Monday, April 15 - Thursday, April 25, 2013
North.... A change in direction for Irish Attitude. Outside of a few backtracked miles we have been heading south since leaving Mackinaw City at the tip of the mitt! Ask a looper traveling the rivers where they are headed and they usually answer, "South". A change is in the wind, and windy it is!
 |
| So Long Stuart! |
 |
| Just Crossed Under the 1st Bridge Over the St. Lucie River |
 |
| Beautiful Property on St. Lucie River |
 |
| Mind the Channel Markers on This Ever Changing Scene |
 |
| 2nd Bridge Linked to Hutchinson Island |
 |
| One of Many Waterfront Parks Near the Base of the Florida's Bridges |
 |
| Power Structures Crossing the ICW |
(FYI - Florida's 1200 miles of coastline is divided into sections with names that identify that areas unique traits. As we traveled north on the AICW we visited the following coastal communities.)
'Treasure Coast' (includes Stuart)
We set our sites on Vero Beach. Referred to by local cruisers as 'Velco' Beach because once you visit, it is hard to tear yourself away! We stayed at Vero Beach Municipal Marina on the ICW side of the barrier island. Most marinas are on the mainland and Mike and I usually bike over long, 65 foot high bridges to reach the islands. This was a nice change. The scenery changed on our way to the shore from the marina to quite residential streets and ending at the beach. The atmosphere at Vero Beach was more laid back. We spotted a familiar boat at the docks, Tranquilo! We had not seen Judith and Paul since Florida's panhandle. We spoke with Paul later and he said Judith had been ill. (Later Paul told us this would be the end of their journey. They would be returning to Arizona for Judith to begin cancer treatments, again.) With heavy hearts will pulled out the next day.
 |
| Marina is in a Park Setting |
 |
| Atlantic Ocean (Calm!) |
 |
| Beached Boat Near Sebastian |
'Space Coast'
 |
| Sunrise |
 |
| Melbourne Seen in Passing |
Cocoa Village Marina is on the mainland. They win the prize for the classiest boater's lounge but the door locks when they leave, not very convenient. It's a quaint area filled with shops, unique restaurants and one very old hardware store. Cocoa should not be confused with Cocoa Beach (over on the barrier island). We opted to take the city bus over to Cocoa Beach because the bridge did not have a walkway. It's a big surfing mecca and home of the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop. The ride over was .... interesting. The local patrons were a little sketchy and it curtailed thoughts of taking the bus up to Cape Canaveral to visit the Kennedy Space Center.
 |
| Cocoa Beach Pier |
 |
| Shot of Surfers from the Pier |
(Concrete) Sand-Like Sculptures outside of Ron Jon's Surf Shop.
(The detail was amazing!)
 |
| Spike! |
 |
Kelly Slater
Greatest Surfer of All Time |
 |
Shallow Water and Security Kept the Kennedy Space
Center off in the Distance |
 |
| Titusville Area |
 |
| Welcome to Mosquito Lagoon |
North of New Smyrna is an anchorage listed in Active Captain (a valuable resource). At Rockhouse Creek near the Ponce de Leon Inlet, we found a beautiful spot to anchor for the night. We shared the view with three other boats, there was plenty of room. After settling in we unloaded the dinghy to explore the islands around us. Their appearance changed with the tides. Now you see them, now you don't! The water changed from blue to green with the depth. After beaching the dinghy we walked around to get a better view of the lighthouse and the inlet it guarded.
 |
| Pristine Anchorage |
 |
| Lighthouse at Ponce de Leon Inlet |
 |
| Can we Get Mail Delivered to this Anchorage? |
 |
End of a Perfect Day!
|
Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach is on the mainland side of the ICW. Spring rains had caught up with us. We rode our bikes to the nearest Publix for provisions and it poured all the way back. The next day was cooler and cloudy, a perfect day to ride bikes to the beach. Not just to the beach but ON the famous dense sand beach that hosted the first car race in 1903. The area seemed even more built up then the last time I was here with Rob and Kristy.
We had been texting our friends aboard Headquarters since Vero Beach in hopes that our paths would cross. Shirley and Tony were in Ft. Pierce (a port we had skipped!) having recently returned from the Abacos. Don and Freya from Last Resort stopped by to visit them before returning to their boat. Mike and I first met Last Resort at the rendezvous but now had an opportunity to get to know them better over docktails and dinner. When the Irish Attitude pulled out of Daytona Beach it was the first time in months that we were traveling with another looper boat.
 |
| Fuel Dock at Entrance to Halifax Harbor Marina |
 |
The Marina was so Large, Mike Drove the
Dinghy to the Harbormaster's Office |
 |
| Artwork on the International Speedway Blvd Bridge |
 |
| "I can't believe I can ride on the beach!" |
 |
| Where is Everyone? |
 |
| Heavy Rains... |
 |
| Beautiful Rainbow! |
 |
| Beach St., Shops and Restaurants |
'Palm Coast'
This section of the ICW was narrow. Palm Coast is a resort area. A golf cart trail to our port followed the ICW for a few miles. Private residences lined the waterfront to our starboard as we passed right next to their docks. As the waterway widened we saw a man surfing the wake of a ski boat! He stayed within five feet of the stern, just riding the curl. It looked crazy and dangerous!
 |
| A Boat Sinking Right at the Dock! |
 |
| Laundry Day on the Pink Panther |
 |
| Home on the AICW |
 |
| Pink and Green Houseboats |
 |
| 'Chicago Four', Grab a Seat! |
We spent the night at Marineland Marina at a dollar a foot. Very reasonable for this area. The University of Florida has a marine biology campus on site. We didn't visit the dolphins on exhibit. Being able to see them daily, as we cruise, never gets old. Tony, Shirley, Mike and I did go swimming in the ocean. The waves were rolling in enough to body surf. I still can't get used to the taste of salt water! Two sail boaters announced sunset by blowing on conch shells!
 |
| Fish Ponds at Marina, Viewing Only! |
 |
| Sunsets Are Always a Cause for Pause |
After one night we pulled out and headed towards St. Augustine - 'First Coast'!
