2022: St Augustine to Vero Beach FL

Update to previous blog post:. Clark took pictures  of the goose-poop covered boat that I was not aware of. 

So glad to be out of the s#it storms.

 5 December 2022

Depart: Tolomato River anchorage 9:05

Arrive: New Smyrna FL - Callalisa anchorage 5:50

Distance: 71 nm

As we approached St. Augustine we could see three boats following each other at high speed and going in circles. We watched in wonder of what they were doing. I thought that if it wasn't 9:00 in the morning that they were some jokers who had too much to drink. Then I wondered who would drive a boat at high speed in circles given the waste of fuel involved. 

When we got closer to the three boats, I pointed out to Clark that two of the boats had blue lights flashing. Those two were chasing the other boat. That's when Clark figured out that they were practicing. We were in a marshland, so it was a non-populated area with lots of water to play in.

Ten minutes later we saw another set of 3 boats doing the same exercises. I grabbed my camera to get pictures of the second group. As they sped by us in their chase scenario, the officers not driving waved hello like crazy. They were obviously having a good time. What a fun job assignment -- playing cops and robbers in speed boats on a beautiful, sunny day.

2 gray police boats and 1 on the run

As the boats passed by us, I could see that all the
men were in uniform including the ones in the getaway boat.

Later, when we left the ICW to travel south on the Atlantic Ocean, we saw a familiar sight. Several vehicles sat on the beach at the inlet.

Vehicles on the beach at the St. Augustine Inlet

The ocean was very calm today. Before we ventured out, we checked the forecast and heard 3 foot seas with a 10 second period. Six hours later we arrived at the Ponce de Leon inlet just north of New Smyrna Beach.

Breakwater and beach at Ponce de Leon Inlet, FL

Fisherman by breakwater

Clark pointed out that he could see surfers riding the waves on the far side of the breakwater. I could not quite get a picture as we passed by.

We had to shop around for an anchorage for the night. Clark had something in mind. It looked like a great spot, but when we got there the anchorage contained too many boats for us to drop anchor and have sufficient swing room. He had two other spots to check out. One of those was also full of sailboats, but luckily we found a good spot at the third choice.  

As we looked for a place to drop our anchor, the sun got increasingly lower in the sky.

As we searched out an anchorage, we saw a house with decorated palm trees for the Christmas season.

Christmas decorations Florida style

6 December 2022

Depart: Callalisa anchorage 8:50

Arrive: Merritt Island anchorage near Melbourne, FL 3:40

Distance: 54 nm

We were still dozing in bed at 7:30 this morning when Clark got a phone call. Boaters we met last year at Marlin Bay were in their boat on their way back to MB and right then were passing by our anchored boat. They gave us a call to say they were passing by! Clark talked on the phone for a while and then, since we were now awake, decided that it was probably time to get up and get moving.

Dolphins sometimes come over to our boat but rarely play alongside. Today three of them decided to play in our wake for several minutes.

Clark said we would be dropping anchor south of Cocoa. When we got to Cocoa, he started talking about aiming for an anchorage 3 hours further on. I hate when he does the bait-and-switch anchoring plan. I was tired and had my heart set on being done traveling early and suddenly discovered that we would be dropping anchor at sunset. I complained loudly. 

He compromised and found an anchorage only 1.5 hours further south and slightly north of Melbourne.

The compromise got him closer to Vero Beach and let me have some craft time after we dropped anchor mid-afternoon. As I worked on my latest project, I saw the sun going down and ran out with my camera to catch some pictures.

7 December 2022

Depart: Merritt Island anchorage 9:10

Arrive: Vero Beach Private Dock 2:10

Distance: 38 nm

We had an easy travel day today with no interesting incidents. As is our habit when we travel through Vero, we tied up to our friend's dock for a couple of nights. His house is on the water with a great view at sunset.