Titusville to Daytona

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     The wind had settled to 10 knots by morning and even though it was predicted to match yesterday's velocity it was also predicted to settle down to 5 to 10 knots by late morning.  We decided to go for it. The boat was thickly covered with salt crystals so a few more wouldn't matter and maybe we could get to a place where we could get the salt washed off before it turned the whole boat to rust. Even though the winds were the same velocity, because we were snaking our way between small islands, the waves and salt spray were minimal with only an occasional gust that rocked the boat.

                                                Hundreds of birds...many spoonbills.
                                                                                                                   
     Navigation though was much more intense.  Active Captain had a couple of warning flags about shoaling and Beth concentrated on directing Doc's Holiday around the grounding dangers.  We followed the instructions precisely which included on 2 occassions 90 degree turns at an idle and even though we were passing at near high tide we did see areas that had only 5 foot depths.

                       Anchorage just before grounding shoals.                                           

    The scenery was interesting. We idled pass two fishermen in an overgrown canal that told us the whole canal was loaded with manatees and although we saw an occasional tail we have yet to have a good look or get a good picture of a manatee.
                                                                        
                       New Smyrna Beach..Harris Saxon Bridge (MM 846.5)                             
                                                                               

                                                     Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse                                
                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                  Daytona                        
     As we approached Daytona the winds decreased as predicted and the cruising was smooth. We drifted in to an anchorage just off of a park that had a small boat ramp.  Perfect spot. On the second attempt the delta anchor held in 6 feet of water and we had a nice view of the park and a nearby marina.  It was just 12:30 and the anchorage was reasonably open. Later as more boats entered some of them had difficulty and had to leave to find another anchorage....sometimes it pays to take it slow and anchor early!

                                    Daytona Anchorage at Bethune Point Park
                                        
                                                           Filling up..                                                
                                                                        
     Checking the boat there were a few repairs that had to be undertaken.  The bimini flapping in the wind from the previous day had pulled out a snap, the dingy battery had to be recharged and we needed to start getting some of this salt washed off the boat.  Once these were done we loaded Spencer into his life jacket and headed for the park. There were no other dogs for him to play with so with direction from one of the kids in the park we headed for what we thought was an outdoor restaurant and some shops.  Within a mile Spencer's tongue was hanging out and the only thing resembling a restaurant was a dilapidated bar!
     It was an old gas station with two cement tables out front, bars on the windows and an open door through which we could see dark figures milling about.  A few Harley Davidson motor bikes were in the gravel parking lot and remnants of pennants declaring "Bike Week" were still hanging from the surrounding board fence.  Johnny Cash's song  "How highs the water Mamma" was  crackling on the only outdoor speaker. We had visited Daytona years ago with Danny and Patty, my brother and sister inlaws and this bar brought back fond memories.  As Beth shook her head No, I entered to get us a couple of cold beers.(after all Spencer's tongue was hanging out...ya...I know...your thinking what the hell has that got to do with anything...but it was the only excuse I could give Beth for why we were having a beer here!)  I immediately met several denizons of the dark bar.  Some burly bikers and some aesthenic wasted waifs, very much like the crowd I grew up with.  These people I understood.  For the most part friendly, trusting only those they have known closely for a long time and wanting some fun in their lives, wanting it so badly that they succumb to the mind numbing effects of alcohol and drugs, and we were about to join them.
   We sat outside enjoying the cold beer and people watching.  Beth directed my attention to a girl across the street walking her dog and pulling a little red wagon behind her.  She appeared to be reasonably dressed with blue jeans and a white blouse but trying to hold the dog on a leash and pulling the little red wagon behind her immediately brought the response from me,  "She's not right!"  We later saw her on the beach picking up stones so maybe I judged too quickly. Maybe she was an artist gathering stones for some art work.  Still not right! But at least acceptable.LOL.
  After a while the denizons were getting louder and when the speaker rang out a song I had never heard before (chorus loudly sung by all in the bar was "Who the f!@#  is Alice!) we laughed and decided to leave.

                                                                                
    We returned to the boat and while Beth prepared chicken kabobs for the barbecue I got busy washing more salt off the windows and as much of the boat as I could reach with a 50 foot hose.
Finishing in time to catch the sunset it was all we could do to keep our eyes open so off to bed. St. Augustine tomorrow where our friend from Beaumont, Brenda Travis assures us we will find the "Fountain of Youth!"