Thursday, April 5, 2012

Today, we will venture out & check out the surroundings here in Daytona Beach.  So, for now, chow!

Wednesday, April 4

Due to some incoming storms, we voided stopping at New Smyrna Beach Marina & continued onto the Halifax Marina in Daytona.  We arrived just ahead of a strong rain & hail storm that passed through Daytona very quickly. But, it cleared up beautifully & cooled down the temperature from 87 degrees to a comfortable 78 degrees, including a very lovely sunset.

This marina is really nice & I'm really becoming partial to T-head docking for providing great views.  Here are some photos I took from the B & B. (Capt Bob has warned me that with shifting winds out of the NE at 20+ knots tomorrow this will not be the best spot in the marina, but as it turns out the only slip with 50amp/240volt service allowing us to run the AC's).

Sunday, April 1

Headed out for  Cocoa Village Marina.  Really delightful ride, lots of beautiful homes, several bridges, & many boaters! 

Enjoyed dinner with two other couples, both on beautiful Freedom sailboats. They both came in the next day, & it so happened that they both had recently purchased their boats.  One of the couples noticed the Freedom docked next to us, & discovered that they were going to buy that boat, but waited too long to make an offer, & lost out to this couple next to us!  Sometimes, if you really want something badly enough, it pays to 'just do it'!  You snooze - you lose! Unfortunately, the camera battery died when I was trying to take the picture of the Freedom sailboats.

The couple next to us, Jake & Kay, offered to take me to Publix with them because they had rented a car for the day.  That was a stroke of luck for me, because I needed to purchase some heavy items, & was trying to figure out how I was going to balance them on my bike. 

A SIDE NOTE: My friend & neighbor Tonie Hanson, had given me a tip on purchasing some 'thank you gifts' for occasions just like this one.  So I followed her advice & finally gave my 'first' prior to trip, purchased 'thank you gift' to Kay & Jake!  Whew!!!  I was beginning to think, "I must be really stingy, because, so far, I've used 1/2 of my 'thank you gifts' for myself!!  But, that's what Admirals do - right? Of course that's what Admirals do!

Saturday, March 31

Biked to Vero Beach downtown area, had lunch at the Citrus Cafe overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, as well as, enjoying the 'sites' walking on the beach!  I actually never saw this particular 'site', but Capt. Bob obviously did not miss it!  Boys will be boys.  Fantasize to your hearts content honey!

After the Capt. finished his fantasizing, we headed to the Vero Beach Boat Show, where our friend Jerry was showing this Glacier Bay Ocean Cat to some potential customers.

Friday, March 30

Decided to leave the comforts of Sunset Bay Marina to head north to St. Augustine, this trip will take us up ICW via the Indian River into the Mosquito Lagoon and the Halifax River. Fist stop was Vero Beach City Marina.  Docked on the T-head, the best spot in the marina!  Loved the view, as you can see from the photos.

While enjoying the Vero Beach Sunset, this beautiful Anhinga diving bird decided to welcome the B & B while drying her wings!

Tuesday, March 27

Headed back to Stuart for some final repair work on the B & B performed by our guardian angel Charlie!  Had dinner with Jerry at our favorite restaurant, Sailors Return (this was Prime Rib night which Jerry/Capt Bob were looking forward too, only to learn they ran out just before we sat down.  Could that be a martini Capt Bob is drinking?).