We enjoyed our stay in Vero Beach City Marina.  We are full-time cruisers so it seems appropriate to cruise.  Time to move on.  After a couple of windy days, we picked a particularly calm day to travel north up the ICW.

Leaving Vero Beach Marina – looking toward the mooring field

Cloudy, cool and calm.  Knit caps, multiple layers of clothes and gloves were donned to weather the 48 – 71°F.   We had parts of the fly bridge eisenglass (clear plastic) open so I could use the binoculars to keep Wayne informed about what is up ahead.  Going at 10mph, it seemed that the wind chill alone kept us at a steady 60°F.  Brrrr.

Out of the marina channel, under the bridge, into ICW at sunrise

This part of the ICW is amazing.  A lot wider than I had imagined.  We had these grey skies all the way.  The picture above is the only glint of sunshine I saw all day.

Starboard View – flat calm ICW ( off to the right )

Port side View – ( off to the left of the boat)

Sorry folks.  No rainbows today.  We had several groups of dolphins that swam with us on and off during our 58 mile trip.  The groups looked like family pods.  There was always a young dolphin appearing next to a full sized dolphin.  No pictures because they seemed to arrive when I was driving and Wayne was checking his eyelids for cracks.

We only saw one other boat heading north.  A Sail Boat from the UK.  He was all bundled up and even had a throw rug over his legs.  We could understand.  It was a bit chilly and we had enclosures to keep most of the cold air off our chests.  All the other boaters we saw were heading south.  About two dozen sail boats and a half dozen power boats all heading south.  I guess going north in the winter time is a bit crazy.

It seems that “mansions” are being built where single level dwellings used to reside.  If you can – go BIG!!  Right?  I bet they have a great view on the second story balcony.

Nice house – river side

Like this house with 3 fire places and maybe a guest house to the left.  OR “Mother-in-law” suite.  Very nice.  Wonder if boaters are welcome.

House being built –

We heard on the radio that a “barge” was up ahead.  As we got closer, we realized it wasn’t a barge but a ‘dredger’ kind of water craft.  It was taking up at least half of the channel.  There were orange buoy floats being dragged behind it.  We assume to carry away whatever they were dredging.  We politely informed them we were coming around them, slow and steady to not rock them too much.

Dredger – taking up most of the channel

Dredger with floating pipes behind it

We saw several men aboard.  One gave us the wave!  You know the wave.  The wave that conveys a number of things all at once.   The wave means they are good, they appreciate us going slow, hey there!, and of course… hello to a fellow boater, safe travels, and see you around.  The wave.  Like the head nod for land lubbers.

Dredger – Marking a new channel or keeping this one deep enough

As we had a pretty calm day, it was interesting to see flocks, gaggles, groups of birds just floating around in the middle of the ICW… aka Indian River.  Needless to say, they were not really happy with us disturbing their calm.

Pelican Patch – a gaggle of pelicans floating together

No pelicans were harmed as we motored past them.  They either paddled out of our way annoyingly or actually got up and flew over us and re-landed in their original spot.

Surprisingly, we saw several crab pots that had drifted into the channel… in our water way!!  This is what they look like.  Like a  ball on the water.  We have seen black, orange, red and white balls or buoys.  During our short travels, we have seen these crab pots near numbered markers.  We presume that is so the buoy-ball owner can remember where he put his crab pot/ cage.  We have also seen balls lined up in a row right on the edge of the ICW channel.  This is the first time we had to keep a look out for buoys in the ICW waterway channel.  We certainly don’t want to run over one of these buoys because their chain/rope can get wound around our propeller.  Things to be concerned about.

Crab pots – in the middle of the channel

One of the 65 ft bridge we motored under.  I was amazed at all the birds lined up along the cement pilings.   Convention in town?  Like soldiers all standing in line.  Hmmm… the weather was cloudy but reasonably calm so I couldn’t figure out why they were just standing about.   Maybe they were giving us “the wave”?!  Or waiting for Alfred Hitchock to yell Action.  Really interesting and mildly creepy.

Birds lining up on the Bridge supports

We arrived at the Cocoa Village Marina.  Winds were still calm and the river pretty flat making our entry into the small marina relatively easy.  Wayne radioed ahead for instructions.  The Dock Master, Kelly, told us to motor around and pull in with our stern to the dock.  Wayne had never backed in Always Home and said so on the radio to give the dock folks a clue that we were nervous.  Kelly said she and Ken would be there to give guidance and to catch our lines.  They did not believe this was Wayne’s first time.  He pulled into the channel, pivoted the boat, and expertly backed up the boat in the slip.  I threw the lines to the dock hands and held my breath.  Expertly!!!  Amazing.

Arrived and settled in our slip.  Our back door view – Indian River and the ICW

We were actually advised by boaters at the Vero Beach City Marina that we should practice this backing up maneuver.  Sometimes, backing into a slip or anchorage is the only way to get to where you want to be.  We didn’t know this advise would so apropos.

Before the end of the evening, we had visitors coming by to say hello.  They had already heard about Wayne’s first time.  It is the talk of the marina.  It makes me wonder if in a previous life Wayne was a sailor.

Sunset – Cocoa Village Marina, Cocoa, FL

Still calm waters for our first night in Cocoa, FL.