This next leg of the trip has proven to be quite beautiful. We are very familiar with these areas (Melbourne, Titusville, Flager, etc.) from land as we have many friends from these towns and being native Floridians, we have traveled this section of our state many times. Cruising the ICW though brought a whole new perspective and made us appreciate our state in a different way. The wildlife is amazing! We were treated to jumping rays throughout Melbourne, roseate spoonbills in Titusville, tons of manatees in Haul Over Canal, with dolphins and ospreys galore the entire way. I felt like a kid, excitedly pointing and running around to get a better/closer view. Honestly, I don't see how this could ever get old. We tried to take pictures, but cell phone cameras just can't do it justice. (not so subtle hint: DSLR camera as a gift? WINK WINK)
The miles leading up to Flagler Beach were through some pretty skinny residential ICW areas. This section was particularly fun because you are literally cruising like 20 yards from people's homes. We had lots of friendly waves and shouts and as the evening grew dark we got a hearty "Ahoy matey!" from some kayakers crossing to a mangrove island to meet friends for a bonfire. We finally anchored around 11pm in a small cut that leads to the Sea Ray plant in Flager.
We woke to extremely dense fog. So dense we couldn't see the house on the other side of the canal. We decide to make coffee and wait it out, but this fog proved persistent and we battled it the entire day. At one point, we were in fog so thick we decided to make a security call out to other boats just as a sailboat emerged from the cloud about 10 yards away. As the day came to an end, we ended up getting a mooring ball in St. Augustine for the night and went ashore. My dad met us yet again with some parts we ordered. (Yes, still having starboard engine issues. No, I don't want to talk about it.) We had a great dinner and after Dad left, we walked around historic downtown through eerily low fog covering the cobblestone streets. I felt like we were in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
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| Exactly how it looked to us after a few drinks |
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| Nightime Fog over St. Augustine |
Finally, the next evening, we arrived in the foggy cover of darkness to Beach Marine in Jacksonville Beach. We have been traveling for about 5 weeks now so we have decided to stay for a few weeks to catch up with family, friends, and take a general cruising break.
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| Bridge of Lions |
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Our Jax Beach Slip
Time for a break! |
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