Chapter 43: ...to Daytona

GCT Log 43
FT. Pierce to Daytona

5:25 AM
Tuesday, May 16, 2000
Halifax Harbor Marina
Daytona Beach FL.

Day 44

Short day yesterday. We only made about 53 miles, but we had, and have a plan.
As soon as we left our marina in Titusville, we were in one of those areas that the people who write those cruising guides talk about. It was very narrow, and very shallow. It was awful. As hard as Darrell and I tried we found it very difficult to find enough water to float this boat in. The good news is we never ran aground, but let me tell you it was close. (Later, on the radio I heard a charter captain call on the radio to another boat and tell him to stay back until he got through this shallow area because he said “at times I need to move around a lot to fine deeper water”) It so happens that while we were in this area the girls fixed a wonderful breakfast, but my stomach was in such knots, I really couldn’t eat it.
Once we got through this area the water got a little deeper, and much easier to navigate. It also was very slow going because we were near some towns, and several Manatee zones. (Speaking of Manatees, we had one at the back of our boat in Titusville. He stayed there for several minutes, laying on his back between our boat and the dock, drinking the fresh water we were spraying to wash down the boat. Deb has several pictures, and Deb and Darrell even touched him. He had several places where he was hit with a prop, and also had barnacles growing on him) Anyway, we decided to only go to Daytona, and then to make an early day of it on Tuesday as well and just go to St Augustine and spend the afternoon looking around. With that in mind it made the slow going a little easier.
The 53 miles was a pretty trip as we wound around marshes, and very shallow areas. It was quite a contrast, as we got closer to Daytona with all of the high-rise hotels. By the time we got here it was about 12:15. We got some fuel ($1.19 @ gal), and had the holding tank pumped out, and we were having lunch at our slip at 1:15 PM. Once settled, we had two important missions. Deb and Donna needed to find a grocery store for a couple of things, and Darrell and I needed to visit the West Marine store that was located next to the marina. (You never know what came in last night) Steve, and Carl will be glad to know I bought a new water hose. I have been connecting some different colored ones together for a while, and I am finally “dialed in”.
Once we met back at the boat we went in search of the “perfect margarita”. The good news is we found a place called McKay’s to have one. The bad news is they weren’t that good. Oh well, back to the boat, where we had spaghetti, watched the rest of that movie I missed the night before, and then took a walk on the dock before calling it a night. (9:00 for me)

Today…
Well as I said, today we are heading to ST. Augustine, about 50 miles, all on the inside. (They are saying 4 to 5 footers on the Atlantic today) The weather should be near perfect. Sunny, and 85. We are going to start a little later (8:00) because there is no reason to rush, and I can get some work done (company work, not boat)

A couple of follow up’s…
Remember that guy next to us in Titusville that just sat there on the back of his sailboat? After I wrote the log I went out there to get the boat ready to go, he was still there. Same chair, same cigarettes, but this time he had coffee instead of a beer. Maybe he stayed there all night.
Remember the smoke in the engine room. We still have no clue what it was, and everything is working great.
The boat engines, and the entire boat is working great!

Talk to you tomorrow.

BK