Getting to Vero

Radeen, Bob, Hayden in Cocoa Village 2012

Daytona was great, but we need to get SOUTH and onward we pressed making Vero Beach 3 days after departing Daytona.  We stopped at Titusville for fuel (16 gallons since the FLA line) and pumpout services and water. Since the weather was calm, we dropped an anchor just south of the old Max Brewer bridge and had a very restful night. 

From Titusville, we planned to stop at Cocoa Village and enjoy a dinner and night out with fellow Island Packet Owner of 380 JUDITH III, Bob W. We always stop to visit Bob because he has been so kind to us over the many years that we have been traveling south. Back in 2008, when we were working on our Drexel University study sabbatical, Bob helped us shuttle the car betweeen Titusville and Vero. Last year Bob guided us on a wonderful tour of the Kennedy Space Center. We really enjoy the Island Packet community, every where you go, there are owners willing to help you out and support your cruising. Thank you Bob, for being such a great friend.

From Cocoa Village, we continued south 54 miles to the wonderful town of Vero Beach, FL where boaters often times get stuck, hence the nickname Velcro Beach. We plan to spent 3 days here doing normal boater services and then press on to Miami ASAP. We loved Miami so much last year. that we really want to spend as much time as we can there so we can learn the area. For now, we will enjoy Vero...

Here are some random photos of this section....

Radeen has now taken our BEST elusive dolphin photo
These guys are so hard to photograph

"Dough BOY" back on the bread making task...we ran out
...so, make your own bread!

OMG, it is Aphrodite the 1937, 74' Commuter Yacht built for Long Island commutes to Wall Street,
Check it out here http://www.brooklinboatyard.com/aphrodite.html
We have seen this yacht in Watch Hill RI for many summers

 

I love to photograph pelicans, they are so interesting

Pelican paint job on the bridge fender boards :-)

Standing watch over the Manatee sign

Here comes VERO BEACH, slogan is....
The Tropics Begin Here

Vero Beach ICW home

Now, for some fun visits and boat services in Vero Beach. Already we have seen many fellow Island Packet Yacht buddies, and we look forward to meeting more. Vero Beach is cruiser convenient with a free bus to stores, malls, and restaurants.  Let's not get stuck here....

Daytona Car Show

Daytona Speedway as we walked across the track!

Beach Street Daytona near Halifax Marina

Imagine the infield of the Dayton International Speedway FILLED with show cars, cars for sale, and car parts and gear, then you can imagine the largest car show in the world! 5,000+ cars and each one more beautiful than the next, this is the TurkeyRun.com auto show here at Daytona. From our anchored boat, we took the dinghy into the West Marine "temporary" docks and then walked 1.5 miles to the bus depot where we bought an all day pass for $3 and rode the bus to the Speedway, 5 miles out International Speedway Boulevard. Walking across the Daytona speedway race trace was exciting, let alone the show itself. Then, we entered the infield and were presented with row after row after row of the most beautifully restored cars in the world.

From the photos below, everyone should be able to guess what car I had in high school and college, as this particular year and model is still our favorite car. I tried to photograph a variety but I seemed to keep my camera focused on my eternal favorite. See if you can tell what that model is.

After the show, we were treated to a wonderful impromptu gathering of boating friends who connected via Facebook and this blog and text messages. We met at the Blue Grotto at Halifax Harbor Marina to share stories and drinks. Our long time Chesapeake friends and two time IP owners, Karen and Steve, IP32 Betelguese, were here on vacation. We were delighted to meet new friends Tammy, IP38 Sailbatical, and her Tayana friends, Penny and Stan.

Tomorrow we will move south, most likely making Titusville where we will hope to see our first manatees of the season.

Here are my best auto show photos....no captions....just beautiful cars
 

I am very proud to have owned three 1957 Chevy BelAirs,

 including a four door sedan, a two door sedan and, finally, a two door hard top.

We sold the last one in 1981 to buy our first sailboat. The rest is history.

Daytona FL...CARS

Broadway Bridge (Local Name)
Carlton Black Bridge, Daytona Beach, FL

We are slowly getting back to cruising speed and moving south, EXCEPT, we have no schedule! So, when we bump into an event like "The Largest Car Show in the World," we just have to divert and take it in.

We enjoyed a wonderful cruisers' Thanksgiving at Marineland hosted by Chris, Cara and Chloe, the creators of the Marineland Marina, which opened in August 2011. Chris and Cara are really working hard to offer the boating community a top notch marina at an interesting stop on the waterway. We suggest all boaters stop here, visit with them, and enjoy all they have to offer. Floating docks, great facilities and fantastic positive people!

Now, we are anchored off Daytona Beach, using the dinghy dock at Halifax Harbor Marina. This gives access to Beach Street and the wonderful town center with fantastic restaurants,  pizza shops, coffee shops and artistic stores. Palm trees line the wide sidewalks which have many benches and interesting landscaped islands. We will stay here another day, get a $3 all day-pass, ride the bus 4 miles out to the Speedway and take in the TurkeyRun.com event. This should be interesting, plus we get to walk the infield at Daytona Speedway....very fun...

Here are some fun photos of this section...

Beautiful Sunset at anchor, Fort George, FL

Extra Crew in the AM....not needed!

Bald Eagle on R36, north of the Town of Marineland, FL

If you can't build a home.....BUY a TUGBOAT....cool

The NEW ICW Homes north of Daytona....
When is Enough, enough?

The traditional ICW homes north of Daytona, FL....very nice

NOPE....buy the traditional, bulldoze it down
then build this monster

www.TurkeyRun.com car show! 4,000+ show cars!
Daytona International Speedway

  So....tomorrow should be really interesting, viewing all the classic cars and walking around the infield of the Speedway. Daytona Beach, Fl....a cool place to stop.