Daytona Beach

Friday 18 April

We've just completed our first week in Daytona Beach. Last weekend we attended our grandson's baseball game and visited with family. This week was the MTOA rendezvous here with over 200 people and 60 something boats attending. This years theme was a biker theme, "Racing to the Rendezvous". We had a "biker bash" one night with dinner and a great band that played 50's, 60's and 70's music. Also a baseball game with catered BBQ dinner. The dinner was great but the game was rained out. There were many seminars and other events. This is our 4th rendezvous and it's always great to see old friends again.

The turtle is our logo due to our speed or lack of, that trawlers travel.

The turtle rode into the tent on a motorcycle!

A picture for charity. Each rendezvous they pick a local charity to contribute to.

Biker babes!

Normal babes!

Choice dinner seating between rain showers at the ball park.

Sweeping the water away.

I can even cut a rug with my new knee!

The last night we had an awards dinner at the Halifax River Yacht Club.

The ladies toast to a successful rendezvous!

Daytona Beach

10 April 2015   48 sm today

We slipped out of Titusville just after sunrise for one of the nicest cruising days so far. There was no wind and the water was like glass.Our first encounter was a railroad bridge just north of the marina but it was open so we cruised right through.

Leaving the marina.

The RR bridge.

Like glass!

We are cruising on the Indian river now. We had to transit the Haulover Canal to get to Mosquito Lagoon. The canal has 1 bridge and lots of manatees. Unfortunately as we approach they dive. There were also lots of small fishing boats.

The canal & bridge.

A manatee.

Once out of Mosquito lagoon we are back on the Indian River through 5.4 miles of slow speed zone. Everything from trailer parks to large homes dot the shore line of this narrow area. Even a mobile fish bait boat.

Live bait boat.

A dolphin waiving his tail at us.

Next passage through New Smyrna past the yacht club and many marinas with more bridges.

Just a few miles farther is Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach. We are here to attend the MTOA, Marine Trawlers Association of America, rendezvous next week. There are a few boats already here and several more arrived including Mara Beel, Serenity and Quo Vadumis.. We had docktails with them and then a quiet evening on board. We plan on staying here for about a month to have the boat hauled and bottom painted along with some other things so I won't be posting daily for a while.

Entrance to marina.

Titusville, Fl.

9 April 2015   20 sm today

We had a beautiful sunrise this morning at Cocoa Village marina. As I walked up for a shower there were about 15 dolphins frolicking off the end of the dock. Unfortunately, no camera. We got underway at 900 am for a very short day cruising. We have been so blessed to have the great conditions day after day. The only downside of the day was a boat named  Saphire that waked us badly. We'd been listening to people calling him for a while to please give a slow pass but didn't. We were probably number 12 and there were a bunch more after us. Either didn't have his radio on or just didn't care. We joined John & Cathy on Serenity and Mark & Becky on Mara Beel here. Later Foster & Susan on Quo Vadimus and Jim on Joint Adventure arrived. A bunch of them took a car ride to the beach and had a great time. This stretch of beach is 20 miles long with no buildings!  I stayed at the boat. We had a great reunion at docktails and caught up on everyone's adventures.

Sunrise at Cocoa Village Marina

Power lines across the intercoastal.

A board, bird meeting!

Manatees in the marina getting a drink.

The beach.

More manatees!

Views from the marina.

Docktails.

The marina.

Cocoa

8 April 2015   22 sm today

We had a leisurely start today with only 2.5 hours to travel north to the Cocoa Village Marina. We arrived in time to hose off the boat and walk a few blocks for lunch at Murdock's Pub. Friends told us it's a local hangout and the food was good. It's housed in an old grocery store.

 After lunch we strolled around the historic village and Ann did some shopping.

Lots of murals.

And old buildings.

The theater.

 The town also house a very old hardware store called Travis Hardware. It was establishes in the 1880's and still in business today. It looks as it probably did back then.

Storefront.

Note the ladders on rollers.

The cat walk from one building to the other.

Later this evening Some good friends from high school that live hear came by and were introduced to docktails. Afterwards they introduced us to the Village Idiot Pub. Later, dinner, snacks, were onboard.

Tommy, Candy & Ken.