7-11, December 2015: Palm Bay/Melbourne

     We entered Eau Gallie River at 1330. The wind in the Indian River had been 15 to 18 knots, but everything in the Eau Gallie was quiet as a mouse. We tied up at the E.G. Boat Basin, and in 2 minutes, Dave and Dianne Hoilman were walking down the dock. They said our tracker wasn't sending so they figured they would come looking for us. So much for us sneaking in. Friend of the Hoilmans, Chuck Baird owns the Marina. We had met Chuck when he was in Maine years ago, visiting after one of the Hoilmans' many schooner trips.

     The EGBB was pretty full up but they found us a berth next door at their Eau Gallie Boat Works

run by Chuck's son Jack Baird. I will say that this is the nicest little Marina boatyard combo, with nicest real people, many living aboard and or working away on their boats. The yard and marina were a beehive of activity and all were very helpful. I am so jealous.

An anhinga dries his wings on a boatyard piling.

This great blue heron was a tame resident of the boat yard.

     The Hoilmans left us their Prius to use during our stay and after a couple afternoon errands we met at their house for a lovely chicken dinner, and were joined by old friend Wally Norris. The Hoilmans and Wally have been Lewis R. French passengers since the late 1980s.

Wally, Dan, me, and Dave.  Photo by Dianne Hoilman

      Tuesday, more errands: trying to get all those needed items before heading to the Bahamas, then we met Dianne, Dave, Wally, Wally's daughter Ashley, (also an LRF veteran) and her son Eli, as well as Ed and Joyce Messer, friends that had sailed their own sloop up the coast to Maine a few years back. We met them for supper at their local hang-out Rooneys.

Ed, Wally, Eli, Ashley, Dan, Joyce, me, Dave.  Photo by Dianne Hoilman.

     More errands Wednesday, so much to do, so little time, and a late morning vet visit to obtain Tommy's travel/health certificate. Boy we love this cat! The Messers had been acting as our traveling mailbox and so we figured to repay them by letting them have us over to their home for a roast beef dinner, with Yorkshire Pudding. All of our 7 or 8 packages packages arrived before we left, I love it when a plan comes together.

      Thursday we wrapped things up errand wise, filled the boat with groceries and met the whole gang at Rooneys for “wings and beer”, a long standing Thursday nite tradition. What a great crowd of nice people. Much thanks to all of them for their hospitality and friendship.

     Friday we had one errand left, to get across the bridge to the pharmacy for a prescription. Turns out, Gayle, an internet friend of Kathy's was in harbor on her catamaran, and as she had a car in town, she offered to buzz us over there. I had been skeptical about internet friends, but I have to say we have met several face to face on this trip, and all have turned out to be descent upstanding and very helpful folks.

      We got underway at 1330 Friday to continue our journey South. We made about 25 miles that afternoon and anchored just South of the Wabasso Bridge.

Sunset, Wabasso Anchorage

Dianne took all the group photos, we hope to get some from her to add to this blog.

12 December, 2015: Manatee Pocket (Stuart)

     A very quiet morning, especially for being anchored 150 feet from the ICW and a bridge. After breakfast Kathy hauled anchor in a nice sun shower, with a double rainbow. The first part of our day was weaving through what are probably man-made islands, made with the spoils of past dredging of the ICW. Some well settled with houses. Then the bay opened up to a wide shallow sound, with a 12 foot ditch down the middle. We stayed in the ditch.

     Kathy read from Skipper Bob's Guide about an anchorage called Manatee Pocket. Sounds like a nice quiet spot about a mile off the ICW. Just before the turn for Manatee Pocket we passed thru a bay with several Windsurfers and many Kite-Boarders. Just how they handle that kite is a mystery to me.

Kite-boarders in the ICW

     As we turned in towards Manatee Pocket we found ourselves on a veritable roadway of power boats, coming and going. I was in hopes that they weren't going where we were headed.

But no, they were. A VERY busy place this quaint Manatee Pocket, four or five big marinas, big boats everywhere, loud music, the works. We were unsure about a stop-over here, but the anchorage looked okay. We decided to fill up with diesel fuel as the price seems to rise as we go South. After investing in 37 gallons, (since Brunswick, Georgia) we were about to shove off the pier and a whaler came alongside, “Hi Danny and Kathy!” It was Bob Walther from Camden. Turns out this is where he and Lynette are keeping their Willard 36 this winter.  Bob offered his chauffeur services so we rode up to the parts stores and picked some fuel filters and lube oil. Thanks Bob. No one knows how to treat cruisers like a cruiser does. Lynette had spotted us as we were cruising thru the harbor - she was the one who sent Bob over to greet us.
     We had hoped to connect with Kathy's brother's in-laws Tony and Cathi, who live in Stuart, as we had been hearing a lot about them from brother Ralph, and they had heard about us as well.  Kathy gave them a call and we made arrangements to give them a boat tour in the morning.

     As I returned from shore I caught the last of the Christmas Boat Parade, boats decked out with lights and inflated reindeer, just like floats in a parade. The harbor quieted down after dark and after supper we were serenaded by a jazz saxophone from a nearby shore.

Sunset in Manatee Pocket.

Boat parade in Manatee Pocket.