Good Tidings for Christmas from Delray Beach

It is Christmas Day, and we are sitting with the doors and windows open, relaxing after a delicious breakfast and looking forward to an even better dinner.  Our Christmas tree is a rosemary plant, pruned to the shape of a tree - Thanks Tish and Ron - and decorated with some colorful lights - thanks, Dick and Bonnie. We will have ham, roasted potatoes with rosemary and garlic butter with string beans and salad.

Our rosemary Christmas Tree

Delray Beach has many galleries, restaurants and shops lining Atlantic avenue on both sides of the bridge across the ICW. 

palm lined street

Fountain in the Park

The open bridge from the restaurant where we ate dinner Christmas Eve

View south of the ICW from the restaurant

The beach is a short walk east, and very busy with tourists. Not many people in the water, but it is beautiful weather. 

Sand sculpture on the beach

Check out the cat leaning on the horse's back

On our way here we passed by some little boats ... and small cottages in Palm beach

 I guess if there is no other way to get the toys delivered, a jet ski will do the job.

 Merry Christmas!

Visit with Dick and Bonnie in Vero Beach

Dick and Bonnie on "Dolphin Run"

Dick and Bonnie Myers invited us to move our boat to their dock up a NARROW canal just north of the 17th Street Causeway Bridge.  Dick led us in, following his local knowledge of the "skinny water" with a couple of wiggles to get in.  We managed to turn the boat with inches to spare! Passing between some mangroves and some metal pilings was a little stressful, but we made it. 

the canal we came through

Bonnie took me for a tour of Vero, and we walked on the beach, stopped for a glass of wine and enjoyed good conversation.

yes, I really was there

View of Vero beach from a lovely restaurant

Ron and Tish Drago came over for dinner and it was a great party - warm up for Christmas!

Dick and Bonnie's house is beautiful with a Lanai that surrounds their pool and patio, surrounded by lawn, flowers and tomato/veggie plants - yummy, and of course the dock with their new boat "Dolphin Run" up on a lift.  

their pool - we had a fun swim

Which parrot is real?

 

Jeff and Dick on the back deck of GoodTidings

 

 OK, then we had to leave - sad but true... It was a strong wind from the north, and we set out of through the canal.  We made it out of the canal, slowed to make a tight right angle turn at the base of the bridge with the wind pushing us south toward the bridge (no we didn't hit the bridge). We swung out at piling #50 as instructed,  then back along the bridge.  We knew about the second shoal before the sand bar and the mangrove island, but OOPS I didn't go out soon enough - and the sand came up to meet us.  We called for help, but Dolphin Run wasn't strong enough with the wind blowing us into the sand and the tide falling, so we had to call for backup (Boat US) to get us off the hard...  In spite of everything, the visit was worth it and we will be back in March.

Thanks Dick and Bonnie

St. Augustine to Vero Beach

St. Augustine is a beautiful, old, Spanish inspired city.  We stayed on the town moorings, which include free water shuttle to town 4 times a day, and free pump out boat.  We went to town and explored the downtown old shopping district.  It has no cars, and many shops, restaurants and street entertainment.  We found a Greek restaurant for an excellent lunch.  On the water front is the old fort Castillo San Marcos.   Up the main street is the very impressive building that used to be the Ponce De Leon Hotel and now houses the Flagler College dorms.  The entrance hall and cafeteria (ballroom) have ornate carvings and murals.  The outer courtyard and towers are striking.  Near the waterfront was a street of galleries, antiques stores and sidewalk cafes.  This is a very interesting city.

Spanish influenced church architecture

Pedestrian shopping street

City Hall and the Lightner Museum

Flagler College

Flagler College courtyard fountain with frogs and turtles

Flagler College rotunda with mural and elaborate wood work

St. Augustine's Bridge of Lions

Castillo San Marcos

We anchored in Daytona, but didn't see much as we arrived in dense fog ... left in the morning.

We moved south and stopped in Titusville Municipal Marina for a day of laundry, provisions etc.  The town seemed empty, but the dock had many live-aboard boaters.  They said that the economy was hit hard when NASA stopped the space shuttle program and then many space related industries closed as well. People who lived and boated in the area and have now moved on to find other work. One of our chores that day was to empty our water tanks and start with fresh water that we now filter as we fill the tanks.  While we were draining the tank, a group of huge Manatees were clustered on each side of the boat jostling for position and slurping up the fresh water.  That was my first close up look at them.

There are many high rise apartments/condos in this area

The fog setting in

Pelicans perched ashore

Pelicans fishing for lunch

Manatees crowding around our boat

This big one got the port side drain

This one on the starboard side

 
Next day was an easy short run to Melbourne and an anchorage, followed by a short day run to Vero Beach.  We are now in the city marina at a mooring.  Upon arrival we called Dick and Bonnie Myers who live very nearby.  Dick came over in his new boat to welcome us. Nice boat! Today they will both come over and we will get a chance to enjoy their good company.

Pete's Visit to Fernandina Beach

This week we had a special treat.  Jeff's brother Pete flew down to visit us from Iowa.  We stayed at the Fernandina Harbor Marina right in the down town area and had the opportunity to walk around town.  We also had Pete's rental car to drive around and explore Amelia Island, the beaches and Fort Clinch State Park.  The most important part was, of course, to visit with Pete.  Added bonus was to get some serious provisions (cases of wine and seltzer etc.).

Jeff and Pete at the beach

When you approach Fernandina Beach there are two large paper plants, and it seems like you will be overwhelmed by the fumes and industrial site.  In fact, you don't smell a thing, and as soon as you get to the marina you don't see a thing.  It is a delightful town of shops, pubs and flowers.  Beautiful brick buildings and old homes. 

Paper Mill north of town

Downtown Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach

Amelia Island Beach

Terns on the beach

Sunset from the marina

Wishing A Happy Chanukah to all.

Foggy afternoon going south to St. Augustine

  We are now in St. Augustine, FL (more on that in a few days)

St. Simons and St. Marys, GA

The trip through Georgia takes you through many narrow winding creeks and wide open sounds.  We continued south always on a rising tide, and arrived in St. Simon's Island, GA.  We came here because our dinghy engine wouldn't hold idle again.  This time we had a Yamaha certified mechanic look at it.  The compression in one of the cylinders was very low, and the cost of repair would be more than the engine was worth.  He recommended a new engine.  He was not selling it, but we were able to get one locally.  We now have a brand new Yamaha 8hp that works!  It can even get on plane with both of us on board.  The mechanic picked up the engine, installed it, and then took us to the grocery store as a bonus.  There is definitely something to be said for southern hospitality.

The next day, I borrowed one of their bikes and rode a couple of miles into town to browse and went to the lighthouse museum.  I walked to the top (about 5 stories) for a fabulous view. Then back down the steep spiral stairs.  That's when I realized I would still have to bike back 2.5 miles.... tired legs for sure, but well worth it.

Morningstar Golden Isles Marina

Mom and baby in St Simon's park

Light House and Keepers house

Interior spiral stairs

View from the top of the Light House out to the ocean

We continued on to St. Mary's and anchored out.  I exercised the dinghy engine several times.  They were celebrating "Christmas in the Park" that weekend, complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, the Grinch and Gingerbread Men, some live music and scads of happy children playing all kinds of games.  All that fun, not a flake of snow, and wearing T-shirts and shorts.  I also found the farmers market and got great fresh veggies - even fresh corn - in Dec!

St. Mary's Christmas in the Park

Getting the decorations ready

St. Mary's waterfront

St Mary's view from the boat

St Mary's house ready for Christmas