Vero Beach and North

Well, we are now moving north up the east coast of Florida.  The weather is colder and we have to think about sudden thunder storms.  We can watch our iphone RADAR app that gives a live look at what is coming.  We just got a tornado warning text message with a loud beep warning us to take cover.  We are at a mooring in St. Augustine. The RADAR shows the cell moving slightly north of us. The sky is dark in that direction, and brighter to the south, and the water is flat calm.


After crossing the Okeechobee we stayed with Dick and Bonnie on their dock.  We enjoyed their good company and visits from Ron and Tish Drago who brought us some fresh herbs from their garden. Mike Heaphy stopped by for brunch before we left.  Bonnie has beautiful flowers in her garden. Check out the pictures.  Dick led us out of the canal and along the bridge.  We touched bottom twice, but didn't get stuck like last time,  just rubbed off some of the bottom slime!

Bonnie's Flowers:

Dawn in Vero

Vero Beach bridge

We moved north to Melbourne, dropped the hook near the bridge and had a quiet evening.  Next day we went to Titusville and spent two nights in their mooring field.  The weather was warm and lovely, and we enjoyed sitting outside for a beautiful sunset.  Next morning was cloudy with thunder storms coming.  We wated a couple of hours for the rain to pass, then headed up to New Smyrna Beach.  We tied up, and found the Panhead Pizza place, where we had excellent wings and, of course, Pizza.

Sunset in Melbourne

 

Pelican posing in Titusville

Ibis on patrol in Titusville

Osprey nest - occupied

Roots along the shore

Eagle - I think

One of many small islands along the ICW

We have seen many dolphins along the way.  The first was in North Carolina in November.  They appear and follow the boat, or just go about their graceful business.  Sometimes they want to play in the wake.  This group of three of four played and jumped in the wake for almost a mile.  It's hard to get pictures of them because you can't tell where they will jump.   This group kept taking turns jumping in the same spot, and I was able to get some good shots.

You never know what is around the next bend.

The pelicans scrambling after the trimmings in New Smyrna Beach

In the morning we woke to cool crisp sunshine, and headed out past Daytona Beach with all the bridges and on to Palm Coast for a quiet evening.  The sun was warm so we enjoyed our Chardonnay on the upper deck until the sun went down and it got cold.

Many sandbars and marsh land

Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse

Daytona Bridges

On this Daytona Bridge, every piling has a painting of Dolphins and Manatees

What a great boat - The Pink Panther - looked like a live aboard boat.

Palm Coast Marina

Working Tug

Beautiful shoreline

Yesterday found us taking a short trip to St. Augustine.  The section of the Matanzas River is lovely, with sandy shoreline and curving river banks and sandbars.  We picked up a mooring ball, felt lazy so we stayed on board.  Today I went to town to explore and get a few groceries.  There are so many shops and restaurants that are along a pedestrian only street.  It was busy even though the skies threatened.  Then it RAINED - buckets.  The gutters were deep with water - wet feet - just getting back to the marina building.
Got back to the boat when the rain subsided.  We are now dry and warm, listening to the thunder and pouring rain with some hail, can't see to shore - barely to the next boat. 

Interesting sculpture in a St. Augustine Gallery window.

Looking up King Street toward Flagler College towers

Garden in old town

The Bridge of Lions - notice the new dock that will also serve as a wave break from the NE wind/waves

It's still raining, but no more thunder or lightning ... at least for now.