Vero Beach

We made it to Vero Beach. Unfortunately the last nine miles was with the help of Tow Boat U.S. We are on a mooring at the Vero Beach City Marina, and plan to stay for four of five days. Yesterday we were cruising along and I noticed a change in the sound of the exhaust...it got louder. I immediately shut the engine down, coasted out of the channel and Shirl dropped the anchor so we would stay put while I looked at the engine. The water pump had stopped working. This is usually because of a clog. or a broken impeller, which would have been easy for me to fix. Looking at the engine I could see the pulley on the water pump had broken. the hub of the pulley was gone so it was not turning the water pump. I do not have a spare pulley, so we called Tow Boat U.S. They arrived in a hour and towed us to Vero Beach. Did I mention that I hate being towed! There was not enough wind to sail. I ordered a new water pump...over $400. I will pick it up tomorrow and install it. A neighbor of ours did some research and found out that I can purchase the same water pump, with a different mounting bracket...it is for a different Yanmar engine, for 1/2 the price. All I would have to do is switch the mounting bracket. Maybe a good possibility for a replacement or a spare at least. I think I would like to have a spare water pump just in case. So...no worries, I will fix Serenity's engine tomorrow.

Today we went in the city of Vero Beach and did some shopping. We needed a backpack to carry things in and a waterproof bag for the computers. The backpack will make it easier to step in and out of the dink by keeping our hands free. I also bought a harness to put on the dink engine to make it easier to lift. If you have not noticed, it seems to me that West Marine is very expensive compared to other suppliers. This afternoon we went to a "Cruiser's Happy Hour." Everyone brought drinks and a dish to share. Shirl took peanut butter fudge. A few cruisers brought guitars, a banjo, a mandolin, and did a great job of playing music. A lot of the cruisers have been living aboard for years and they have a wealth of information about boats, destinations, marinas, and all things nautical. It is great to hear about all of their adventures. There were a few water pump stories tonight. It seems there are other cruisers who have had water pump issues. We had a great time.

 Still seeing houseboats...this one is anchored in shallow water in the Indian River.

 Nice calm water at an inlet.

 

 We had company swimming right next to Serenity.

 

 Being towed...did I mention what a great deal towing insurance is? If you are traveling on the ICW, you really should have it.

 

 Shirl helping out on an old gospel song.

 

 The dinghy dock during happy hour...double parking!

 

Cruiser's Happy Hour

"For the most part, a sailboat navigates through its world of wind and water not leaving a single trace of its passage. Nothing is consumed. Nothing is altered. The winds and the water are left in exactly the same condition for the next user. Sailing is forever." Michael B. McPhee

I love this quote, and I think that speaks volumes about why sailing is so appealing. No CO2, no fuel, no oil, no pollution. We sailed today, and we love it when we do not have to use the engine. The ICW runs through Indian Lake, which is a huge body of water. Because it is so open we were able to sail on a beam reach for a large part of the day. What a great day...wind in the sails and Jimmy singing, I wish I was a pirate on the Caribbean. I even sailed under a few bridges, which still makes Shirl nervous. On a beam reach you are being blown sideways as well as forward, and the passage through the bridge is not narrow but seems to be.  I start through east of center and come out west of center. The sail looses the wind temporarily under the bridge any way.
We are in Melbourne, Florida. We rented a slip at the harbor so we could take long hot showers, do laundry, and charge every thing on the boat. While Shirl did laundry I completed a few boat projects. My engine alarm has been inconsistent since Hurricane Sandy, when everything got soaked with the blowing rain. I took the face plate off and cleaned the connections and it is working for now. This alarm sounds if the engine gets overheated, and until you have adequate oil pressure. I definitely want it working. I also put silicone tape on the connections of the cable that supports the dink motor lift arm. It supports the weight of the motor, which is 85 pounds, when I lift it off the dink. Now that it is being exposed to salt water, I want to limit the chance of corrosion.
I looked at the chart, and we will cruise to Vero...Velcro Beach tomorrow. I am anxious to find out why so many people decide to stop traveling and stay there. We plan to get some sun and some rest. This is a lot more work than it appears to be. It is not all TiKi Bars and rum drinks...at least not yet.

 

 

Sunrise...this morning.

 

 Five minutes later...

 

 Sailing at 5.5 mph with just the Genny in 12 mph winds

 

Going under a bridge...it looks closer that it is.

 Reviewing the chart for the next day...a seat with a view.

 

 I really like this picture.

 

 Little pink and green houses on the ICW.

 

A couple in a large sailboat passed us on the port side and yelled at Shirl..."you need to learn how to relax"...I think they were being sarcastic.

We promise to give you a full report on Velcro Beach. One attraction is that it is only about $15 dollars a night for a mooring. Not bad at all. By the way, Shirl is doing fantastic at picking up the rope on the mooring ball with the boat hook.

Until tomorrow...sail on.

Titusville

We again left at first light and stopped this afternoon in Titusville. We are on a mooring ball...quite reasonable at $15.90 for the night, with access to showers and restrooms. Tomorrow we will travel to Melborne, and hopefully rent a slip in the marina so we will have access to electricity to charge the house batteries, and WiFi so that I can complete a few things I need to get done. We are in the Indian River which is a big open area of water, but very shallow. The ICW channel is well marked and easy to follow. Although there is some shoaling, for the most part the depth is consistent.
We have been asked, how does it work with no electricity? We do have electricity, (30 amp service), when we are at a dock...plugged in to the grid. Also while we are plugged in our battery charger, as well as our solar panels, charge our service bank of batteries. Serenity has a starter battery, which starts the engine, and a service bank of batteries that run the refrigeration, lights, instruments, radio, stereo, water pump, windless, thruster, and bilge pumps. When we are away from a marina...not plugged in we rely on our service bank of batteries, 12 volt, which are charged by our solar panels, the alternator when the engine is running, or Little Red...the Honda 1000.  Right now after five days of not being plugged in our batteries are at 87%. We will be motoring tomorrow which will recharge them. Our largest draw on our batteries is our refrigeration. Our lights are all LED, which use very little electricity. We are careful with our usage, we monitor it closely, and have not been without power yet. So don't worry...while we can not use electric hair dryers when away from a marina, (a source of irritation for Shirl), the air here in Florida will dry your hair fast enough.
The ride today was great...very little current, and light winds. It was very relaxing.  We have traveled a long way...and have loved every minute of it.

By the way today was my third day in flip flops, without a coat.

 Sunrise today...red sky in the morning

 

 I love these roof top decks...

 

 If Fishin Rick was a sailor...this would be his boat.

 

 Home made houseboat...

 

Nice...

 

 The sun sets behind Serenity

 

 Putting the dink away after a ride into the marina...

Daytona Beach...

We left St Augustine at sunrise after spending a few days there. Both of us had a great time and we relaxed, enjoyed the city as well as the fantastic weather. As I mentioned before we stayed on a mooring ball, which meant that every place we went started with a ride in our dink...doesn't get any better than that. It was really the first time I got to try the Tohatsu outboard I purchased in Delaware. The little motor ran great and will actually put the dink on plane with both of us on board.
Today was a peaceful ride. The weather was good, and it actually reached 77 degrees. The current was favorable most of the day. We are anchored just off the ICW south of the Daytona Beach Municipal Yacht Basin. We are out in the open, but there is not any bad weather in the forecast. We plan to leave at daylight tomorrow and cruise to Titusville. In this phase of the trip we plan to slow down and spend some time enjoying Florida. The next place we plan to spend a few days is Vero Beach. Cruisers actually call Vero Beach Velcro Beach, because a lot of them tend to love it so much they get stuck there. It sounds great...maybe we will "get stuck" for a few days.
Today was my second flip flop day in a row...sweet.

 We did go to a wine tasting yesterday...really good wine!

 

 The fort at St Augustine...guarding the city and the inlet from the Atlantic.

 

 Various sized cannons that were used at the fort.

 

 Palm trees over the fort wall...a more peaceful setting.

 

 The block in the middle held the cannon on a rotating pole. The half circle supported a wheel that was mounted to the cannon so that it could be swiveled quickly as ships changed position.

 

 Sunrise this morning.

 

 Another beautiful home on the waterway.

 

 Shirl's daily bridge shot...

 

 Standing tall while not always easy, can be a thing of beauty.

 

 Lee's Ford Flag flies in Daytona Beach.

 

Sunset this evening...

St. Augustine....America's oldest city

 

I am sitting in a WiFi cafe in the shadow of this palm tree. It is beautiful and in the 70s today. The sun is so bright that it is hard to see the computer screen. Serenity is on a mooring ball at the city marina. It costs $20 a day! We have access to the showers, restrooms, and laundry for that fee. To go any where we launch the dink, ride about 1/2 mile, and tie her to the dingy dock which the marina provides as part of the fee. We can then walk to the historic district, or to restaurants, shops, and pretty much what ever. This is a beautiful city, and would be a great place to spend a vacation. In many ways it reminds me of Annapolis, as it seems to be more on what I refer to as a human scale...small, and not so urban, not so high tech... if that makes sense. It is such an old city, and much of the design predates the automobile, which is another reason for the smaller scale.
Shirl and I decided we are going to stay for a few days...at $20 a day to secure the boat, why not enjoy the beautiful weather in a beautiful city. One of the questions I am asked a lot is about the cost of a trip like this. I am working on a blog post about that I hope will give you a general idea.

 

 

 St. Augustine...

 

 Serenity in the mooring field...there are a lot of boats there.

 

 Bird at the marina waiting for bait fish.

 

 Boat storage...Florida style

 

 Mom you were right...this pirate ship followed our dink all the way in to the marina!

 

 St. Augustine

 

 Wally World...you had to love that movie
 

 Dancing...

 

Florida...

We are at Palm Cove Marina this morning in Jacksonville, Florida. Cross another state off of the list. We had anchored five nights in a row, so we decided to stay at a marina last night.Our last night at anchor was difficult. We anchored off of Cumberland Island and the wind was blowing at 15 to 25 mph, in the opposite direction of the incoming tide, which caused Serenity to continue to roll and turn sideways. There were several other boats anchored in the same area, and I was concerned that we would get to close. In wind with opposing current it is surprising how different boats react. The trawlers seemed the least affected, (no keel).  Anchoring is less expensive, (free) and this marina is $1.75 a foot. We needed to fill the water tank, and decided to get fuel as well. There is a fantastic restaurant here, called Marker 32. We had dinner there last night and it was great. I tried a local beer called Killer Whale and it was good as well. Today we will cruise to St. Augustine, where we plan to spend a few days, do a few boat projects, and check out the city. The weather yesterday was cool...in the low 50s, and very overcast.
We are still doing well after two months aboard. Yesterday though, it was good to get off the boat to take a nice walk, a long hot shower, and have a great dinner. We are looking forward to slowing down and relaxing...soon. Today it's back to moving south.

 Serenity approaching another double bascule bridge. I have lost count of how many bridges we have gone through.

 Nice summer home on the water.

 The Navy working on another ship.

 No problem for us!

 This island is for sale.

I have a friend who wants to retire and "live under a palm tree." Hey Greg, I know you want one further south but this one has a roof. I'll keep looking.

There are so many shrimp boats in this area.