Sailing with Bob & Vickie

February 7th, 8th, and 9th
Making our way back to New Smyrna, Florida
Feb 7th - Leave St Augustine, FL at 10:10AM, and arrive at 2:50 PM at Palm Coast Marina. First slip is too short and we really don't want to wake up banging against another boat so we move the boat to the fuel dock. Very pretty old marina - time to do some laundry, visit with a few liveaboard boaters (one of the boaters mentioned he loved eating at the Fillin Station), eat on the boat and get a good night sleep.

Feb 8th - Up way too early but we are excited to head back to New Smyrna so we leave Palm Coast Marina @ about 7:30 AM and it is really foggy, Islander is a few miles behind. We settle in at New Smyrna Beach City Marina a little after 2:00 PM and we are ready to clean up and run the streets. We see the cutest maroon Ranger Tug close to us on the dock. It is immaculate and it just seems to stand out. Well, Vickie comments on how cute the little tug is when we hear the owner from inside say "she's not so little". So this is how we meet Carl. This tug is beautiful and awesome, they have trailered it from the State of Washington, stayed in RV parks hooking it up and then - splash she goes in the water and she is seaworthy! What do you think Trent & Stephanie? It is really sweet then I notice the tug's name is "Vickie Lynn" exact same spelling as mine. Well, who would guess that Carl's wife is Vickie Lynn and her birthday is Mar 26 (one day after mine) but not the same year and she is an accountant - WOW another Serendipity moment. After admiring this boat we head back to our beautiful, home sweet home onboard Serendipity and get ready for a fun evening with Ernie & Mary at Cork Screw Restaurant and it truly is memorable. One more short story to finish the evening, Vickie slips down the stairs and hears a voice saying "Are you okay mom?" I keep forgetting about that damn camera and Kari & Jon are viewing via camera (so glad to have them aboard!) Time to facetime the Manns.

Feb 9th - It's 7:30 AM and it's time to see Ernie & Mary off (we hope to see you soon). We have had so much fun together and it is a bit sad to see them head their own way but we are so happy for them and the new adventures and memories they will make travelling by boat. Bob is determined to eat breakfast at Little Drug Company - it is an old drug store complete with soda fountain and this is where we begin today's fun. We are so full - time to take a long bike ride down Falgler Ave to the ocean - then ride on the beach and end up at our favorite biker bar - The Beachside Tavern (after all we are on bikes - Vickie's bike even has colorful streamers & a bell). Best margarita ever (is it really only 11:30AM?). We just find out that Douglas & Dena Fender have given birth to Waylon Dallas. Congrats to all the Fenders! Back on the bikes and back to the boat - my butt is sore. Later in the day Rick Long a friend of Doug's, who is a retired US Marshall, drops by for drinks. What a wonderful world!