Traveling with Eric's Inheritance: Day 303 - 307 April 19

Day 303 Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Fort Pierce City Marina to Melbourne, Florida Anchorage

Six hour day was planned from Fort Pierce to an anchorage -- no room at the nearby marina. We had been talking with our friends (a travel day ahead of us) on Anna Dee. They had a calm night with good holding so we felt good about anchoring out.

Lots of current

Locals on a sandbar

Lots to see along the way, including our good luck charm, dolphins. We had several follow us and I was actually able to get some pics and videos. I guess we missed seeing a rocket launch while we were busy filming our dolphin visitors.

Sorry, the videos won't download ......

We had a manta ray jump in front of us several times. We also passed the largest marine lift we have ever seen and the research vessel, R/V WT Hogarth.

R/V WT Hogarth

The waterfront was full of mansion sized homes with statues of mermaids, dolphins, turtles and the Statue of Liberty.

We anchored at Eau Gallie Causeway with sailboats closer to shore. We were joined by another sailboat before the night was out. We had a good night with no anchor alarms, just waves slapping on the hull.

Day 304 Thursday, April 20, 2023

Eau Gallie Causeway to Titusville, Florida

We had a good night at anchor but a terrible start to our morning. While pulling our anchor the windlass started to struggle and then quit. The motor would run but the gears seemed stripped; the chain wasn't coming up. Jerry came to the bow to check things out. Not a good situation when you have 75 feet of anchor chain and a 55 pound anchor. Jerry had to pull it all by hand while I manned the helm. It took about 30 minutes and a lot of effort on his part.

Derelict boats at our anchorage

Once on our way we were greeted by our dolphin friends. They always guarantee a good day. We actually got a courteous slow pass by a sport fishing boat, very unusual. I can't believe we are still seeing crab pots.

Cocoa Beach

Crab fisherman

We passed NASA along the way. We aren't sure if we'll get an opportunity to see a rocket launch while we are in the area.

Short day today of 4 hours and 30minutes. We snagged one of the mooring balls at Titusville Municipal Marina. The moorings are first come, first served and they had no slips available so we were pretty happy that there were some left. We weren't going to be able to anchor! Bonus - mooring cost including taxes -- $19.26. Not as cheep as anchoring but no need for the windlass.

Our view from our mooring. We were told this was a planned controlled burn.

Our neighbor in the mooring field

We stayed on the boat rather than dinghy to shore and spent the afternoon considering our options. Jerry contacted Anna Dee and other Mainship Loopers to get some insight for the windlass. We didn't have a manual for the windlass; Tommy on Anna Dee confirmed the model and gave Jerry part numbers since he had repaired his. The Looper community of boaters is a great resource.

Day 305 Friday, April 21, 2023

Titusville, Florida to Halifax Harbor Marina, Daytona Beach Florida

We had a flat, calm start with waves less than 1 foot all day. We left the mooring ball and headed to the fuel dock at the marina. Fuel was $4.10/gallon, less our Boat US membership discount, plus taxes. We left the fuel dock at 08:45 and headed on our way to Daytona Beach.

We went under the NASA railway bridge. It crosses from the mainland to Merritt Island and is used infrequently.

Lots of derilect boats.

Today was filled with critter sightings. We saw 2 manta rays and dolphins swim by. We passed through Haulover Canal bridge with manatees feeding.

Once through we slowed to neutral for what looked like another group of manatees. Before we knew it one of the manatees had bumped into us! The engines weren't in gear so it must have tried to come to the surface and ran into us. I ran to the back of the boat to make sure that we hadn't hurt one but all looked good.

Hard to tell but this was a manatee.

We pulled into the marina at 3:30 for a six and a half hour day. We are docked near our friends on Call Me Curly. Jerry did a quick rinse to get the salt off the boat while I picked up a bit in anticipation of company! Julie, Joe, Cathy and Mike were vacationing in Flaglar Beach and joining us for dinner. It was so good to see them before they headed home.

Day 306 Saturday, April 22, 2023

Laundry and Grocery Day! Not too much exciting to say about that.

Day 307 Sunday, April 23, 2023

Today we walked to Basilica of St. Paul for church. Pleasant, sunny day, already hot by the time we got there. Their enthusiastic young choir director leads a choir of 20 members. They sang alot of familiar hymns.