MONDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 79 NM
DOCKED AT SEBASTIAN RIVER MARINA MM 934 (772) 664-3029
SUNRISE AT NEW SMYRNA: 7:06 AM
SUNSET AT SEBASTIAN: 5:26 PM
HIGH: 82
LOW: 65
Quest was slowly, oh so slowly, snaking her way out of the anchorage at “6: dark-30” this morning. After slightly kissing a sandbar, a situation that Dan quickly remedied, we proceeded to the New Smyrna/Coronado Beach Bridge to await its 7:00 AM opening and another lengthy day of travels. The next bridge of any questionable height was the Allenhurst Haulover Canal Bridge. Even though it showed a clearance of only 23’ the bridge tender assured us there was an additional 4’ at the center. No problem for Quest with the antennae lowered.
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| PULLING UP ANCHOR AT 6-DARK:30 |
Were we ever in for a treat in the narrow channel that joined Mosquito Lagoon to the Indian River. The place was ripe with Manatee, especially in the little lagoon off the launch ramp. There is a trick to spotting them and Dan now has that down pat. It’s no wonder that these slow moving, mostly submerged creatures are constantly in danger of being hit by fast moving boats. It is nearly impossible to see them in the water.
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| LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU WILL SEE TWO MANATEES |
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| THIS IS THE RIPPLING EFFECT THAT ALERTS YOU OF A MANATEE LURKING JUST UNDER THE WATER'S SURFACE |
The dolphins were almost constant companions today, skimming the surface and surfing our wake. What joyous creatures they are.
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| FROLICKING IN OUR WAKE |
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| LOOK AT HIM LOOKING AT YOU! |
OK, so I get all excited about the cute little dolphins but Dan, he gets all intoxicated with this powerhouse in the make at Jones Point. I even heard him telling Bob Borsh about it while talking “business” on the phone.
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| THE BUILDING OF A POWERHOUSE THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, BOB! |
Now we all know that Dan knows more “shit” about more “shit” but really! As we passed by Coco Beach he spouted off that that is where Jeannie and Major Nelson lived on the old sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie. If you remember, Jeannie was rescued and set free from her bottle (a painted up, 1964 Jim Beam liquor decanter) when Astronaut Major Nelson landed on a deserted South Pacific island. Enough useless trivia.
The Sebastian River Marina was a welcomed sight as we wearily made the turn into their entrance way. It was a long day but Doug Hillman met us at the dock to take our lines and welcome us to his marina. While tying up, a light mist began to fall then a spectacular rainbow formed to reward us all.
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| AND THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW LEAD TO THE POT OF GOLD |
After a giving Quest a quick rinse-off, we headed up to check out his new office and clubhouse. Very nice! The bathrooms are clean and well equipped and the lounge area, still a work in progress, has a great view of the waterway and plenty of space to “lounge” about. Dan, Doug and Steve batted around stories and recapped our journeys since our last stop here in May of 2010. After a couple of “cold ones”, Doug generously bade us to enjoy a “good night” on the house. Thank so much and you know we’ll be back.
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