Heading North! Going Coastal

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'! 

Stuart, FL

Friday, March 29 - Monday, April 15, 2013

Windy! That is how I would describe Florida's east coast. We blew into our slip at Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart upon arrival and blew out two weeks later! Sunset Bay Marina was very accommodating. Sam was always ready with a joke! There was a nice laundry room and boater's lounge. The staff was efficient and friendly. They traveled on 3 wheeled electric scooters to assist boats in docking.




Large Mooring Field = Busy Dinghy Dock

Dock Hand Jason on Electric Scooter

In between, we had a great time. Once again we were lucky to land on a friendly dock! (There is something about those 'A' Dockers!) Our slip mate, Sherry, on the S/V Impetuous, invited us to docktails every evening at 4:30. Her husband Tim was helpful in recommending a reliable diver to clean Irish Attitude's bottom. It had been 2 months and the barnacles were growing, again. Tim and Sherry have lived aboard for 13 years since they raised their kids on Anne Marie Island (Bradenton). Everyone was very kind and helpful.  Bob is single handling a sailboat. Bev and Dave, aboard a catamaran, were from Canada. We met some gold loopers too. Kathy and Garth on Algonquin and Judy and Dan aboard Quest. They were returning to the states from the Bahamas. Mike and I went out for 'rib night' with Kathy, Garth and Judy (Dan was in MI on business). A full rack with 2 sides for $11! Most of the time we eat aboard but it is nice to splurge! Many more boaters stopped for docktails, sharing stories, knowledge and laughter.

"A" Dock at Sunset Bay in Stuart

Stuart is known for sport fishing, especially sailfish. During the day we rode our bikes all around Stuart. The purchase of bikes and 4 panniers proved to be a wise decision. (Side Note: Prior to our adventure, I could not imagine life without 2 cars. Now, I don't miss having 1!) We visited Hutchinson barrier island to see the Atlantic Ocean. Stuart has a great 'old' town area near the marina. As we walked around we found a nice river walk, farmer's market and unique sidewalk art.

Sidewalk Art

Sailfish Fountain at Night



Below are pictures from our bike ride to Hutchinson Island

A Tow and Barge from Bridge

Looking Out to Hutchinson Barrier

 Beach Front Avenue!

Beautiful Waves and Rock Formations on Atlantic Coast

We ran into Larry from Lady KK while he was out walking Ms. Peaches. Larry said they were going to skip the Georgia ICW due to shoaling. Sherry and Larry would travel outside from Fernandina to South Carolina on the outside. While walking the docks we ran into Carol and Ron off Dragon's Dance. We last saw them in Clearwater. True to the boating way of life, their plans to head to the Bahamas changed and they too cut across the Okeechobee Waterway. They must have been just ahead of us! We went out for pizza one night, another night we took in the marina movie, Life of Pi. That was fun, everyone in their umbrella chairs, I almost forgot we were outside!

Jelly Fish

Our mail and Amazon orders arrived and we were ready to move at the next fair weather window. Thank you to all the people on A Dock that made Stuart a fun stop! Hopefully our wakes will cross again.

 

Sunset at Sunset Bay Marina