Cruising Friends - January 19-23

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Today was a Stay Day in Saint Augustine but it was so cold that we had to go to the boater’s lounge in the morning.  While we have plenty of cover for sleeping, it was just too cold to sit around and read.   We returned at lunch which warmed us up.  Keep in mind that each trip to or from Dubhe has to be made in our small dingy…a cold operation by itself.  Took a long walk around town in the afternoon.  The day before we met new friends, Michael and Suzie Baker on Imajine.  Michael and Suzie invited us over to Imajine for evening.  We seem to have a lot in common, and they live in Saint Mary’s, Georgia, so I am sure we will see much more of them.  When we left Imajine , of course it was dark and cold for our dingy ride.  As were leaving, we saw another couple in a dingy who could not get their engine started.  We had to offer them a tow to their boat, that’s just the way cruisers are, but I was hoping they would decline.  They took us up on it so we had a much longer nighttime dingy ride than expected.  Fortunately, they were near the “front” so it was not too bad.

Cold walk in Saint Augustine

Our Boat - actually Dubhe is the first little speck behind the monster

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

One week since we left Beaufort, but it seems like a month; so much has happened.  Another cold morning but getting away is easy when on a mooring; just let go and drive away.  We left about 7:00 just as it was getting light.  We had decided to run with Imajine today, and anchor together tonight because we wanted to spend more time with them.  There are not many boats slower than Dubhe but Imajine is one of them.  They ran aground near Matanzas Inlet but were able to work their way off within a few minutes.  Although we ran a little slower, we were able to make our planned destination; Daytona Beach at 4:30.  We had a little trouble finding an anchorage that suited us, but another boat Santorini very kindly directed us into a perfect anchorage where they were.  Michael and Suzie were invited over to Dubhe for drinks which they accepted and we all had a fine evening.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

I rose at 6:00 to the sound of someone talking outside of Dubhe. Since we were anchored and it was black dark, this required an investigation.  Turns out that there were rowers in various sizes of shells getting getting in some practice early.  We left Imajine at the anchorage, departing at 6:50.  At least it is a little warmer today.  We just made the 9:00 opening of the George Musson Bridge at New Smyrna Beach then 

stopped for fuel at New Smyrna Marina.  This was a very long day; 67 miles to Cocoa.  Most of the day, the wind was calm and the water like glass.  We anchored just northeast of the Merritt Island Bridge which provides excellent protection for the anticipated increasing southeast wind tonight, and has a great bottom for holding.  A storm with rain and high wind is predicted for tomorrow and Saturday.  (as it turns out, this is the same storm that brought snow to SC and the northeast).

Passed by a sailboat - Kanga

Kennedy Space Center VAB

Anchored after a long day - in Cocoa 

Friday, January 22, 2016.

During the night, the wind picked up some (SE 10-15) and although we had a great anchorage, I did not sleep well.  I don’t know why; I have slept very well in much worse conditions.  Had to get up one time to tie off a slapping halyard.  We left at 7:45 for Melbourne; overcast with wind about 15 kts on the nose and rain showers off and on.  Arrived at Eau Gallie Yacht Basin (Melbourne) about 10:30 after covering only 17 miles.  Once we entered the Eau Gallie River, it was like a mill pond; very protected as is the marina.  But the marina has a lot of boats in a small area and I had to back Dubhe into a small slip, which I did without a problem. I was quite proud of it actually, and there were a lot of other boaters around to watch.  Just as we were tying up, a squall line came through with very high wind gusts and rain.  I wish my timing could be that good all the time.  I like this marina but Nancy is not impressed with the showers and general facilities!  After the rain, we took a short walk into Eau Gallie which is a very nice little town.

Dubhe at Eau Gallie

Saturday, January 23, 2016.

Wind is predicted to be west up to 30 mph today so we have stayed put.  It is nice to have a rest day and as any typical Saturday we had pancakes and bacon for breakfast and lounged around drinking coffee and surfing on the internet.  I did manage to accomplish one of my goals.  I was able to configure and setup my wifi extender “Ubiquity Bullet” and wireless router.  This enables us to connect to wifi that is too distance for normal devices to connect to, as is the case in most marinas.  And because my router connects to the internet through the bullet, I can then network all of our devices to it rather than connect them individually. We have two computers, to iPads, and two iPhones on board.  I love cruising, but I need to have access to the internet at least every two or three days.  Although it was quite cool and windy (as predicted), we walked into Eau Gallie, stopping at the hardware store for a few items, then walking along the water, ending up at “Squid Lips” for lunch.  After lunch, back to Dubhe for a nap…the cruising life.  Saturday afternoon was occupied with minor maintenance and cleanup.  I could not find an extension cord just like I wanted for my new wifi setup, so I made one up to suit me.  Our friends Debbie and Frank Gillig who we met cruising last year are making a road trip through Florida called and said they would come by for a visit which delighted us.  They arrived shortly after 5:00, just in time for drinks, then we took a ride over the Eau Gallie bridge for a little scenery and dinner at a great Italian restaurant, Brano’s in (or near) Satellite Beach (which is now part of Melbourne too.)  It was Franks birthday so we celebrated about as much as we could and back to Dubhe for a while before they had to leaf.  Tomorrow we head to Fort Pierce.  

Eau Gallie Yacht Basin

Meeting People is the best part of cruising.