Tortuga Tour Day 7: In the lee of NASA

We enjoyed a peaceful, quiet, and pleasant evening last night in Daytona Beach on the Halifax River even though we were on a main thoroughfare.  We were anchored just South of the Memorial Bridge.

Today’s destination is an anchorage near Cape Canaveral.

Just before breakfast we were treated to a sight I can’t ever remember seeing on the ICW during our travels.  There were three rowing sculls passing by.  Two teams of eight and a third team of four.  The rowers must really be in great physical shape and work as a unit to move the sculls through the water.  It is fascinating to watch.

We got underway earlier this morning since the distance was further than yesterday.  Even though we have gotten good working as a team pulling anchor, this morning I was nervous!  The water was much shallower than what we are accustomed to anchoring in.  This for me made the risk greater for making the wrong move and running us aground (no pressure)!  Heart racing, fingers sweating, some prayers, but I was focused!  Fifteen minutes later we were turning into the ICW, still afloat and the Admiral at the helm where I stayed until the first bridge.  I had already spent my nerves for the day, so I turned the helm over to the Captain.

It was another beautiful day on the coast of Florida.  The landscape was different from yesterday – much more scenic with areas where there was little or no development.  Pictures of the natural landscape don’t even begin to portray the beauty of some places we saw, so unfortunately, I have not included any. 

At one point we went through a manmade canal with short trees on either side.  Tucked in all along the canal were small boats with folks on board fishing.  There were also many folks standing on the edge with their fishing poles.  Everyone seemed to have their special spot picked out.  We were able to see one man catch a fish. 

We spotted more dolphins swimming today.  They are by far my favorite animal.  I have seen so many over our years of boating, but I continue to be thrilled with every one I see.

The boat traffic was considerably less today (Monday!), with fewer small boats and several larger boats probably traveling North after being South all winter.

We are now anchored in Titusville where we have an excellent view of Cape Canaveral.  It is quiet except for the water lapping against the boat and that’s a sound we look forward to.  Water sounds can be so soothing and relaxing.  Our windows are open, dishes are cleaned and put away, and the evening is ours.

Pictures below.

Captain’s Comments:

In several places along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) we are following in Florida, there are posted speed limits for the channel—30 mph day and 25 mph night.  In our boat, we get a little giddy when we hit 9.

We were impressed with one boater’s ingenuity and homebuilt houseboat. See picture at top.

We’re anchored in the lee of the NASA causeway.  At rush hour, we watched a long stream of cars head back to the mainland from the space center.  Interestingly, there were three police cars stationed along the way to stop speeders.  One hopes that anyone violating a rule (speed limit) was not a NASA employee.  Peaceful now.

Was notified today by Verizon that we had exhausted our cellular data allowance.  They said to use their app to make adjustments.  Don’t have their app and can’t download it without data…

Then read an email from AARP auto insurance complaining that we weren’t sending them data on our driving habits with the phone app they sent.  Called them—I don’t think they bought that we’re on a boat for two months.

Earlier, the Admiral panicked a little when she thought she couldn’t send an email.

We’re slowly unwinding.

Peace

fks