Port #68: Daytona Beach, FL…Home of Bike Week

Great Loop II Date: 05/14/2015

Day #286 (Thursday) 47.7 miles (3980.5 total miles)

Locks: 0 (30 total locks)

Bridges: 0 (4 total bridges)

Port #68: Daytona Beach, FL

Marina: Halifax Marina

The night’s sleep was 100% better with the breeze that flowed through OB.  The morning alarm came early before daybreak.  OB was prepped and ready to leave the mooring at daybreak.

The mooring field outside the Titusville Municipal Marina.

Another beautiful sunrise.

It was great having the notes from the last Loop.  We were able to recollect what we had seen in these same areas and what changes have occurred.  The notes also made us aware of long, monotonous areas ahead.

We saw this bird island in the Indian River (just before the Haulover Canal into Mosquito Lagoon) in 2011 during Loop #1.  After spotting some really large, pink birds and getting a fair picture of one, I identified them as Rosette Spoonbills.  We looked again this time and only saw two.

This is what they look like from a distance (2011 picture).

This is a good picture I found and recorded in 2011.

The Haulover Canal that connects the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon.  The bridge at the end began an exercise I would repeat throughout our trip in the AICW.  Any bridge less than 27 feet clearance sends me to the bridge to lower the antennas.  I like to leave them down however if there is a lot of distance between bridges, I have to raise them up again.  When they are down, we don't have the communication distance needed with our VHF radios.

Two of many spoils areas we saw along the Mosquito Lagoon.  They are the dredgings dug up during making the lagoon and AICW.

A state primitive campsite on one of the spoils.

A fish net area.  The little white stakes support fish nets that run from stake to stake.  It replicates how the indians used to net fish.

More fish stakes, one displaying an American Flag.

More derelict boats.  The one in the foreground had an interesting sign spray painted on it.

I proceeded follow the directions and looked it up on Youtube.  It's an interesting way for folks to make money and not work.  Check it out on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVKNeU7g_qE.  After this video, their 'dream' came alive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5iFkTjRcl4.  Then there was this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S3nMEHeFt8.  Just click on these links and the videos will come up.

As we approached New Smyrna, FL, we saw newer housing taking the place of trailers in the same areas in 2011.  New Smyrna was an area of confusion in the AICW markings during the last Loop.  The AICW took a sharp turn to the west away from the approach to the Ponce Inlet leading to the Atlantic Ocean.  We ended up in the ocean the last time.  This time we made the turn to the west.

The osprey are happy with the new housing before New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Sunken sailboat at New Smyrna Beach.  Many of these sunken boats are left in the drink to rot until the state has enough money to send out a wrecking vessel to haul them away.

Civilization!  It's always jaw dropping to go from very rural, uninhabited areas and small fishing camp type areas to city life right around the corner.

Sailboat aground.

Really cool idea for a Bed and Breakfast in New Smyrna Beach.

The Ponce De Leon lighthouse in the Ponce Inlet....we went straight at this point in 2011.  The markings weren't clear and we ended up in the Atlantic Ocean only to turn around and come back in to the AICW..  Knowing that, we took a left turn right after this picture.

Fisherman on a spoil in the Indian River at Daytona Beach.

As we approached Daytona Beach, the channel leading into Halifax Harbor Municipal Marina was not apparent.  Todd made the turn into the channel before we reached the Halifax sign and found shallow water.  We ended up grounded just outside the ICW channel in the river.  It took us almost 30 minutes to work our way out of the mud.

When we made way to the Halifax Harbor entrance, we were coming from the left side of this picture.  All we could see was the Halifax Harbor sign.  At that point, no channel marker was visible.

The big red arrow on the left is where we began our turn into what looked like the marked channel beyond.  The green marker (circled) was fully hidden by the Halifax sign visible to the left of it.  The true channel is where the outlined red arrow is in the center of the picture.  It's not fun to feel your boat come to a sudden stop! 

There's a closer look at the green marker as it sits behind the Halifax sign.  It's easily seen when approaching from the north.  Not so from the south.

Finally safely in our slip at the marina, Todd was able to contact the air conditioner repairman.  He came to the boat that afternoon to assess the repairs.  It took him three days but he got the two non-functioning units up and running.  We were finally relieved from the heat we had endured for the last month.

Halifax is a huge marina with 880 slips.  They send a tender boat out to your slip to check you in.  The marina office is nearly a full mile walk away from the transient slips.

There was a Classic Auto Show while we were there.  Santa Claus was there!  Who knew he was a triplet!  Now we know where he summers.

Port #67: Titusville, FL…No Space Shots for Us

Great Loop II Date: 05/13/2015

Day #285 (Wednesday) 73.7 miles (3932.8 total miles)

Locks: 0 (30 total locks)

Bridges: 0 (4 total bridges)

Port #67: Titusville, FL

Mooring: Titusville Municipal Marina

Our trusty clock brought me out of bed for another early start.  The run to Titusville was going to be a long one and we needed to start early.

The night had been very warm with no breeze.  Even the little camp fan did little to make us comfortable.  However, we both noticed a big improvement in the side effects from the vertigo.

We dropped our line to the mooring just before sunrise and made way up the calm and quiet AICW.  The shores were dotted with huge multi-million dollar houses and condos.  Neither Todd or I remembered the area being so developed in 2011.

Already moving along when the sun peaked over the trees.

Big housing boom...BIG houses.

Nesting osprey on the Waterway markers.

Very protective mother!

More development along the way with houses replacing trailers we saw in 2011.

This dive boat was in the same spot in 2011.

A builder of model tall ships and pirate ships.

Thunderhead over Titusville.

The Addison Point bridge (NASA Parkway) opened for a sailboat but we could make it under easily with it closed.

The trip to Titusville was uneventful.  Some things along the way had changed.  The most notable was the disappearance of the abandoned ship, Princess Grace, the former USCGC MALLOW, WLB-396.

Princess Grace is gone!  She'd been grounded off channel for years.  She was sold for scrap metal to a company in Salisbury, MD in October 2011.  I took this picture of her in April 2011.

We made good time and decided to take up a mooring at the Titusville Municipal Marina.  They didn’t have these moorings in 2011.  They were quite a ways away from the marina and seemed fairly unprotected.  They were in a No Wake area so the waters remained calm.

There were storms throughout the area but they dissipated before they got to us.  We were able to leave the doors, windows and hatches open and enjoy the wonderful breeze that came through OB.

Port #66: Vero Beach, FL…Back on Common Ground

Great Loop II Date: 05/12/2015

Day #284 (Tuesday) 14 miles (3859 total miles)

Locks: 0 (30 total locks)

Bridges: 0 (4 total bridges)

Port #66: Vero Beach, FL

Mooring: Vero Beach Municipal Marina

Todd and I decided to sleep late and go a short distance to Vero Beach.  Our bodies needed a chance to recover from the long trip the day before.  Vertigo was still bothering us, as well.

Now we were back on the AICW (Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway) and totally protected from the Atlantic outside.  We had traveled this same route on Great Loop #1.  Although we wanted to go to different ports, some ports were favorites and some ports were just a better choice over others.

With two out of three of our air conditioners not functioning, Todd had contacted a repairman in Daytona Beach and set a temporary appointment.  We had wanted to spend a few days in Vero Beach and Titusville, however we needed the air conditioners more.  The summer heat and humidity was setting in and life had become uncomfortable on OB.

Joan from Jesse Grey and Martha and Steve from Seadeuce dropped by to say farewell.  We met them at Green Turtle Cay and were in touch with them throughout our return to stateside.

We cast off lines and motored the short 2 hour run to Vero Beach, took a mooring ball, made dinner onboard and watched TV for the evening.

Back in the AICW.  Although it looks choppy, it's nothing compared to what was going on outside in the Atlantic Ocean.

Port #65: Fort Pierce, FL…Taking Advantage of the Gulfstream

Great Loop II Date: 05/11/2015

Day #283 (Monday) 99.2 miles (3845 total miles)

Locks: 0 (30 total locks)

Bridges: 0 (4 total bridges)

Port #65: Fort Pierce, FL

Marina: Harbortown Marina

The clock gave us the wakeup call at 4:50AM.  First morning light was evident by 5:30AM.  We left West End before sunrise with 3 sailboats.

Sunrise over rolling following seas...a preview of the day.

Seadeuce...one of our crossing buddies.

Seas were rolling at 3 feet on our portside quarter stern with a 4 to 5 second period between waves.  All that combined gave us a constant roll.  Todd took a heading for Fort Pierce to take advantage of the push from the Gulfstream.  It also helped keep the rolling waves to our stern.  If he had taken us the shorter distance to Lake Worth, the rolling would have been on our port beam and not tolerable.

The constant rolling eventually took its’ toll on both Todd and I.  Vertigo set in and stayed with us until the waves decreased about 10 miles from the Fort Pierce Inlet.  We tried peppermint candy, ginger ale, cola drinks, salty carbohydrates and none of them settled that constant queezy feeling.  I had Dramamine on board but Todd didn’t want to endure the side effects.

We both breathed a sigh of relief as we entered the inlet and were formally stateside once again.  Todd called Customs after we were settled in our dock.  The process was so easy with our LBO cards.  The Customs officer was extremely nice and funny at times, calling me Paula Abdul.

The vertigo stayed with us throughout the evening.  We both went to bed early and slept like logs.

Port #64: West End, Freeport, BS…Last Stop Before the Bank

Great Loop II Date: 05/09/2015

Day #281 (Saturday)  62.7 miles (3746 total miles)

Locks: 0 (30 total locks)

Bridges: 0 (4 total bridges)

Port #64:  West End, Freeport, BS

Marina: Old Bahama Bay Marina and Resort

The morning came early with little sleep after 1AM.  I made the coffee and filled the Crockpot with ham and beans for soup.  Todd and I went about getting ready to weigh anchor and take OB on her last leg in the Bahamas before crossing the Atlantic into the USA.

The ride to West End was a non-event.  We put some diesel in OB to get her ready for the run across the Atlantic and went to our assigned slip at Old Bahama Bay Marina.  It was a hot and humid day and OB turned into an inferno without the help of our pilothouse and salon air conditioners.

OB at her dock...can you see her?

There she is just right of the tree on the left.  See the big red ball fender on the bow?

After we got OB settled in her dock, Todd and I headed for the pool.  Charlie headed for the master stateroom to take advantage of the one working air conditioner.  The pool was a welcome relief as was the beach bar and grill after our swim.

We were delayed another day due to unwelcoming seas so we tried to take best advantage of the time.  Todd did all his engine checks and set up his electronic charting for the crossing.  I pulled out the Florida Charts and guides.  After that we took advantage of what the resort had to offer.

These curly tail lizards are an oddity.  They are a little bigger than our brown lizards in Florida...and have way more attitude!

Todd found another hammock.

There was this huge checkers and chess set in the middle of the resort courtyard.

Todd figuring out an appropriate move.

After some contemplation, he FINALLY made his move.

The beach bar and grill.

The resort pool...

...where Todd found a way to relax.

This Mathis-Trumpy 'Freedom' is a yacht we saw in Key West in 2011.  It was an added treat to see her here.  More pictures are here: http://www.woodenyachts.com/yachts/freedom.aspx.  Her sister ships were used as Presidential Yachts up to Gerald Ford.