New Symrna to Cocoa

We left New Symrna at 7am. We could have left earlier, but forgot the time turned back last night so we missed first light. Well, our day is not too long so we’re ok. We fell in line with the others heading south, passing some and being passed by others, as usual.

Sunrise at New Symrna

We had a long drive thru Mosquito or “Mozzie” Lagoon, as FFF calls it. It’s a long stretch of the ICW that goes on for about 10 miles. We’ve never had a problem there, but boaters that anchor here say its name is appropriate.

This is what it looks like for 10 miles

We saw damaged dock all along the ICW

We’ve had the sun in our faces most of the day but as we turned into Haulover Canal we got out of it for awhile. We saw about 20 manatees just in the canal. We kept seeing noses sticking out of the water, backs gliding thru, and the circles in the water they make when they go under. It’s hard to get a good picture. We also saw fishermen in boats and on bank, dolphins and birds. It’s a very busy place. But, we didn’t see any kayaks this time. Thank goodness since they get in the middle of the channel and are slow to move. I guess they think we have brakes and a park so we can wait for them to move. Not so.

We had dark clouds follow us around and several light showers. But all in all, we had a good day. The water was calm and so were we.

One of the huge buildings at NASA

A captain's view of the railway bridge. It's usually in the up position so boats can get thru.

We got to our anchorage in Cocoa at 1:45pm. A shorter day than we’ve been doing. We went farther than originally planned yesterday and that made today shorter. We traveled about 45nm, at 6.5kts for 6.75hrs. There are several sunken sailboats in the anchorage. A guy on a sailboat hailed us as we got to Cocoa and asked what our plans were. We told him anchor here and spend two nights. He told us he had talked to a nearby marina and found out that the dingy dock was destroyed and there weren’t any places to go ashore. He also said the marina charged $2.50 per foot for a night dockage, plus power and water.  We don’t need power or water, but we’re not paying $122.50 to stay here either! So we anchor and stay aboard. Our original plan was spend two nights here and then we have reservations at Vero on a mooring ball. Right now, not sure what we’ll do. I will miss my walks.

We had a great view of the sailboats racing up and down the ICW.

Cocoa dock. You can see damage.

Sunken sailboat in the middle of the anchorage

No, that's not how the sailboats are usually docked.

This is some intense steering, both crew are at the helms.

Kokomo at anchor

 
Tide Hiker at anchor

We’ve invited Kokomo and Tide Hiker to Escape for drinks and appetizers tonight. Everybody brings their own drink and an app to share. We’ll have fun eating, talking, and telling more boat lies.

Jim and Meryl from Kokomo. You can see their boat in the background

Beth and Kurt from Tide Hiker to be renamed Petry's Pet.

And Shay and I from Escape

Shay and Kurt found a place for us to tie our dingy so we went to shore for a 5 mile walk. It felt good but we then went to share a  burger so I guess I walked it off. Or that's what I'm gonnna tell myself. We took some pictures of us and Tide Hiker while on shore.

We're heading to Vero tomorrow. Hope to leave at first light so we can beat the crowd getting there. Wish us luck!