This morning we were up bright and early, ready and a little anxious, but mostly really excited to be leaving our home of the last two weeks.
Well not excited about leaving Hidden Harbour Marina, it was a most awesome home ! Well protected, close to everything we could need, and well managed by the friendly and hospitable dockmasters, Aaron and Greer.
But excited about being back on the road (water) heading, hmm... "Somewhere South of Somewhere".
We had chosen to stay inside (in the ICW) instead of going offshore, as both of us were still feeling rather "off" and didn't quite want to put our bodies through an overnight ordeal, although conditions on the outside were looking pretty favourable.
Slack current had us waiting until 9:00 and sure enough, at 8:45 we could see the ripples in the water start to diminish.
I pointed and said "let's GO"...
But Dave said "patience my dear grasshopper"
Goodness but dontcha hate that ? UGH !
And then Dave looked and looked and looked and honest-to-goodness, one less ripple in the water later, said "ok, time to GO"...
With Greer's help holding the last of our lines "just in case" we backed out of our slightly narrow slip and easily cleared the pilings with nary a scratch or bump.
Thank Goodness !!
And full throttle on "GO" it was, down the San Sebastian River and under the bridge, and once again into the unknown...
It was nice to see abundant wildlife everywhere we looked. Dolphins diving in our wake. Pelicans and egrets and birds of prey everywhere, but especially noticeable the large white pelicans.
We motored by Rattlesnake Island and Fort Matanzas and Marineland, the scenery becoming decidedly a touch more Florida-ish (lots of state parks, protected areas, around here !)
We passed by what used to be the OLD ICW Waterway ...
History tells of President Hoover sitting on his presidential yacht, probably on a presidential chair when the yacht did a sudden 90 degree turn in order to keep moving...
Hoover was thrown from his chair, and angrily shouted "someone ought to straighten out this damn curve", and so they did. And as a result we found ourselves going straight, and I do mean straight, down the ICW.
True story. I kid you not. Straight is kind of boring though.
Interestingly enough if this were early 1930s, we'd have to pay to use the Waterway.
Seriously. Toll booths on the Waterways ? What's next drive-thru's ?
Today's ICW is free and publicly owned.
We arrived by the Seabreeze Bridge (Daytona) well before our estimated ETA, thanks to a nice tide pushing us along all day.
We opted to anchor just on the North Side, and enjoyed some down time watching the sun set while having some munchies (smoked gouda and some Sea Salt Kashi Crackers , YUM, by the way!)
And speaking of anchoring, never thought we'd be, hmm, "comfortable" anchored in not even 8 feet of water. Completley comfortable. As in Dave slept all night type of comfortable !!
If I were to say Daytona, and other than Beach, what is the first thing that comes to mind ? Car Racing. NASCAR. Daytona is the "birthplace of speed".
The long, and I do mean long, as in 23 miles long, beach of hardpacked sand was perfect for racing cars way back when.
Most of the car giants (Ford, Olds, Chevrolet...) all tested their innovations here, as it was, way back when, the only reliable, long, flat track around.
The first cars reached impressive speeds of 63 mph. And later, improved technology had them clocking in at impressive speeds of over 200 mph. Wow !! I'm not a race car fan or buff, but it all is kind of interesting.
Not that I think cars belong on the beach. They don't. IMHO. However... most of us do enjoy today some things that result from things that probably shouldn't have happened way back when.
Thankfully an indoor track has been built and car races have now moved indoors.
Today, cars are allowed only in certain, very limited areas (and well away from the protected sea turtle nesting sites).
We did do our bit to "test drive our rental car" adding our very low speed and tire marks to the sands of time, if only for a moment, until the tide washes our presence away.
Give me two bare feet in the soft hot sand anyday.
But ya, give me a good ole car when I need it, to get me to where I need to and want to go, anyday (and fast), as well.
Guess we wouldn't have one without the other.