Halifax Harbour Marina, Daytona Beach, Florida

.Did a short hop today up to Daytona Beach. Went to the Farmer's Market in New Smyrna this morning, got a few fresh veg plus some shrimp from the local area. Left New Smyrna about 9:30, got here by noon. Left the Indian River and entered the Halifax River, most of the way was Manatee zone - No Wake speed, so we travelled quite slowly. That suits us because we like to see the sights along the way. Lots of fishing camps this morning, more built up area as we came closer to Daytona Beach. Halifax Harbour is a huge marina, 522 slips. The man who came to help us dock came by boat, and he did all of the paperwork right here, no need for us to go way around to the office. Went for a walk this afternoon, ran into Gloria and Jim from Crawdad. Got together with them for cocktails this evening. We have met them along the way, nice to get to know them a little better.There is a West Marine right here at the marina, first we have seen that.
The moon tonight is huge, apparently a "super-moon"; the moon is the closest to earth that it has been in 18 years. This apparently makes high tides higher and low tides lower. Talked to a couple in New Smyrna this morning who touched bottom going through the area we went through today, we had no problem, but wonder if they went through at low tide. We passed through that spot just after high tide, so it went well.
We plan to stay here a couple of days to see the area.

New Smyrna Beach Marina, New Smyrna Beach, Florida

As we approached, these birds were sitting in a line across the channel, looked like perhaps they were sitting on a sand bar. As we approached, they flew away, they must have all decided to rest/fish/sit in the same place.

The new bridge at Titusville is open for business, no need to have the old one opened for us. In fact, it is mostly dismantled.

Drying his feather on top of a buoy

Pelicans roosting on this little island for the night

Left  Cocoa Village this morning headed north on the intercoastal waterway. We spent the whole trip in what is actually the Indian River, very wide in many spots. This morning, we went by Merritt Island Wildlife Preserve and Cape Canaveral, with the Kennedy Space Centre. It was interesting to recognize some of the structures that we had seen yesterday, although we saw them from much further away today. Seemed to take us hours to get past the Space Centre and Launch pad. After we passed Titusville, we went through the Haulover Canal and Mosquito Lagoon. Both areas were 'no wake' manatee zones, and we saw several manatee as we travelled. In the Haulover canal, there were two adults and a small one travelling together, ?mom, dad and child. Had dolphins with us pretty well all day, as well as pelicans. We saw more trees and open country today, less built up areas. It was a beautiful travel day, warm and sunny, calm waters. Got settled in here and went for a long walk around town, pretty town but a lot of empty buildings in the downtown area. Sat on the front deck of the boat tonight and watched dolphins playing in front of the boat.

Cocoa Village Marina, Cocoa, Florida



Nancy and Eddie's new car



A space capsule, hard to believe that it actually held two or three astronauts

Space Shuttle Endeavour on the launchpad being made ready for the April 19th launch



We had to try the Space Dots ice cream, which is apparently what the astronauts eat. It is billed as the ice cream of the future, but we really thought regular ice cream can't be beat.



We saw inside a space shuttle, both where the astronauts live - galley, sleeping quarters and head, and the cockpit. Neither is very big. Sleeping quarters, galley and head might make a bathroom in an average house. The cockpit has only the controls and seats.

A moon rover

Part of the rocket park at the Kennedy Space Centre.

We had a great day today! Eddie and Nancy have already purchased a car (can't believe they did it so quickly). They came and picked us up and we went to the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral. The Space Centre is actually on Merritt Island, and surrounded by several acres of wildlife preserve. We went to two IMAX movies, one about the Hubbel Telescope and another about the Space Station. We went to see the launch pad for the next shuttle launch.The launch is scheduled for April 19th, and the shuttle is already at the launch pad. It was so exciting to see it ready to go. The shuttle was brought from the building where they get it ready along a gravel road 8 lanes wide, by a carrier that travels at 1 mile per hour; takes 8 hours to move the shuttle to the launch pad. The fuel rockets are recovered from the ocean after launch; boats go out to recover them, then bring them in to railway tracks that then are used to transport them to the Vehicle Assembly Building where they are prepared for use again. The tour was well worth while doing. Some of my surprises: had forgotten so many details of the space program from the 80s and 90s, how many inventions created for the space program have come into everyday use and make our lives better,  didn't realize how little space the astronauts had to live and move in as they travel through space. We were truely amazed by the courage of these men and women who have explored space and learned so much. As we were travelling from one point to another through the wildlife preserve, saw alligators in the water and a bald eagle, as well as a bald eagle nest.  Came back to Cocoa and went out for dinner. Then we had to say good-bye to Nancy and Eddie for a while. We will definitely see them again, we hope sooner rather than later, but they need to get settled here in Florida while we need to move on. We have so enjoyed travelling with them. They are good friends.

Cocoa Village Marina, Cocoa Village, Florida

Another beautiful sunny day. Wayne did engine checks and some repairs this morning, while I did some laundry. We are starting to rate marinas, one important item on the scale being the laundry facilities. This marina is great, 4 washers and dryers, and only $1. per load. Nice big laundry room too, with room to sit and relax outside while you wait.

The water tower in Cocoa

Our new dockbox installed on the front of the boat

Many of the slips have lifts for the boats built in

A view up the main street of the restored section of town

After lunch we walked uptown to Historic Cocoa Village and both got haircuts. The hairdresser I went to was actually from Winnipeg, but has lived down here for many years. Spent the rest of the afternoon poking around the shops in the village, lots of nice little places selling crafts, different items. Also went to the Farmer's Market in town, not as large as some we have been to, but always nice to have access to the fresh fruit and vegetables. Lots of strawberries from Plant City. Very good.  Noticed little flying bugs, about the size of mosquitoes but not biting. A lady in a store told me they are love bugs, they appear for about 3 days, breed, then disappear again. They don't do any harm, but they do get into everything. Dinner on the boat, quiet evening.

Cocoa Village Marina, City of Cocoa, Florida

We left Loggerhead Marina and Eddie and Nancy this morning. We have thoroughly enjoyed travelling with and sharing this trip with them, and will very much miss them as we move on. Nancy and I have shared the cooking for so long that it will be quite different cooking alone again. It was a very peaceful trip up to Cocoa Village, light breeze behind us, very calm waters. There were a few other boats out there, but traffic was light. Saw dolphins and manetee as we travelled, lots of pelicans.  No bridges needed to be opened for us. As we travelled, we saw smoke rolling up to the west of us. We asked after we arrived, there is a range fire covering about 50 acres inland. Authorities are working hard trying to get it under control.
Went for a walk around town after we arrived, the marina is close to several shops and restaurants. A group in Cocoa has preserved Historic Cocoa Village in remembrance of Florida from the 1920's tothe 1950's. In fact, the restored town centre was recently chosen as the location for a movie set in 1960's Key West.

Leaving Vero Beach

Travis Hardware has everything, even a skeleton dressed in pirate costume

We stopped in at S.F.Travis & Co., a huge hardware store that fills several buildings. They have everything you can imagine in the way of hardware; I've heard it called the ultimate shopping area for men. Came back to the boat for dinner, then walked around the docks looking at the boats here. Many nice ones.  Will spend tomorrow visiting the town again. On Thursday, Nancy and Eddie are meeting us and we will go for a tour of the Kennedy Space Centre.

As we left Vero Beach this morning; Nancy was taking pictures.

The smoke from the brush fires was visible to the west as we travelled.

Many beautiful homes along the waterway. The water was very calm this morning.

The Historic Derby St. Chapel in Cocoa; built in 1924 by the Seventh Day Adventists, purchased in 1955 by Church of Christ, Scientist, then in 1964, purchased by the First Baptist Church.  It was designated to become a parking lot, but a community group purchased it and it has become a community use facility.

Loggerhead Vero Beach, Florida

Our last day at Vero Beach. Eddie took us this morning to get groceries; it will be our last chance to get them with a car for a while. Came back and did some odd jobs around the boat; Wayne finished filling his new dock box, we are quite excited about the extra space it will give us. Saw some different fish in the water here at the marina today, small blue fish with a long pointy nose. We understand that they are trumpet fish, very pretty. Some children were calling them pencil fish, perhaps because of the long pointy nose. Went to the beach at Vero Beach this afternoon. Long sand beach, fairly high surf coming in. Nice warm day, so lots of people on the beach. Several teens were using boogie boards along the edge of the waves.  At the AGLCA Rendezvous last fall, Wayne won a membership with MarinaLife, a company that will provide a concierge service for boaters, including making reservations at marinas for you. We actually activated the membership today, and requested a reservation for tomorrow. We have received a confirmation of the reservation, so looks like it may be a good service.

Two waves would come in side by side, then meet and cross over at the edges. Nancy says this is how rip currents start often.

The other Senator down the dock from us

Nancy and Eddie in front of the rock waterfall at the pool

Nancy and I made baking powder biscuits for dinner

Loggerhead turtle at the entrance. Perhaps how Loggerhead got it's name??

Had a good-bye dinner with Nancy and Eddie tonight. It will be sad to leave them here when we leave in the morning. We have so enjoyed travelling and sharing experiences with them.

Loggerhead Vero Beach Resort and Marina, Vero Beach, Florida

Breakfast along the seawall at the Farmer's Market in Fort Pierce yesterday





Woodpecker on a tree here at Loggerhead

One of the many small lakes around the complex

A waterfall out by the pool

Beautiful day today, cool this morning, but warmed up early; it was definitely shorts and T-shirt weather. Went to church with Nancy and Eddie, we went to the Vero Beach Community Church. It is a large church, with services at 8, 9:30 and 11:05 am. The statement on the bulletin reads "Founded in 1924 in the belief that there is more that binds us together than separates us in the worship of God".  Nice service, good music and good speakers. After church we ran some errands, including the purchase of a new laptop at Best Buy. The old one seems to be developing problems, seemed safer to purchase another one now rather than to wait until the old one died in a place where we did not have access to a computer store. Went to lunch at a TGIFridays. Nice place with a good variety on the menu. Wayne spent the morning doing engine checks and repairs around the boat. Finished getting the new deck box situated so we can load it up. This afternoon, did chores; got a tour of another Senator boat on this dock. Art and Jeanne have a 43' Senator so we toured each other's boats. Their's is much like ours, just bigger, particularly in the flybridge, aft deck and V-berth. Went for a walk late this afternoon to see more of this complex. Did some laundry.Got together with Nancy and Eddie for supper. Eddie has put together a spreadsheet showing where they stayed and their comments on each place, so spent the evening going over that. We very much appreciate the information as we plan our trip north. Will go for groceries tomorrow, plan to leave on Tuesday. We hope the good weather continues.