We left with the idea of motoring down the ICW so as to put some hours on the new motor, we needed to get to 50 hrs so we could have the 50-hour service performed. We returned with 54.7. We stayed in St.Augustine, Palm Coast, Daytona, New Smyrna Beach, and Titusville. We did the same on the return trip expect opted for The Conch House in St.Augustine instead of downtown. Downtown was great, but scary coming and going. All I can say is that I knew that the current was wicked there prior to going, tried to get there at slack tide, and still have way too much fun docking. Thank goodness another dock hand come over to catch us. But, as time when on, we got better at docking, which we did the whole way. Afterwards, it became obvious that that was the right thing to do because of our 13 year old poodle, I mean child, I mean poodle. She's a joy have in our lives.
Here's our going to Haul Over Canal going between Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River.
The highlights were meeting old friends in Palm Coast, making new ones there, and visiting a new marina. The excitement was listening on the VHF when the poor folks who hit the power line going along side the 520 bridge going over Port Canaveral channel, were talking to the Coast Guard. It wasn't long before they had to jump over. We watched the video the next day wishing that it hadn't happened.( http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/raw-boat-fire-on-indian-river/vDLZw3/ ) Makes us wonder what the specifics were; where there warning signs, height clearance signs, maybe an extra tall mast? We know the tide was pretty high as we were just 20 miles from them. The other excitement was being amazed at how many NOT-SEA-WORTHY boats there were in Titusville. There's no tide there, and the economy is struggling there, but dam. One Ospry had taken over two boats sitting side by side, people there said the owners hadn't been there in years.
Titusville was our turning around point, so North we went. We had a great time again at Palm Coast and New Smyrna Beach, and headed to St.Augustine. It was on this trip that I discovered what happens when you run out of diesel. Yea, right after having gone under the Cresent Beach Basculle Bridge, we ran out. Thank God we only had a knot of breeze, a 1/2 knot of current, beautiful weather, and a place to glide to and anchor next to the ICW.
Two hours later and SeaTow brought us 10 gallons. A couple of cranks, and off we went. When we got to St.Augustine, we saw that the upper floors on the buildings downtown, were in fog. Oh yea. Once we cleared the Bridge of Lions, we headed to the Conch House, where it got really really thick. We were almost run over by two vessels, one was a once-a-year-boater and the other was an overly confident fisherman. But, we made the channel and made the Conch House. What a party animal house that is.
The next day was the final leg home, were I have never had a smoother landing in all my life. We unloaded, cleaned, then headed back to the house. Yep, it was strange driving in a car after that time, it seemed like things had changed, but probably hadn't, we were gone only a week. We had the 50 hour service performed yesterday and found out that the fuel line is sucking air, so we gotta fix that. It'll be time to put in that exhaust extension (45 degree elbow) so the exhaust fits a little better, and verify the motor mounts are tight, the motor is still aligned, rewire the prop couple retaining bolts so that the wire will actually keep them tight, a little locktite is in order too. But everything ran great and we're looking forward to this spring's and summer's sailing season.
Ah, back home.
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