One thing we have learned is besides checking cruising guides, chart software and even Facebook ICW groups, there is no substitute for constantly check the channel ahead with binoculars. Things can change quickly and there could be construction and/or dredging barges, bridge closures, sunken boats, and debris, including logs ahead. A perfect example is the lift bridge at Fort Pierce which has a new high level bridge being constructed beside the existing lift bridge. As it stood, we got there 5 minutes after the opening time, high is every half hour, so we had to circle around in the channel and wait. There was a current of just under a knot so bobbing around waiting wasn't an option.

Anchored at Valkaria between 2 islands as the wind was scheduled to clock around overnight.

https://youtu.be/Clz9ykXMkeM?si=M3QTkiLnSqDgM05k

Thursday started out as a really nice day. We even got to sail for 4 hours with a 10 knot wind on a beam reach (90° to direction of travel). we managed close to 7 knots and with no engine noise! The waterway was 2-3 miles wide with several bridges to go under. It's pretty exciting to go under a bridge with a 100' opening doing 7 knots under sail alone. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. We started to get gusts up to 20+ knots so we reefed both sails until finally we had to drop them.

The wind continued to build and we saw it hit over 30 several times throughout the afternoon. We had planned on anchoring south of a bridge in Titusville which would give us cover from the west wind that was forecast to clock around to the northeast through the night, However hen we got there, the wind was still howling at plus 30 so we elected to go north of the bridged take a mooring ball. That was a bit of task with the wind but Sam did a great job controlling the boat while I picked up the pennant and got a line through it. A almost lost a boathook as the wind twisted the boat around but I managed to hook it with our other boathook before it sank!

The wind was supposed to drop at dusk and start to clock around but it continued to howl until 11 pm. Our mooring lines through the morning ball pendant were quite noisy as the boat bobbed around but at least we didn't have to worry about dragging anchor.

https://youtu.be/JYTj7BUX8iU?si=vob0W7LDi4gX2lza

The bonus of paying for a mooring ball here was that we got access to the dinghy dock, showers and washrooms as well as being close to stores to pick up supplies we couldn't get back at Jensen Beach. (a case of beer was too heavy with all of our stuff when shopping there, but we managed to snag 1 here!) We also grabbed a couple of merry cans of diesel fuel and 60 litres of water. Also we’re totally topped up on food, fuel, water and beer….still on the hunt for some wine but we’re not totally out yet!

Today's shot is of the Fort Pierce lift bridge with the new bridge span construction going on. It pays to check these things out with binoculars as things change quickly, opening schedules get affected by construction and sometimes things just breakdown.