Friday, April 1, through April 5, 2016

 We left Dayton at 7:15 AM.  The dock master came out and held out a skimming net and we dropped our gate/bathhouse keys into it as we motored by and we were off.   The weather was cloudy and humid.  The weather man stated that this was weather you could wear.  He got that right.  The sun came out and the thermometer soared to 91.  Travel was average and we arrived at the Melbourne Marina around noon.  Our slip was in front of the bathhouse and a few short blocks from downtown.  Several boats our size came into slips, a stop on their way to the MTOA gathering in Fort Pierce. 

We braved the heat and walked in to town and checked out the restaurants.  On our last visit we ate at the Irish Pub ‘Meg O’Maleys’ so let’s try something different.  There is a wide range of establishments including brew pups.  It turns out that the Florida Institute of Technology is a mile from town so Friday and Saturday night get lively.  Back to the boat and relaxed, showered and walked two blocks to ‘The Nomad Café’.  A nice atmosphere and variety of food from various countries, our meals were delicious.

Saturday dawned grey and cloudy with rising temperatures.  I went into town to shop and Dave did boat maintenance.  Engine water temps were high on the run from Daytona.  On inspection of the water pump he found the impellor had 3 ½ of the original 12 blades remaining.  He carries a spar with us.  Job completed and next was to find the leak over my bunk.  The side running light is now sealed and no problems since.  We went to lunch at the Ichabod's Bar and Grill with the chit we got infrom the dockmaster at check-in.

We were invited aboard a 43’ Viking down the dock from us.   The Captain and his wife had retired to Maine but he was offered a job as Head Master at the Episcopal School in Melbourne and his wife is teaching there also.  During the conversation, he mentioned being in Baltimore for part of his career.  There is was the head of the English Department at Boy’s Latin.  It was an interesting visit and a nice way to spend the rainy part of the afternoon.

Sunday, April 3, 2018

We left Melbourne at 9 AM with a school of dolphin leading us out.  You know to stay in the channel when you see a man wading in the water fishing on the other side of the marker.  The trip to Vero Beach was a run all the way with no slow zones.

Cross/Over was docked in the Logger Head Marina in Grand Harbor at 11:15 AM.  Plenty of time to lunch, make plans with our friend Victoria and spend the afternoon at the pool.  Victoria and her friend, Jack, came to the boat.   Jack did the boat tour and we went to dinner and visited despite the loud band.

The cool air was delightful but no one had warned us about the no-see-ums.  Dave had a dream that he had the measles and woke with his arms bitten.  We closed the boat and raised the blinds and took paper towels and squashed great numbers of those flies with teeth.

The day was beautiful; Victoria came by about 10:30 to chauffer us around town.  The first stop was ACE Hardware, a tour of the beach front and a stop by her beautiful condo overlooking the water.  We lunched at BOBBY’S. Then back across the bridge and we all shopped at Publics. Thank you so much, Victoria, for making our time in Vero Beach special.  Later I had time to enjoy the pool again, exercising in the water was a delight.   

The next interesting happening was to ask a woman in the lounge, who was using a cane, if she had had surgery.  No, but she explained her situation and before the end of the conversation I learned that she was from Leesport, PA.  Her two sons live aboard their 47’ Chris Craft and attend the Florida Institute of Technology.  She was just visiting.  What a small world!  We had dinner on board and then walked the docks and Dave looked at some work Brad sent from Trega. Strangely, over night the whole marina lost electricity for about 3 hours.  The night was cool so it was not uncomfortable even with the boat closed.  We never learned what happened.

Monday, April 5, 2016

We needed fuel so did not get an early start.  Another beautiful day;  not a cloud in the sky.  Wind was not a blustery today so the trip was smoother.  By 11 AM we were in the St Lucie River and ready for the trip toward the locks and Lake Okeechobee.   We had a wait of an hour to get into the first lock that took us up 14 feet into the lake.  The second lock only rose us a foot.   The lake is much higher this visit.  Conditions were favorable so we came across to Clewston, a 104 mile day.  Here we were lucky to get a place at the dock for the night.   Showers felt great after the sun and 89 degrees.  We shared a burger and ourselves with the big black mosquitoes that came out at dark.  Ironically here at this “fish camp” we have has the best internet connection of the whole trip.

Tomorrow we are off to Fort Myers.