2023-2024 Cruise ~ Week 32-35 ~ Fort Pierce to Daytona, FL Our Short Trip North

Monday, 4/29/24 ~ Fort Pierce to Eau Gallie, FL 
Today:        51 miles        7.5 hours        S/M 915

Total:              miles              hours

Saying "good-bye" to our winter home, Fort Pierce City Marina

     Up, prepped and headed to the fuel dock shortly after 8, then underway to the river by 8:25. We had to wait for the 9 am opening of North Bridge with another northbound sailboat. While waiting, I took photos, then started diner by putting the fixings for the corned beef in the crockpot.

 

Looking SW to turning basin, E to the Inlet, N to the old and new bridges, and

W to the trimaran, ULTIMEMOTION 2, as we wait for the Ft Pierce North Bridge to open

Passing through the bridges with all the construction

     What another beautiful day! Temps are in the low 70’s with winds out if the ESE at 12-15 with gusts to 25 mph.

 

 
Sabastian, with the 'big boys" heading north for the summer, the marina we sailed into with engine problems during our original cruise in 2010, the sandbars that catch floating debris and visitors, 

and a wind surfer foil "flying" across the water with in the wind.

 

The every encroaching sandbar, only 10-15 feet from the ICW channel near Sabastian Inlet

 

The new NASA Addison Bridge southern span is complete and open, 

but the deconstruction of the old bridge and construction of the northern span continues

       Pulled into Eau Gallie around 3:30. Dockmaster and a friend were waiting to catch lines. This is the first time in a long time that we had the dockmaster. Usually, we, and sometimes other boaters help to tie up.

     When Pete took Tillie for her walk, she was skittish of almost everything on walk. It will take a while for her to acclimate to a new place.

 
The history of Eau Gallie and 

an Osprey determined to conquer the deterrents on the mast

       Our Corned Beef dinner was excellent. I have enough to freeze 2 single portions for future meals. I will fly up to NJ for most of June to give my sisters a break from taking care of our Mom. As a result, I will be preparing a bunch meals with leftovers to tie Pete over. I know he won’t starve, but at least I am sure he will eat a variety of foods and not just Jersey Mike’s subs and hamburgers with salads.

Tuesday, 4/30/24 ~ Eau Gallie to Titusville, FL
Today:        38 miles        6.0 hours        S/M 878
Total:          89 miles     13.5 hours
 

  

  

Departing Eau Gallie ~ the marina, boats at anchor, the social area of the marina

 and approaching the entrance 

Pelican warming itself on the green marker as we depart

     We were underway by 7:50 am. Today’s temps were in the 70’s and low eighties. Winds were 10-12 from the SSE, just enough to keep us comfortable, but not to assist with speed. 

 

A large and small Florida Coastal Cruisers that passed us today

 
Rain showers to our west and the new power station just south of Cocoa Beach

The last light of the day over the marina

    Arrived in Titusville around 2:15. After 2 attempts to back into the slip, Pete opted to bow in due to swirling winds in the fairway. With short finger piers and the pedestal centered between the 2 slips, it is always a challenge to plug in our electric and to get the dog off the boat. Well, we reaffirmed that our choice of a 40-pound dog was right. Tillie was easily lifted off and handed to the one on the dock for her walks. With spotty showers all around, it was too humid to sit in the cockpit, so we sat below and read until dinner.



Wednesday, 5/1/24 ~ Titusville to Daytona, FL  ~  Our home this Summer
Today:        58 miles        8.1 hours        S/M 830.6
Total:        147 miles      21.6 hours

     Knowing we had to deal with changing currents and a lot of miles, we opted to head out early. We left the dock at 6:15 am, about 20 minutes before sunrise. The storms and showers that surrounded us yesterday, are now over the Gulf Stream. It made for a pretty sunrise. It was slow traveling as we were against the current for a while.

Sunrise over the Indian River leaving Titusville

     There were lots of dolphins on the Indian River and only a few manatees in Haulover Canal. We didn’t need to call the bridge as it is currently under repair and in the open position 24/7 until the repairs are complete.

views along Haulover Canal

Entering the becalmed waters of Mosquito Lagoon

Looking south to the launch pads with their towers at Cape Canaveral

     Entering Mosquito Lagoon, the breeze was pretty non-existent, but slowly increased as we continued north. We were about ¾ of the way up the Lagoon, when we were hailed by SV DULCINEA, who wished to do a port side pass. As they got closer, Marilyn called out hello. She and Jon are crewing on a friend’s boat up to Charleston. His wife will meet them there to continue the cruise back to Annapolis while Marilyn and Jon will bring her car back to Vero. This is the second time we have met serendipitously while cruising.

Views when SV DULCINEA passed SV PEKABU 

(Marilyn's DULCINEA on the left and my PEKABU's on the right)  

 

Boat & skier came
within 10' of our hull!

    Things look a lot more quiet as we passed the fishing camps. Both were less than half full. On the eastern shore we spotted a juvenile alligator meandering through the tidal weeds. Another unusual sighting was a canoe by another camp with skeleton in a May West life preserver. Unfortunately, I missed the photo opportunities. Another surprise was Smyrna EMS radio did not bleed over into the VHS for the first time in years.
     Pete’s planning worked! We were only about a ½ hour north of the lagoon. For the next 9 miles we rode the current Ponce De Leon Inlet. It was great cruising once again between 7.5 and 8.5 mph. Of course, we were against it once north of the inlet. 

 

Ponce de Leon Lighthouse                       the Halifax River side of the park              

 
Construction on the south side of Rock House Creek 

Sea Love Boat Works on the Halifax River, east of the ICW 

(where we were towed to from Ormand Beach)

     We pulled into Halifax Harbor shortly after 2. We had a pump out. Unfortunately, the dock hand had to wash up after a mishap. Then headed to our assigned slip. Pete backed us into the slip, we secured all the lines, but there was a problem as we went to plug in. There was only 1-30 amp service. We need 2-30 amp or 1-50 amp for the AC. We gathered all the lines back on board and proceeded to attempt to back into the inside of the T-head which does have 2-30’s. Pete had to fight with the steering like yesterday, even though the wind was much lighter. After 2 failed attempts, we are now backed to the slip. Just as he was pulling into the slip the steering freed up. There must have been something wrapped around the prop since yesterday, but only noticeable in tight quarters. 

     We now have a beautiful 75-foot Princess yacht on the outside of the T-head. She is beautiful, massive with a high freeboard . . . and that is a bit of a problem. She blocks not only the view to the east, but she also blocks most of the wind from the ENE, E, and ESE. We are considering turning the boat so that we are bow in and aft capturing the breezes and some view. Also none of our dock-mates will be walking by and chat. We will wait for a cool, calm day to reverse the boat into the slip. The view and access to the breezes will be worth it. 

 
PEKABU backed into our slip and the view from our bow. . . 

MY COMFORTABLY NUMB is a 75' Princess yacht (with high, and breeze-blocking freeboard!!)

Only some of the burrs removed
 from Tillie!

      Pete took Tillie with him as he walked over to the marina office to sign in. Poor Tillie picked up painful burs on her feet which, at times, made her yip. She removed a few. Pete and Covin, one of the dock hands, removed some others. Once back we removed a couple of dozen more - poor baby!

     We are now settled in our summer home. time for new explorations, experiences and friends.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P