New Smyrna Beach

I feel like we have been on the move for days! I guess we have! We left Stuart on Saturday and traveled about 50 miles (35 knm) and spent the night at Jones Fruit Dock. We had planned to anchor out but the weatherman was calling for 50 mile winds, not good at anchor. Jones Fruit Dock has no amenities but the hospitality was very good and the price was right, $10 for the night. Jones at one time was an orchard but one of the hurricanes wiped out the trees and he said he was too old to replant it. However, he did bring us a welcome gift of two very delicious grapefruits.

Sunday we traveled about the same amount of miles and anchored out in Titusville. The picture of the sailboat with spinnaker (colorful sail) we came across in our travels that day. We exchanged e-mail over the VHF radio and I sent them the picture. All boat owners want pictures of their boats under sail but it is difficult to do seeing as you are on the boat. They shared that this was them flying the sail for the first time and they were thinking of one of them getting in the dinghy to take a picture and a long we came to grant their wish.

Monday we traveled a shorter distance and planned to anchor out in mosquito Lagoon. When we arrived to see we would be very far from shore and we have no working engine for our dinghy we traveled the rest of the distance to New Smyrna Beach. The Wright up on mosquito Lagoon sounded interesting to explore but the distance made it impossible, next time.

We anchored out in New Smyrna Beech where we were last time. We had reserved a dock at Riverview for today and it was full last night when we arrived. The anchorage was still being dredged and they worked all through the night. It made for a less than peaceful night but we were tired so it didn't affect our sleep. Just white noise! We are now on the dock at Riverview Hotel and Marina and getting settled in. Larry hooked up the electric and we have airconditioning for the first time in about six weeks. We don't especially like air but it does dry out the boat from the humidity. It serves it's purpose.

He is now washing the salt off from all the salt water baths it has received. Although it did get a washing at Jones Fruit Dock it rained all night. We all joke about getting out the soap when the forecast is for rain. We have been known to mop the deck after a heavy dew to get some of the salt off. It is strange, the covering of salt your boat gets, it looks like you have salted it with course sea salt preparing to cook it. The water hits the deck and when it does dry which takes considerable time it leaves behind course salt flakes. I found this interesting being a fresh water sailor all my sailing career. It is funny the things that strike you odd.

Well I'm off to the store to get some provisions! Until next time!