Wildlife along the Florida ICW

The wildlife was everywhere today as we made our way south to find that warmer weather Florida promises. Cassie spent most of the day out on the front deck watching all the birds and carrying on a conversation with the dolphins. I don't know what they talk about, but I'm sure they understand each other. It did finally get a little warmer today and tomorrow is suppose to be in the upper 70's where we are headed. We are anchored about 6 miles from Cocoa Beach in an anchorage we have all to ourselves. It is so peaceful at anchor. No better way to spend an evening than at anchor and watching the sunset with the one you love. We love it. (life is good to us) Tomorrow we put on the shorts and T-shirts. YAHOO!

September Song (at anchor) out
Bob


Osprey enjoying lunch on marker 15

White pelicans in the distance

Cassie talking to the dolphins. She makes this weird squeak, and they squeak back. Wouldn't you like to know what they are saying?

Dolphins playing around the boat

Pelicans and cormorants enjoying the beautiful day on this guy's dock. White wash!

There must have been a thousand cormorants on this little patch of sand

The launch vehicle assembly building at Kennedy Space Center

Clammer digging for clams along the shore of the ICW

Thanksgiving in St Augustine

Wednesday night we headed into town to hit some of the pubs. (the Pub crawl) We had a great time as usual but later in the evening I was feeling a little weird (I know, I know, don't say it!) so we had some dinner after hitting a few of the bars and called it an early evening. Thanksgiving day was a special day. Stephanie fixed a fabulous dinner, Doug and Tammy brought over some outrageous apps and wine, and of course it was extra special because we got to share it with our cruising buddies Doug and Tammy. Because today was going to be cool but clear, we decided rather than spend another day and $$$$$ in St. Augustine, we would put the pointy ends South again and try to find that elusive warm Florida weather. Tonight we are at anchor just South of Memorial Bridge in Daytona Beach and the next couple of days will be travel days and anchoring out until we reach Stuart where we will meet up with more of our crazy cruising friends and be in shorts and t-shirt weather. Get the shorts, T-shirts, and sun glasses out because we be headed South.

September Song (headed South) out
Bob


The starting point of the Pub crawl

Drinks at Scarlett O'Hara's

Mash them taters Stephanie!

Stephanie's fabulous apple pie

Stephanie hard at work in the galley preparing a great Thanksgiving dinner

The Thanksgiving table is set

I can't believe we ate the whole thing

Last day in Fernandina

We started out early yesterday and stopped at an old gas station converted into a restaurant. You can't tell it's a restaurant from the outside, but all the locals know where it's at and they have great breakfasts. After a huge breakfast we decided we needed to walk some of it off so we walked five miles round trip to the beach. Wouldn't you know, we found another bar (The Sandy Bottom) where we took on 16oz of fuel for the long walk back. After a little more exploring in Fernandina (The Green Turtle, The Palace, etc. etc.) it was time to say goodbye to Fernandina, jump into the family car and head back to the boats to relax and get ready to put the pointy end South for our trip to St. Augustine today.

September Song (it's been fun Fernandina) out
Bob


No, we didn't stop to get gas. It's a closed gas station turned into a restaurant where we had breakfast

What a hoot! You can't tell it's a restaurant from the outside. You can't buy gas here anymore, you just get gas.

Tammy making sand angels. Beats doing it in the snow!

Two beautiful mermaids coming out of the surf

I think they need to card this guy

Exploring Fernandina with the Gypsies

Yesterday we moved a whole six miles to Fernandina. After getting settled in it was time to do the town. Cassie and Godiva haven't been off the boat for several days, so we took them into town for a long walk, a stop for their favorite treat, ice cream, then back to the boat for a nap. No, not us, we had work to do, exploring all the shops, funky bars, and a Mexican fix. I won't go into a step by step of the whole day, let me just say it's always a blast when the four of us get together. A person shouldn't be allowed to have so much fun.
September Song (ready for another day in Fernandina) out
Bob


Happy girls eating their ice cream

Cool set of steps

A stop at the oldest bar in Florida "The Palace" So I guess you can say Gypsies were in The Palace

Cool old paintings on the walls

Getting our Mexican fix at Pablo's

Oh no, not the hats again! Gators vs the dogs

Me, Tammy, and I don't know who the guy is on the left

A pair to draw to

Maybe we will buy this, drive across country and relive the old days for our next adventure

Headed back to the boats in our family car after a fun day in Fernandina

Gypsies are here Gypsies are here!!!

Gypsies arrived at 14:30 and we welcomed them with the song Gypsies in the Palace over the hailer. We couldn't get the fire boats to come and salute them with their spray so Stephanie used the wash down hose.
I think their anchor had been down all of 15 minutes and we were invited over for drinks, apps, and a great reunion of the fabulous foursome. After drinks, apps, stories, and lots of laughs, Tammy fixed two gourmet pizzas, and I mean they were gourmet, for dinner. It was a great evening and great to be together again. Today we are steaming to Fernandina (FLORIDA, YA!) where we will spend a couple of days and then on to St. Augustine where we will spend Thanksgiving.

September Song (great to be together again) out
Bob


Gypsies in the Palace coming into the anchorage

Can we go see Gypsies Dad?