MIDORI ADVENTURES

Depart New Smyrna Beach 6:50 a.m.
Arrive Cocoa village Marina 2:32 p.m.
7.5 hrs
51.8 Statute Miles 43.29 nautical miles
Average speed 6.9 mph/5.8 kt

We depart New Smyrna Beach Marina at sunrise (6:50 a.m.) We immediately pass under the New Smyrna Beach Bridge - 65 ft - fixed. We put up the jib sail in Mosquito Lagoon and it stays up for the rest of the journey as we travel through the Haulover Canal into the Indian River. I enjoy Mosquito Lagoon. It is shallow with lots of spoil islands (formed from dredging the ICW channel), but there is lots of bird life - like white pelicans and egrets and, dolphin sightings and the occasional swirl of water on the surface that tells you a manatee is there. In the southern distance, we can see a large building which is the shuttle hangar, or vehicle assembly building at the Kennedy Space Center. Seventy-two hours before any space shuttle launches, the southern end of Mosquito Lagoon (on an imaginary line from Haulover Canal east to three miles out in the Atlantic) will be off limits to all watercraft. Security boats from the Coast Guard and Kennedy space Center would patrol these waters during the restricted time and levy fines.

We pushed MIDORI up to 8.0 mph in order to make the Titusville Bridge Opening. There are seven bridges today - three fixed at 65 ft. and three that open on request and the NASA railway bridge which is usually open - unless a train is coming!

We really want to get as far South as possible, so we pass by Titusville Marina and opt for Cocoa Village Marina. We have never been here before, so we need the dockmaster's assistance to talk us through the marked channel and to our slip. We are on a face dock and the marina has bumpers tied onto the side of the dock - great! We pull in and do a starboard tie up so that we can head out bow first in the morning. There is no gasoline here, but we decide that our extra five gallon tank will see us through tomorrow's journey.

The village of Cocoa is being redeveloped in remembrance of Florida from the 1920's to the 1950's. The restored town centre features quaint antique buildings, art galleries, craft shops, boutiques and several good restaurants. It has been a very long day though, and we are too pooped to take too much in - except for the multi-building hardware complex, S.F. Travis & Co. within walking distance. Lots of old tools and parts to see. Quite interesting - even for a woman ! We also walk to the old General Store to buy some milk and bread and decide to get pulled pork sandwiches for supper back on the boat.

Remember those bumpers we were so pleased about - well, MIDORI moved up and down all night in the swells and this produced a squeaking noise against those bumpers all night! Neither one of us slept very well.

Stay tuned.....

Lynn