Boating with Sunset Delight: 2021: Vero Beach to Daytona Beach FL

22 April 2021

Depart: Vero Beach - Bethel Creek - Private Dock 9:00

Arrive: Cocoa Free Dock 3:30

Distance: 48 nm

Conditions: Sunny, windy, 80 feels like 60

With the chores (Air conditioning fixed, provisioning and laundry) done, wonderful time spent with friends, and a great bike ride through the parks, it was time to move on. Clark said, "Hot weather is coming; it's time to go north." Honestly, over the past 3 days, I have heard more about batteries and gauges to measure holding tanks than I ever wanted to know. I agree, time to move on!

Soon after we left Vero Beach, we saw a plane flying round and round over the river. At points I felt like we were being dive bombed!

Our friend Cathy told us to look out for an osprey family as we traveled up the river. Maybe we found the right nest. This one had 3 birds in it that we could see.

Google said that today's temperature felt like 83, but that was not true on the boat traveling into a north wind. It felt more like 60 or perhaps 50 degrees out.

Clark decided we would head towards Cocoa for tonight in hopes of getting space at the free dock located in town. As we approached Cocoa, we heard "Endless Summer" calling the US Coast Guard on the radio. He sounded in a panic. He said he was located in the canal near the Cape Marina. His anchor had deployed automatically while he was underway. As a result he had lost his ability to maneuver his boat. The last we heard, Sea Tow was on their way to help.

When we arrived at Cocoa, we found one slot available on the free dock just the right size for us to pull in. Two men came over to assist with our lines. We had a strong wind pushing us away from the dock, so the help was appreciated. A bird greeted us at the dock.

A very old and well-stocked hardware store is located in Cocoa. Clark decided that since we were docked only one block away, we should take a trip there to buy some hose to make an adjustment in the bilge for drainage of water from the hot water heater.

Clark surprised me by offering that we eat dinner out tonight. I told him it would be silly of me to refuse an offer like that. We ate at the American Pub where the burgers were great. The pub had a very bold scavenger that, as advised by the waitress, would not hesitate to jump up on the table to help itself to dinner. As we watched it come closer and closer, I heard the woman behind me say, "I hate birds!"

After dinner, we walked around the corner to a local ice cream shop for dessert. Clark said that it was cold enough out that he did not really need ice cream, but we went anyway and got a treat. This made the fourth night in a row that I had dinner prepared by someone other than myself. I could get real spoiled at this rate!

Walking around town, we found a lovely mural. The following are only a few of the segments of the art.

We passed a few more points of interest on our way back to the boat.

"Mama Mia" currently showing

Mini shopping area

Local park near the river

Mooring and Docks at Cocoa

After a lovely time in Cocoa, we got to see a nice sunset.

Sunset as seen from Cocoa free dock

25 April 2021

Depart: Cocoa Free Dock 9:45

Arrive: Daytona Beach anchorage 5:50

Distance: 58.5 nm

Conditions: Sunny, east winds, 70s

We slept too late to meet the 9:00 planned departure time. I was wiped out when I went to bed last night and totally forgot about the rocket launch scheduled for 5:49 a.m. this morning. According to the news and friends, we missed something spectacular. As one disappointed friend said, "... you had a front row seat!"

As I was in the cockpit and then in the salon, I heard a clackety-clack noise coming from under my feet. I mentioned the noise to Clark, and we made an immediate and unexpected stop at the anchorage we were in the process of passing so he could go for a morning swim. Clark thought it might be something wrapped around the prop. I thought it might be prop damage as a result of one of the three thunks we heard as we traveled the Okeechobee Waterway. I did not envy him jumping into the river.

Clark checking out the props and rattle

After some inspection, Clark decided that the prop cutters were rattling because the zincs needed to be replaced. These have to be ordered, i.e. not available at West Marine, and he did not have any spares on the boat. I guess we will rattle until we can get the parts and time to install them.

The remainder of the trip to Daytona Beach was thankfully uneventful.