Melbourne to Titusville March 13-14, 2013

Melbourne to Titusville 

ICW kicking up under strong north winds

We had originally planned to stop in Cocoa after a short run from Melbourne, but with the high winds and towing the dinghy we decided backing into a slip might be a bit too ambitious so we elected to press on past Cocoa and get near or into Titusville.  Although there are a number of nice anchorages in Cocoa, a favored one on the south side of the causeway didn't look very appealing and with the poignant reminder of last nights episode still fresh, we elected to pass.

Towing the dinghy seemed to marginally effect our fuel consumption.  It was really bouncing around back there so we were worried about damaging something but we had little choice.  I slowed down to about 5 - 6 knots during the worst stretches so it was a long day.








Plugging away into the howling wind we next decided to scrutinize a few anchorages south of Titusville, the Space Center Causeway being one that we thought we'd be able to manage.  We saw a few boats in there but they were really bouncing around and it didn't appear to be that large of an anchorage, so dialing back "adventure" to a more moderate level we by-passed that one as well.

Our next option was the mooring field at Titusville adjacent to the marina itself.  We thought we might grab a mooring ball more easily then entering a slip given the weather and of course that unhappy dinghy tethered right behind us.  Picking up a mooring is conceptually a very easy procedure.  You just grab a short line sitting on top of the mooring ball with an eye hook at its end and pass your dock line through it.  Then fasten the dock line to the boat and your snagged, securely bound to the mooring ball.

Typical mooring ball in calmer conditions

In practice (like so many things) it can be somewhat more complicated.  With waves, wind and a large boat susceptible to both, the ability to get close enough to the ball can present a challenge.  Add in the relatively high free board of our boat, and the more modest arm length of the mooring ball grabber (Mary), one can imagine one of those slapstick movie scenes emerging.  So with all that in mind we talked ourselves out of it and I called the marina and told them our situation and need of a side tie dock (since we had the dinghy off the stern).


They were most accommodating and found a spot for us.  Entering the narrow channel the dock was thankfully right there in front of us.  Did I mention that the wind and current were pushing us right into the marina and dock to the extent I had the engines idling in neutral?  Another one of those moments where your in control of an almost out of control large boat.  Unforgettable!  But being an old salt now (right?) I was able to get close and work the shifters so we just kissed the dock.  We had 3 of the 4 deck hands trying to keep us from squashing the dock pilings because of the wave surge and wind, while the fourth made a heroic effort to save our dinghy from being wedged under the dock.

End of C dock.  Marina entrance visible to the left

In a few minutes we were securely tied to the end of C dock.  Rocking in the surge for sure, but we had out 5 strategically placed fenders so weren't experiencing any apparent damage.  We moved the dinghy to the slip right next to us since it was getting battered around.  The winds and surge held steady and then began to lessen quite dramatically in the evening.  We of course said, "Great! We'll put the dinghy back aboard tomorrow morning before heading out".  So we left the dinghy where it was in the slip next to us.  And sure enough at 3am the winds began blowing strong out of the north again, right in through the marina entrance rocking us around.

The day was very windy and we calculated our chances of getting the dinghy aboard and getting off the dock (the wind was pushing us into the dock) were maybe not quite zero but close enough to dissuade any thoughts of leaving.  So we stayed another day.  I took advantage of the lull in travel and I got my bike off the boat and road about 4 miles through town to the local Ace hardware store where a seasoned cruiser named Mary help me gather up the necessary parts to re-assemble a functional snubber.

The boat was really banging on the pilings when I returned so we tried deploying additional fenders and re-situating the ones already out.  Even used a towel to help ease the scrapping.  It was marginally successful but as the day wore on the winds began to diminish as well as the surge.

Necessary planning tools:  Pepsi , Christmas ornament, sleepy dog 

We spent a few hours in the afternoon planning out the next days journey to Daytona.  It was getting pretty nice out if a little cool, but we decided to walk the mile or so to the Dixie Crossroads to try their sumptuous sea food delights.  Very good!

The next morning we were determined to leave and so after coffee we pulled the dinghy around from its slip next to us, deployed the davit and raised it.  But we couldn't get it properly situated over the cradle.  I think its because we had the crane adjusted in the wrong position effectively preventing us from swinging the dinghy over far enough to sit in the cradle correctly. Old Salts indeed!  So back down it went and on the tow line.  This presented a mild problem since I had to back away from the dock to turn and head out the entrance to the marina.  We came up with a plan to secure the dinghy to the port side which was the side away from the dock.  I'd back it out and then once we started forward out the entrance Mary would loosen the line holding it to the side of the boat.   And so we backed off the dock, and pivoted in the fareway adjacent to C dock and then out the marina entrance.  As we were headed out towards the ICW, I put the boat in neutral and took off the line securing the dinghy to the side.  And I tossed it in the dinghy on the first try so no dangling lines to foul a prop.  The tow line is poly so it floats.  All, in all another exciting episode.  Wish I had pictures of it.

Thus begins the segment of the trip to Daytona through Mosquito Lagoon and endless hours of flat water and little islets for the bulk of the day.

By the way, great place to stay, Titusville Marina!

Faber Cove in Ft. Pierce to Melbourne (March 12, 2013)

We successfully maneuvered our way out of Favor Cove at high tide so no issues.  6 feet of water was the lowest we encountered. on the way we passed by the Ft. Pierce Marina renovations which I suspect will make this marina a superb stop later this year for those coming south.

The ICW here is calm, pretty straight with a few bridges and eye catching homes on either side of the housing spectrum.  We encountered our first bascule bridge moving north.  It's been a decade since I've been on the VHF radio.  It all comes back in a hurry ... like riding a bike.  I couldn't recall the correct channel to call the bridge on though.  Turns out channel 9 is usually the one that bridges monitor although I have had to call on channel 16 twice.





Passing through an area north of Ft. Pierce, this is on example of some of the palatial estates.  Certainly not ever going to be one of my summer homes.  But they are an interesting sight.  How one would use so much space is beyond me.   I wont mention cleaning since I'm pretty sure these places are outside the bounds of a the typical owner cleaned home.

We had a first dolphin sightings.   I suspect they will become common place as we journey north.  They usually run in pods numbering 2-7 and although I only captured this one image, there were several instances of dolphins whizzing by us.  We aren't the speediest of vessels.   As my wife would comment, "...like being on the freeway when you're driving".

Approaching the Melbourne north causeway anchorage

We had selected two possible anchorages on either side of the Eau Gallie Causeway.  The northern anchorage is larger and deeper, the southern anchorage is better for northerly winds.  The weather indicated we'd be experiencing a wind shift from SE to NW in the early morning hours, about the time we'd be getting underway.  Or so NOAA thought.  We anchored around 5pm (without the snubber!) easily in the gentle southerly breezes.  So guess which anchorage we used?

Yeah, yeah I made a bad choice.  And even though Mary said anchor on the south side of the causeway, I still consider it a good learning experience .... a dark night with a howling north wind near a bridge and an anchor which actually dragged about 74 feet.  I know this because the anchor alarm was set for 75 feet and we were most assuredly we not in the same spot we were when I went to bed.

Basin behind the launch ramp in Melbourne

But early in the evening we got the dinghy down and ran the dog over to the shore.  Since it was so nice we took the dinghy for a little run and found this almost hidden marina and basin near the launch ramp on the southern side of the Causeway.  Very nice!  Had a nice grilled dinner aboard and a beautiful evening with calm winds and very little wave action.  Delightful.  Like anything lasts forever ...

Mary walking the dog in Melbourne area park

Anchored in Melbourne

Coffee motivation.  Lots of coffee motivation ...

Around 3am (why is it always 3am?) the winds switched and we started getting bounced around.  I was up every so often trying to determine if we were dragging which we did a little.  And it so so idyllic in the evening!






 We ran the dog into shore for a  walk and we're underway before 8:30.  With only one glitch.  We couldn't manhandle the dinghy into it's cradle.  The boat was rocking and the wind was too strong.  I'd add lack of experience, but we are old salts aren't we?  So thankfully we had a towing line (polypropylene so it floats) which I rigged up.  We raised the anchor and carefully maneuvered out to the ICW and headed to points north.

 Our planned anchorage was near Palm Bay. Plans, luckily, aren't bound by the hard-and-fast.  And in our case that was a good thing!

We're off on the Loop March 11, 2013

The gods of  mirth have conspired to send us out on a journey north.  And so for better or worse (hey, I remember saying that once before) we have left the dock at Loggerhead in Stuart for parts north.  Of course we departed during an ideal period, at least from a mirthful god's point of view.  A high pressure ridge moving down across Florida is bringing higher winds than we'd like especially considering our intent to anchor out as much as possible.  And it was howling from the south at times coming up the ICW, but we were moving north and the winds were blowing us that way so it was an easy ride.

The previous few days we've spent in feverish activity getting the boat ready.  What's that?  It doesn't look any different?  Oh, but you should look on the inside.  Actually other than the new name, most of what we've done has been interior work, basically cleaning etc.  Otherwise yeah, it looks pretty much the same even though we've spent countless hours doing "stuff".

Nyla, a marvelous person we met in Stuart does upholstery kinds of work and did up these cabinet inserts for Mary.  She also refurbished the forward (guest) stateroom bed.

And our Bikes, essential tools of hauling food, implements, and other required boat stuff, fit on the sundeck.  Well, fit might be a bit generous, but they are in and not outside so hopefully they'll last a little longer before rusting out.  Cant wait to try grilling and getting at the freezer when we power it up.





So we intended on getting up at 7am and leaving the dock at Loggerhead by 8:30.  Right.  We got up before 8am though which is pretty good for us.  After saying good bye to some great people, Fred and Judy, Lou and Joanie, Bob, Ralph, Peggy and Terry we left our slip (Thanks Fred and Joanie for the line help!).  We tootled over to the fuel dock for a paltry 155gal of diesel. I wont mention the cost except to say I have owned several cars costing twice as much.  After pumping out the holding tank we started up the engines and with the wind pinning us to the dock, I attempted to use a bow spring line to move the stern out from the dock.  It did, but not enough or so I thought so I tried to pivot the boat to move the stern further off the dock all the while forgetting I had the wheel hard to starboard.  It was another exciting docking moment and another lesson learned!   At the very least we're certainly providing a certain level of entertainment.  Oh, did I mention we also snapped off a fender tender clip when we docked?  The fun never ends!

So Long Loggerhead

It's somewhat sad leaving leaving Loggerhead.  So many great people, but one must move on at some point and for us this was a good time since we have to be in WI by March 25th and leaving the boat in Jacksonville seemed like a good place to start stage two of the journey.  The impetus to stay though was difficult to over-come ... I mean heated pool, convenient shopping, cocktails, friends, and the sense of ease being tied to a dock during less than pleasant weather.  But ... the call of adventure proved stronger!  And so off we went.



The trip up the river was uneventful.  It only got exciting at the crossroads (spot where the ICW and St. Lucie inlet cross) where we met a barge southbound and had to jockey around to make the turn up the ICW to head north.  The first time we encountered the crossroads several months ago we had no idea where to turn.  Really confusing until we studied the charts more closely.


We were running at about  7  knots which is slow but quite scenic.  Certain others I wont mention by name, are less enthralled with slow and scenic but compromise isn't really an option in this boat.  Nothing spectacular to see really, but relaxing none the less.  Followed this sailboat most of the afternoon.

A turn to starboard after marker Red 188 gets you into the anchorage on the east side of the ICW almost directly opposite of the Ft. Pierce marina which they are currently expanding and remodeling.  One very helpful mantra for navigating the ICW is "green to sea".  Green day marks and buoys are always on the seaward side of the ICW.   There are a few areas here to anchor but in southern winds we were experiencing it looked pretty rolley so we decided to try and enter Favor Cove further inside.  Good decision!  It was analogous to flipping off the fan switch... the winds just stopped and the seas were dead calm once we entered the cove.

Coming into the Cove.

It was a little dicey coming in over a well documented shallow area (4.7ft) but we cam in on a  low tide so shouldn't present a problem for anyone if the tides aren't at the low end.  We draw 4ft 2inches.

It turned out to be delightfully  calm in there as opposed to the anchorage areas we passed through when entering.  We are the only boat in here.  Very nice!  And it's much easier to get the dinghy down without the high winds too.  We, of course have to take the dog to shore.

We were the only boat in the cove which is surrounded by private homes.  Maybe not as scenic as some anchorages but very calm and peaceful.  We picked a spot with about 12 feet of water and let the anchor down.  Also decided to get out the snubber for practice.

For the curious sort, this is a snubber

We've only taken the dinghy down twice before.  But we're old salts now so this will a breeze.  Dinghy went into the water easily, and Mary and the lines off and stowed in short order while I surprisingly remembered where the keys were and got the dog and two life jackets ready.  The dog, unused to the rather extreme height from the swim platform, was not squealing for joy as I lifted her down.  But apprehension disappeared quickly enough.

Cruising with a dog does have it's issues., especially with one who's finicky about what and where "its" done.  We haven't, at this point, started attempting the pee on an Astro Turf mat quite yet.  And in Favor Cove there is a decided lack of places to walk your dog.   But with the dinghy down we had the option of finding someplace for the dog to "go".  It was about 13 hours, a long time to hold it!



We ended up heading into a private marina about a mile from where we were anchored.  No place to land the dinghy but this kindly couple working on their Hatteras invited us to tie up to their dock so we could walk Cleo thus averting an exploding dog scenario.  They gave us some pointers on dogs and mat peeing too.

Then it was back to the boat and grilling before indulging in a peaceful nights sleep.





We did manage to get up at 7am the next morning.  And it was dark, a little cool and generally not the tropical morning one expects.  Dog didn't seem to embrace the early morning either.  We took her over to the marina again, and got the dinghy aboard and secured.  I started the engines and Mary engaged the windlass to bring up the anchor. But first we had to get the snubber off....

... and off came off.  Literally.  Well actually the shackle on the eye hook of the snubber lost its pin and the chain hook fell to the bottom along with the shackle pin.  Oh boy!  So no snubber for our next anchorage stop, Melbourne.