A bird in the hand ...
18 November 2017 | Daytona Beach
Partly cloudy and mild
My first day on the ICW and I had trouble finding a place to spend the night. The first anchorage I wanted didn't work for my 6' draft. Then I thought I could anchor just outside the channel, but the channel is narrow and lined with crab pots. If I ventured outside the channel where the crab pots were, I was kissing the bottom and struggling to get back to deeper water. I tried four or five times, always with the same result. There were lovely looking bays and inlets, all about 3' deep.
I tried calling a few marinas. When they found out I was only 36', they said they were full. I was running out of daylight, but finally found an anchorage near some bridges and there were a few boats there already. Even there it was hard to find open, deep water. Plus the wind and current were against each other, so the anchor grabbed and set behind you. I tried two different spots. A catamaran came next and tried three times. Last was a power boat - they tried twice. I'm hoping I'm anchored far enough away from the sailboat in front and off to the side.
I was going to travel tomorrow to another anchorage, but in effect, I did two days of traveling today. Since I am anchored, I am not going to risk trying to find another one. This one is close enough to my Monday marina, and I know what I have here. Who knows what I will find if I leave.
Small world: One of the bridge tenders was a woman, which is rare. She told me she was born in Waukegan. Probably not a home port she sees everyday.
Motoring down the Florida ICW reminds me of the Erie Canal. Except for the dolphins ... and the style of houses ... and the palm trees ... and the Spanish moss. :-)
One dolphin scared me - twice. I was in the cockpit steering and focused on the channel and depth sounder. Then suddenly right next to me in the water, I hear a dolphin come up for air. The noise is very distinctive and it was unexpected. A bit later he did it again and I jumped again. The dolphin equivalent of coming up behind you and yelling, “BOO!”
The photo shows the blue and red boat Kiwi Spirit. He left today at 10am for Bermuda, where he will begin his solo, nonstop, around the globe attempt. This is his third try. He is 80. If he succeeds, he will be the oldest to do it. Another woman in her 70's is trying to do it also. She did it once, but has failed the last two years. She will try again next year.
Listening to another free concert over the water.