Railroad Bridge - usually open - Cape Canaveral in the background.Saturday 1-3-09
We got underway at 07:30 in cool but very nice conditions. During the first 2 hours we were in confined and shallow waters that had many reduced speed zones due to the presence of Manatees. They are large mammals and I think they are sometimes called sea cows. They must be very prevalent in this area because there are many signs and speed zones labeled “Manatee Zone” – there are some incidents where they have been injured by boat props particularly in the shallow waters. This particular stretch also had numerous “fish camps” located along the waterway – fish camps are smaller marinas used mainly by trailerable boats that have bait and fishing supplies. It was Saturday and that meant there were many, many smaller fishing boats along the waterway. We saw a whole lot of fishing but not much catching.
Our route took us south into a body of water called Mosquito Lagoon which is very shallow and wide and at the south end is Cape Canaveral and the Space Flight Center. We could see the huge space shuttle assembly building and launch towers on the horizon 15 miles away. Before we reached the bottom of Mosquito Lagoon, the ICW
jogged west, through what is called, Haul-over Canal and into the Indian River. The name of the canal comes from the fact that many years ago vessels had to be hauled out of the water to go across to the continuation of the waterway. It was a really beautiful day and there were a lot of families along the mile and a half canal, fishing from the banks with picnic set-ups. I always enjoy seeing kids fishing with their families; it brings back images of my own childhood.
Once in the Indian River the course was straight for miles at a time and the water was nearly calm. We just let the autopilot steer as we sat back and enjoyed the day.
We got underway at 07:30 in cool but very nice conditions. During the first 2 hours we were in confined and shallow waters that had many reduced speed zones due to the presence of Manatees. They are large mammals and I think they are sometimes called sea cows. They must be very prevalent in this area because there are many signs and speed zones labeled “Manatee Zone” – there are some incidents where they have been injured by boat props particularly in the shallow waters. This particular stretch also had numerous “fish camps” located along the waterway – fish camps are smaller marinas used mainly by trailerable boats that have bait and fishing supplies. It was Saturday and that meant there were many, many smaller fishing boats along the waterway. We saw a whole lot of fishing but not much catching.
Our route took us south into a body of water called Mosquito Lagoon which is very shallow and wide and at the south end is Cape Canaveral and the Space Flight Center. We could see the huge space shuttle assembly building and launch towers on the horizon 15 miles away. Before we reached the bottom of Mosquito Lagoon, the ICW
jogged west, through what is called, Haul-over Canal and into the Indian River. The name of the canal comes from the fact that many years ago vessels had to be hauled out of the water to go across to the continuation of the waterway. It was a really beautiful day and there were a lot of families along the mile and a half canal, fishing from the banks with picnic set-ups. I always enjoy seeing kids fishing with their families; it brings back images of my own childhood.Once in the Indian River the course was straight for miles at a time and the water was nearly calm. We just let the autopilot steer as we sat back and enjoyed the day.
Our destination was Harbortown Marina located on the Canaveral Barge Canal in Merritt Island, FL. The barge canal connects the Indian River with the Banana River and continues out to the Atlantic. Farther east in the canal is Port Canaveral where some cruise ships sail from. Once again the marina’s ad in the guide embellished the physical conditions a bit but all in all it was quite adequate and the staff and permanent slip holders were very friendly. It was a fairly long day and we planned an even longer one for Sunday so we treated ourselves to blackened grouper sandwiches and (of course) mugs of Fosters lager, for our dinner. Since we were leaving as soon as there was enough light in the AM, we filled the water tank and took care of a few other boat chores so we could be ready to go. When that was all complete it was still too early for bed even for us so we popped in a Brit comedy DVD my sister loaned us and then turned in about 8:30PM. Tomorrow may be a 9 hour day on the water as we want to make it to Ft. Pierce.
Swing Bridge
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