So, the ICW it is. We are in the routine of bridge signals and bridge boards again and three days later we can say we are tired of the stress of our 64 foot mast that is "clinking" on half of the bridges. On the stretch we've completed so far, the water is influenced by wind and rain, not tides that we can make accommodations for. Instead, we have emptied the starboard tanks, moved everything we can from aft cabins to the middle of the boat, loading the port side and sitting on the port side as we ghost under the bridges. Yes, Promise has a lean to her, but she is less stern heavy and her mast is in tact. We should see the ICW influenced by the tides in about 40 miles at Ponce Inlet so the boat can level off again.
We spent single nights in Fort Pierce and Melbourne to get out of afternoon storms. Stronger rain potential has kept us in a slip in Titusville for two days, and we confess the rest from the sun and heat have been good (though it has rained little.) The harbor has its own pod of manatees who greeted us when we docked and they revisited us when they found our air conditioner discharge! Two days here is enough, we are bored and ready to move on.
Our next adventure tomorrow is an "old Florida" town of New Smyrna Beach. We plan to explore a little. Red sky at night, sailors delight- five or more great days ahead. We hope there is more wind, too, as we could stand a little more sailing and it would be cooler, less exhausting in the cockpit. Florida is getting very hot!
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| Field trip: to the Biltmore Hotel for High Tea and a tour, April 14, 2013 |
