmmm, Mark called at 0702 to ask about the 0700 opening and we were informed that we would have to wait for 0730 because we had not called to request the 0700.  On the one hand, that was our bad because you are always supposed to call the bridges but on the other hand, really dude?  So there we waited, impatiently for 30 minutes.  So, once upon a time...to make the 0730 bridge opening.  Then, we waved goodbye to the town that showed us a great time for the last three days.

And we're motoring, we're motoring...the ICW has a dual personality complex as I may have mentioned before.  On the one side, the ocean side, you see the variety of homes with their fishing and other motor boats on the docks and you can tell the ocean is just a block or two beyond them.  Then on the inland side, you see the marshes, birds, vegetation, pots and fishing set ups.

I like this picture a lot

 

I think these were some type of marina or repair shops but now are private...100 signs let us know it was private property-do not dock.  Yeah, we got it guy.

A little tropical action

Two groovy dudes skiing down the river

Poor little orphan boat

Our weather was slightly overcast on Saturday but warm and it was nice to switch into shorts and a tank and go up front and read in the warmth--pausing every now and again to watch a dolphin or catch a neat view of a house or inland shallow 'lake'.  I was grumpy as hell yesterday for some reason and had major techno challenges which only served to irritate me more and then I hit my knee because I don't pay attention.  I know, those of you who know me well are "shocked" that I would be grumpy or irrationally irritated, it's just sooooo unlike me.  Yeah right, ha!  Anyway, here's how bad I was, Mark suggested that I have a beer--you know it's bad when the captain lets you have a beer mid-transit.  Of course I complied because I am a good obedient crew member.  Holy smokes, sorry about the self absorbed egocentric sidebar there!  

Anyway, it was warm and when the sun would stay out, it was even better.  We made great time thanks to timing the tides and the current giving us a boost.  We arrived at the Halifax Harbor Marina (Daytona City run) sometime between 1500-1530.  On the way in their channel we spotted Pamalynn anchored in the river and gave a friendly wave.  We took care of diesel and pump out on the way in and were happily on the dock shortly thereafter.  One of the dock assistants took me out to get a photo of the two boats on the dock.  Super cute twinsies!

"Downtown" Daytona?

First I saw the cute paintings on the pillars then noticed the depth? Zoinks! But we cleared fine.

Last bridge before the marina--very nice bridge attendants today AFTER St. Augustine.  They were all nice ladies.

Hey!  It's Pamalynn!

Twinsies!!!

We planned to walk to find food and meet up with our friend Dan who lives in Central Florida now...how fun!  I took immediate advantage of the bath house shower and realized that I am in desperate need of a beauty parlor trip for my hair.  Ladies, you know what I'm talkin' about--when you just "know" your hair needs some TLC.  I think I may try a coconut oil conditioning treatment tonight or tomorrow to get me through.  Oh the tortures of sailing life!

We walked to an "Irish" place called McK's a few blocks from the marina--sooooooo, not a foodie town is all I have to say about the 'downtown' near the marina.  I think you need to be over on the beach to really dig this town.  Brenda and I got the shepherds pie and they did a nice job with it.  Jon had ordered a drink--Makers Mark, neat--and the gal said something like "sure Makers Martin, do you want anything in it, an ice cube?"  Um, no, no ice.  Thanks.  Oh boy.

When we got back to the dock, Dan arrived shortly thereafter and it was awesome to see him!  We had a great visit and got caught up on his latest and greatest.  We missed Katie and little Miles but were sure happy to see Dan!  Also got to talk with Chris which was pretty cool too!

Yay! Dan came to visit!!

 After that, it was off to bed "late" at 10pm.  We have for sure gone over to cruiser time, except I still stay up too late reading ;-)  Sunday we would be heading out around 0700 down the ICW bound for Titusville...to be continued... XO Suzanne