The Intracoastal Waterway
Continuing down the ICW to Oriental, NC where Palmetto Moon was hauled, we touched up the bottom paint and did other boat chores. I was determined to leave before the cold weather arrived in order not to repeat last year. Thursday, October 19 we left Sailcraft Services and cruised through NC and SC stopped at Isle of Palms on Tuesday, October 24 for about three weeks. We took stuff off the boat back to Greer and brought other stuff back to the boat. We visited with friends and showed off our “flood pictures”.
Monday, November 13 we left Charleston, about 17 days ahead of last year, and headed to Beaufort, SC; through the skinny waters of Georgia, into FL. By Sunday, November 19 we were back in our favorite city, St. Augustine. During our eight days, we toured the Lightner Museum, formerly the Hotel Alcazar built by Henry Flager in 1888, filled with relics of the Gilded Age. Jim had mechanics come aboard to fix a water leak in the starboard engine that reappeared so they returned and replaced the water pump. We dined at Aviles Restaurant on Thanksgiving Day and had a wonderful meal with a view of the harbor. When Jim wasn’t fretting about the mechanical problem, he was watching the restoration of the Bridge of Lions with gigantic cranes and barges. I thought about asking the marina for the annual slip rates; however, this project will continue through 2010. Lastly, we visited with our friends, Tom & Shirley, who live there, and they always know great restaurants that are not frequented by tourists.
Tuesday, November 28 we left St. Augustine for Daytona Beach; then Titusville where we must stop for a dinner of rock shrimp at Dixie Crossroads; and arriving in Vero Beach Municipal Marina on Friday, December 1 in time to see the Christmas Boat Parade from our aft deck. Saturday, December 9 Jim, my sister, and I experienced an incredible sight. We were able to see the launch of the space shuttle Discovery at Cape Canaveral from our aft deck! Although it is about 50 miles north, the fireball created on liftoff was enormous and lit up the horizon. It was a fairly cloudy night; however, we could see the shuttle pass between the clouds. The liftoff was the first night launch in four years. We are staying in Vero until Wednesday, December 20 when cruise to our next stop, West Palm Beach for Christmas.
Monday, November 13 we left Charleston, about 17 days ahead of last year, and headed to Beaufort, SC; through the skinny waters of Georgia, into FL. By Sunday, November 19 we were back in our favorite city, St. Augustine. During our eight days, we toured the Lightner Museum, formerly the Hotel Alcazar built by Henry Flager in 1888, filled with relics of the Gilded Age. Jim had mechanics come aboard to fix a water leak in the starboard engine that reappeared so they returned and replaced the water pump. We dined at Aviles Restaurant on Thanksgiving Day and had a wonderful meal with a view of the harbor. When Jim wasn’t fretting about the mechanical problem, he was watching the restoration of the Bridge of Lions with gigantic cranes and barges. I thought about asking the marina for the annual slip rates; however, this project will continue through 2010. Lastly, we visited with our friends, Tom & Shirley, who live there, and they always know great restaurants that are not frequented by tourists.
Tuesday, November 28 we left St. Augustine for Daytona Beach; then Titusville where we must stop for a dinner of rock shrimp at Dixie Crossroads; and arriving in Vero Beach Municipal Marina on Friday, December 1 in time to see the Christmas Boat Parade from our aft deck. Saturday, December 9 Jim, my sister, and I experienced an incredible sight. We were able to see the launch of the space shuttle Discovery at Cape Canaveral from our aft deck! Although it is about 50 miles north, the fireball created on liftoff was enormous and lit up the horizon. It was a fairly cloudy night; however, we could see the shuttle pass between the clouds. The liftoff was the first night launch in four years. We are staying in Vero until Wednesday, December 20 when cruise to our next stop, West Palm Beach for Christmas.
posted by Palmetto Moon at 12/13/2006 01:45:00 PM
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