2/29/16

Happy Leap Year! After a wonderful stroll along Canal Street Historical District in New Smyrna Beach Nana and Nandad enjoyed a relaxing morning reading the paper, sipping tea, and devouring the most delicious banana nut muffin from the local cafe. Nana was delighted to get a birthday card for little Vikens 2nd birthday at the Little Drug Company. It can be difficult sometimes along the ICW to find stores close to the Marina! Leaving the Marina by 11 am with another beautiful day IE cruises back up the Halifax River. We arrive at 3.30 at the Marina at Hammock Beach Resort. Nandad decides to take a bike ride on the fold up bike and promptly discovers that Nana needs to put air in the tires! He still managed to enjoy a five mile ride- well done Nandad. Dinner onboard after sunset and later lots of stars to gaze at. Tomorrow IE will try to make it to Fernandina Beach or perhaps Jacksonville. The first picture is a small island right at the NSCBM where the Snowy Egrets and Pelicans like to chill. The second picture is to demonstrate how not to leave your boat abandoned on the ICW. The last picture is Nandad on the little tern - that's the fold up bike!!!

2/28/16

Well Nana and Nandad are back from Cuba and what an amazing trip. We were so lucky to have our good friend Catherine from BWSC organize a 7 day People to People tour for a group of 13. Words just can not describe what a fantastic experience it was. 

We are very happy to be back on the boat,  heading back to family and feeling extremely blessed for all we have. We left Harbortown Marina at about 11 am after doing laundry, returning the rental car and provisioning. An absolutely beautiful sunny day cruising down the Indian River, through the Haulover Canal, up the Mosquito Lagoon and into New Samyrna City Beach Marina mm845. Peter & Jane were on the dock waiting to greet us and we had a wonderful cocktail hour up on the bridge watching the fishing boats, pelicans and Dolphins. Thank You Peter & Jane. We then had an excellent dinner at the Dolphin Seaview Restraurant while waiting for the Rocket Launch: Space Falcon 9 SES 9. Unfortunately due to some glitch, the launch was aborted. Not too sure where IE will be tomorrow- maybe St Augustine. We will see. 

The first picture is Nana trying to catch the water leak coming through the camera lense in the deck salon!!!The next picture is along the Indian River North where is gets so shallow that you can walk while dragging your canoe!! The third picture is Nandad relaxing on the bridge watching a family of Dolphins playing along side IE. The last picture is again to show how shallow the water gets so close to the boat. These are a flock of very large white Pelicans along the Mosquito Lagoon. 

02/18/16

IE is now at the Harbortown Marina on the Cape Canaveral Barge Canal. She spent last night at Vero Beach at the Vero Beach Yacht Club. Nana and Nandad had a wonderful dinner at the club after a perfect walk to the beach. It is truly a beautiful  spot. IE left early in the morning and now that we are heading back north the sun is behind our back so our visibility is unobstructed. It was a nature day for Nana with pictures of Osprey nesting on the markers, pelicans bomb diving to catch their prey, the Dolphins playing along the boat and the snowy egrets all along the Canaveral Barge Canal. IE will stay here until 2/27 but Nana and Nandad will be in Cuba from 2/20 to 2/27. This means no more blog until we get back from Cuba.

2/16/16

It is easy to understand why Boaters are drawn to Stuart. Sunset Bay Marina is right down town which is packed with very one of a kind locally owned shops. There is a beautiful Riverwalk that takes you right down town You can see the blue heron perched right on the dock. Nana and Nandad are told that if you walked all the docks you would have walked two miles! You can see the beautiful building which is the Marina office and where you will find a variety of groups playing dominos, bridge, or simply chatting right there by the gas fire pit. Wonderful to have the local knowledge from Mark and Mary and a fantastic dinner onboard their beautiful boat "The Good Life". Monday was a very wet day so Nana and Nandad took the opportunity to wash down IE both inside and out. This morning  Nana went to a great Yoga class while Nandad provisioned and picked up some things from West Marine ( thanks to M/M for the use of there car). The perfect sunset with cocktails onboard IE followed by a wonderful dinner down town at The Black Marlin with of course great company and many experiences shared. The pictures include two beautiful fountains down town and also a map which traces IE's journey from Newport RI to Stuart FL . A total of 987 miles on the ICW and 518 nm from Newport to Norfolk. Great job skipper we did it. 

2/15/16

The journey was the destination. 

Ireland's Eye arrived into Stuart on Valentine's Day at 2.30 pm and was greeted by Mark & Mary as we came into the dock. Very pleasant ride down the Indian River. As we approached Ford Pierce, passing Jacks Island and just before the bridge , a flock of Pelicans and Blue Heron perched all along the bushes was quite the sight. Nana tried to take a picture but again a zoom lense would have been perfect. It was also interesting to pass Hutchinson Island where Mona and Paula stay but unfortunately we missed the window to see them. Finally lots of sail boats noted while passing the US Sailing training facility close to Jensen Beach. IE then leaves the ICW and enters the St Lucie River and onto the Okeechobee Waterway. IE will be here for a least three days until Wednesday 17th. The last picture is the Roosevelt Bascule Bridge just before you turn into the Sunset Bay Marina downtown Stuart. 

2/13/16

Nana and Nandad had a very relaxing day yesterday - hence no posting! We finally made it up on the bridge on the perfect sunny 70 degree day ( sorry for those of you with record cold temperatures ). We had a wonderful meal at The Mansions in the Historic town of Melbourne with a very nice couple from Texas - their boat is along side IE in the photo! it's a 47 Grand Banks. We had a fantastic cruise along the Indian River passing Grant Island , the many mangrove islands and Sebastian which is home to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. Arriving at Vero Beach City Marina just in time for a late lunch and the perfect setting right beside the glistening Atlantic Ocean. Vero Beach is known as " the gateway to the tropics" and if you visit you will know why. Th eIndian River community produces more than three-quarters of Florida's grapefruit crop. We met with Ed and Liz from the BWSC and enjoyed their company for a great dinner at Bobby's and fantastic live music at Grind & Grape. Nana and Nandad will stay another night before our final destination for this trip Stuart. The second picture is an orchid growing from one of the beautiful oak trees along the toad to the beach from the Marina. 

2/11/16

Well if you think something is too good to be true then it is! With all that water splashing over us yesterday Nana wondered how everything remained dry? Well I guess not. On waking this morningNanDad  noted a very wet head of the bed. After that we discovered a very full hull due to the fact that the automatic plumb did not work! Then after a delicious breakfast we were ready to go when NanDad decided he did not like the sound of the engine- oh dear! Anyways needless to say a late start so IE did not leave Cocoa until 12 md. No worries, a quick cruise over to Telemar to fill with diesel.  A beautiful quite village up the Banana River with your classical small/large homes right at the rivers edge. We then decided to shorten our day and at the Melbourne Causeway booked a slip at the Melbourne Harbor Marina. This area is 22 miles from Cape Canaveral and right on the edge of Merritt Island - National Wildlife Refuge. Now things took a turn for Nana in the right direction. A wonderful bike ride over the causeway right down to the Indialantic Beaches. Boating always has its twists and turns. Once again the bed linens are dry and we are ready for a good nights sleep. Perhaps we will make or to Vero Beach tomorrow. The photos are of Melbourne Beach and a derelict house on the way up the river. I am sure it look good in its time of glory.

2/10/16

Well the capture of the day was Nana's video of the Dolphin family while cruising along the Mosquito Lagoon. What an accomplishment it was to finally catch them in action.,Nana and Nandad woke up early this morning and took a nice stroll down to Daytona beach. Although the car racing no longer takes place on the beach, cars can still go on the beach. Leaving the HRYC at 9.30am and heading towards the Ponce de Lion Cut on a sunny, cold, brisk morning IE passed many areas with trailer parks and areas for fishing. While passing through the Haulover canal Nana and Nandad could see Cape Canaveral in the distance. They could also see the pink egrets flying over head along with the flock of very large white Pelicans, blue heron, roseate spoonbills ( you will have to google that one !) perched on the island nearby. It was a very choppy crossing along the Indian River and we were very happy to secure a slip at the Cocoa Villiage Marina. Peter and Jane drove all the way to visit us and take us out to dinner which was very much appreciated. It was fun to chat about adventures to come. Tomorrow we may leave for Vero Beach. The pictures inclued Nana at the Jackie Robinson Monument in Daytona,

the beautiful Red Brick Lighthouse at the Ponce de Lion Inlet & the Dolphins while cruising the Mosquito Lagoon. 

2/9/16

Ireland's Eye is now at the HRYC ( Halifax River Yacht Club ) in Daytona Beach FL. Today was a very cold, sunny windy day with 27 mph winds. IE left St Augustine FL after spending over 7 weeks on the slip. Nana and Nandad were a little rusty and had quite the scare going through Crescent Bascule bridge. The sun was shining right on our bow, the wind was howling and our radio contact was very poor. All that lead to a slight shift in direction which needless to say on the ICW meant we hit bottom!!! Sorry Donal😂, however because your brother is quite the captain the situation was quickly resolved and IE made amends🤗. The Matanzas Inlet is very narrow and Nana and Nandad had to pay particular attention for the rest of the ride. Arrived at HRYC at 2.30 which provided plenty of time to take a nice walk. Pete , the dock master , was incredibly helpful and we are ready to have a relaxing evening. The club is having. Mardi Gras masquerade so we can enjoy some of the fun from the Flag lounge. Tomorrow mornings Nana intends to either walk or bike to the beach. You can't be in Daytona and not see the beach! We plan or heading to Titusville tomorrow. 

2/08/16

Nana & Nandad are back on Ireland's Eye. Arrived back to Rivers Edge Marina in St Augustine FL. Colder than we expected but not as cold as Boston. IE was in good shape except for a leak in the master salon ( we thought it had been fixed )! I guess they had a lot of rain and wind. Glad to have access to laundry and a heating blanket😊We are optimistic and have put the canopy on the bridge.The picture tells its tale- it took three men to figure it out! Nandad lost no time catching up with the locals watching the sun go down. Our plan to to head to Daytona Beach tomorrow, maybe Nana can drive one of those race cars on the beach.