2022-11-20 Heading further south - Cocoa Village, Vero Beach

We have continued down the ICW motor sailing, as winds have been mostly from the north.  Stopped for one night at a free dock, and then  for the night at a marina close to Ponte Vedra Beach, as Deans cousin and husband live near by.  They took us to Costco for some supplies, and then back to their house, and then out to dinner.   Had a great visit with them, they are very enjoyable people to spend time with.   Unfortunately, took no photos of them.

Free dock

Left the marina early the next morning - and headed to St. Augustine.

Quite the varied scenery while heading down the ICW in Florida, with a mix of homes and open country.

Some very fancy homes along the canal

Natural beauty

Took a mooring in St. Augustine, as anchorage if very limited.   We wanted to check out the Sailors Exchange store there - where you can buy used sailing gear.  We were looking for a tank level indicator, and hatch - but struck out on both items, so spent some time wandering and seeing sights in St. Augustine - which is a very cute town.

Courtyard at Flagler College

Lightner Building and Museum

We wandered through the Lightner Building and grounds, with several courtyards, nicely landscaped, and inside with a large open courtyard, and some businesses, and cafe.   Near the museum we found this clock, with the clock gone from the top for repair, but found the name on the clock of Sir Richard Whittington.  Kris's maiden name is Whittington, and she thinks that Sir Richard Whittington - past Lord Mayor of London and also a all around good guy.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Whittington

Sir Richard Whittington clock.  

Old Pool turned into restaurant, with sloping floor inside Lightner building.

One of St. Augustine's cute streets

Another neat building in St. Augustine

After the one day in St. Augustine, we headed south again, in chilly weather down to an anchorage, with high current.  We must have done 6 or 7 full 180 degree swings with the wind and current.  Around 5:00 a.m. we woke up, and found we had dragged anchor.  Pulled up anchor and found a tangled mess, with the chain wrapped several times around the anchor in a knot.   Dean had to work to get it untangled, and then we re-anchored and hung out for about an hour until it was light enough to head out again.   First time we have had a tangle like that.

The hurricane Nicole came through this area, and we saw a lot of damage, and boats sunken or up on the shore.  This trip also had a couple of tight bridges to pass through.

This bridge only had half the bridge working, plenty of room but feels tight when motoring through.

Common site unfortunately on this stretch of the ICW

Lots of sailboats and powerboats washed up on shore during high winds and water.  The water receded, but the boats did not.

Another tight bridge, as crews on barge taking up room while working on bridge

Next stop was Cocoa Village.  They have a free dock.  Our friends on Sojourn were at the dock, and another Manta Imagine was anchored out there.

Charm and Sojourn at the free dock

The S.F. Travis hardware store in Cocoa Village has been there since 1885, and is still in the family.  Walking through it is a treat, as they still have some items that have been in the store for almost since it was established.     https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=145953

S.F. Travis hardware building outside

Inside just one of the many aisles of this very large store.

Sojourn had us and Imagine over for a very delicious dinner.  Always good to visit with old friends and meet new ones.

Left to right - Duane and Karen of Sojourn, Dean, Kris and John from Imagine

We were going to spend more time in Cocoa, but since there were several Manta's in the area, a get together was planned for Vero Beach.   So next morning we headed south, made a stop for the night at a spot we know near the Eau Gallie causeway, where the walk to the grocery is easy to walk to.  We hit the local Publix and shopped there buy one get one free sales.

Left early next morning to head to Vero Beach, where we got a mooring, and later that day went over to Scott and Tinas house in Vero Beach for the get together.  We met Scott and Tina off Sangaris in the Bahamas when we owned What If.

Sangaris, Imagine, Charm, Sojourn, Breathe, Sandbox and Galileo

Fun evening, with nice people.   

We will spend a couple more days in Vero Beach, waiting out a storm and getting final groceries for the next 6 months in the Bahamas.