Homeward Bound

April 5, 2013

  We are in Riveredge Marina in St Augustine  and have a good internet connection so here I am again.
  Our last 2 weeks have been spent in marinas and enjoying good friends along the way North.  
  The leg from Stuart to Cocoa Beach was a good one.  My college room mate directed us to a nice marina in Cocoa Village.  Jean and John picked us up and gave us a tour of their vacation area, Cocoa Village, Port Canaveral interesting neighborhoods and their condo and beach.  After drinks at their cozy abode we joined them at their favorite Italian Restaurant.   So great to see them again and renew our friendship.
  Next leg was a stop in Vero Beach at a Loggerhead Resort Marina.  Unfortunately it was to cool to use the wonderful heated pool. We contacted Victoria unfortunately Oliver was not well enough to get together with us that evening.  Hopefully they will be able to stop and see us in NMB.
  On to our way to Daytona we fueled in Titusville and spent an hour with Mary Jane and Mel Portnoy, so good to see them and do some catching up on their adventure.  There would be more stories to come as we make our way North together. That night we were back in Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona.  That made a circle from our start on the 19th of January.
  The Ballards picked us up to go to dinner.  They graciously gave us the use of one of their cars for the rest of our stay.  We renew our prescriptions, reprovisioned and I got to do some very successful re-sale shopping.  Dave and Jim, with a suggestion from Jim's friend Carl and repaired the injector leak with a bit of Teflon tape.  Yippy, no costly repair, the Cummins dealer is in Orlando!  The Portonys arrived and we taxied them around and found a wonderful restaurant, Rendezvous, who reopened their kitchen for us on Easter evening. 
  Easter Sunday we joined the Ballards for 8:30 AM service at a drive-inn church, (see photo).  Afterward we went to the Municipal Country Club for brunch with their numerous friends.  Next a visit with Bill and Theresa Nilles.  What an Easter Sunday!
  Our beach day was a bust due to blowing sand.  Dave was brave enough to go in the ocean.  The Portnoys, Ballards and us piled into the Buick and rode the beach with commentary from Jim on various changes during the years they have been wintering there. Another evening we had a delicious dinner at the Nilles' with their wonderful view of the Halifax River and sunsets.
  Before leaving town I was bound determined to return to Caribbean  Jack's for a Fish Taco. It happened in good company , Jim, Suerae and their friends Carolyn and Fred. 
  Great evenings and days with wonderful friends.  Thanks everyone!
  We passed on the opening baseball game in Daytona due to weather concerns. Thursday we left the marina at 6:50 and headed North.  It had rained during the night but our trip to St Augustine was a dry one.  We arrived at 10:30 and are tucked in a marina in the San Sebastian River.  the weather went to the South.  We biked for produce and to Sailor's Exchange then into downtown and convinced the Portnoys (who are at the Municipal Marina) to join us at the famous A1A Brewery for a brew.
  Back at the marina we met two couples who invited us to join then for happy hour at Hurricane Patty's next to the marina.  Candi and Alan are from Colorado and on a Tartan 40 and Julie and Alex are in a Bavaria 44 and call Caratoman Creek, VA their home.  A fun time.  One boat card left.....
 This AM we woke to a gentle rain but too much to carry out the plan to meet the Portnoys for a tour of Flagler College at 10 AM.  Maybe the 2 PM tour?  This evening we will be joining Joan and Jim Dorsey for dinner.
  Next leg will be Fernandina Beach,  inside on the ICW or outside in the Atlantic, that is the Question?  Outside would save lots of switch backs in the ICW in Georgia.  Regardless we should be home by the end of next week........