Tuesday May 5, and Wednesday May 6 2009

Left Titusville at 7:15 AM. Longer run today. We saw three manatees in the "Haulover canal" along the ICW. Overall slow going due to so many slow speed manatee zones. Also quite slow through the Daytona area and waiting for a bridge open didn't help. Temp: 70

Arrived at St. Augustine Municipal Marina at 6:15 PM - eleven hours on the course today.

29 53' 57" N

81 18' 44" W

Very difficult docking. Down stream with a 3 1/2 kn current. Provided early evening entertainment for those already docked.  What a great city to visit, rich in history since it was the first city in the U.S. - 1565. We needed to stay an extra day due to prospective boat buyer who, on their way to Savanna, would have like to see Brightwater. No show. We did take the time to clean everything which works out well for us (cleanliness is next to Godliness). 

  We were able to take a sight seeing tour which helped put everything in better perspective. They were tough dudes here back then. If you weren't Catholic, you couldn't be buried inside the city walls. If fact the Spanish commander at one time massacred 300 French Huguenots because they wouldn't convert to Catholicism. Wonder why. No wonder there still are ghost tours in downtown every night. Streets were build with curves so if attacked by cannon fire, the shells wouldn't go through the whole town. First house must have paid a big insurance premium. Of course later, slave trading (another hallmark of europeans) and plantations.

Monday May 4, 2009

Underway at 8:00 AM. Traveled the ICW all day with a perfect cruising  speed / fuel consumption. Beautiful Pelican natural Wildlife Preserve, miles and miles. Definitely have to stay in channel or you're in very shallow waters. Heading north towards Cape Canaveral and Titusville. Passed behind (western channel) the Cape and could see the assembly building and launch platform in the distance. No take-offs today although this would be great spot to see a space shot.

Arrived at Titusville Marina around 4:30PM due an hour wait for a swing bridge with rush hour traffic. Very friendly marina and boaters. We were invited to join some of our E  dock's boaters for happy hour. It was fun and we enjoyed the time and talk with Jim and Diane, Eric Siegl, and Phillis (a.k.a. PK). 

28 37' 13" N

80 48' 29" W

Took a short walk and for dinner tried the new Kentucky Colonel/s "Grilled" chicken. Not bad and not fried!

Sunday May 3, 2009

Left North palm Beach Y.C. around 7:30 AM and ran today in the ICW. Great going at 1300 RPM's and 8.3 kt. very nice houses and well manicured everything. Destination Vero Beach. As we cruise it seems like people have moved a little north from the Palm Beaches to newer, luxurious houses. Some call Vero -  "Zero Vero"  because its much less hectic, fewer people and quieter. 

Loggerhaed Marina in  the Grand Harbor complex was very nice. A "four bell" rating and well deserved  with a nice pool, showers, and boaters lounge (free coffee)'. 

27 41' 60" N

          80 23' 70" W

Ate on the boat tonight , Chili with onions and multi grain bread (all not lost). Saw a absolutley pristine, brand new 75' Fleming. Drooling. 

Saturday May 2, 2009

ICW very slow going with several bridges (annoying). However Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood are very attractive for the water.  Left the ICW at Port Everglades and ran on the out side in 2 ft. waves with a helping S-SE wind up to Lake Worth Inlet and our night's dockage in Palm Beach. Nice run today and great weather.

Boats are much bigger on this side of Florida with 75' to 150' common. Looks like a lot of foreign registry and flags. Some companies here cater to just the crews on this vessels, with job postings, mail drops, and training. Don't know salary levels but its free food.

After running outside we cut in at Lake Worth inlet  and headed to the Flagler memorial bridge. Arrived at Palm beach Yacht Club at 5:00PM with Art Fest (the city's art, music and downtown entertainment) in full swing. Great free music but lots of little boat traffic (all not totally sober). Took a cab to Palm Beach Gardens Mall to stop at the Apple store for a needed new program. Ate at P.F. Chang's and of course had their signature appetizer. 

                                                                                     26 43' 10" N

                                                                          80 02' 82" W

One would never know there's any kind of economic slowdown. Bentley's, Mercedes, BMW's, and expensive restaurants. Looked for but didn't see Berni Madoff's confiscated house. Did see the his golf club from the water. easy come - easy go. He's in the big house and not comin' out. What about teaching finance classes on the inside for pin money?

Friday May 1, 2009

  Winds a little less but still gusting to 20 - 25. Stayed in Hawks Channel for most of the way to Miami but did run outside in 6' seas for a couple of hours. Didn't cut into Biscayne Bay until Biscayne channel just south of Cape Florida. Stayed to night at Rickenbacker Marina (gas 3.24/gal - happy we burn diesel). This is big marina but just adequate facilities.

                                                                      25 44' 50" N

                                                                      80 10' 36" W

Beautiful Miami night skyline and colorful boat traffic. Ate dinner on Brightwater this evening as it long walks to nearest restaurants. Not staying long enough to visit Joe's Crab, downtown Miami, south beach, or any golf courses. The city's name aa well as the river, is an anglicization of the Indian Mayami, meaning "sweet water". In fact Fort Dallas was commanded by William Tecumseh Sherman of civil war fame. Now a days Miami is called by many "the new capital of Latin America". 

Wednesday April 29, 2009 and Thursday April 30, 2009

Long Key Bright  (Florida Keys)                          

                                                                                   24° 49' 51"  N

                                                                         80° 47' 01"  W 

Temp: 78°

Traveled from marco to Long Key in the Florida Keys. Had met up another Fleming vessel (man they look good) and followed his path instead of heading to Marathon on Boot key. Had to anchor in Long Key Bright, out of channel,  due to stronger than expected easterly  winds. Seas outside the reef running 6 - 8 ft. and so decided to stay anchored in place for another twenty four hours. Started to figure out this blog and it wasn't easy. However this is the second day start for the written log of the Brightwater's travel north.

Tuesday April 28, 2009

        
Legacy Harbor / Rialto Harbor Ft. Myers, Florida.
                                                                                               26° 38' 60" N

                                                                                               81° 52' 50" W

Temp 74°

The beginning of the northern route.  Left downtown Ft. Myers 0800 (8:00AM) Uneventful passage down the Caloosahatchee River to the Gulf of Mexico. South to Marco Island  and the Marco Island Yacht Club. One to two foot seas and easy

 going. Club and marina are quite nice and personnel friendly.  The earliest known settlers, arriving around 1500 B.C., were the Calusa Indians, followed by the Spanish, and later the Seminoles. Today, as the uppermost of the Ten thousand islands, this is a world class destination (read, biiiggg bucks). 

Nancy drove down the meet Brightwater and her esteemed crew for birthday dinner (Andy's tomorrow and Frank's next week). Excellent food service at club house along with doggie bags for Wednesday.  Nancy stayed aboard for the evening departing Wednesday before cast-off. Very nice to have her here for the first night's dockage.