1-5-09 Monday
The offshore forecast was for pretty calm seas so we decided to have a look and possibly save some time and aggravation (speed control zones) by cruising down the coast to Lake Worth. As we reached the Ft. Pierce inlet, the tide was running out pretty strong and there was a pretty good breeze from the east opposing the current. This created some pretty steep and uncomfortable rollers as we approached the jetty, so we did a 180 and went back to the ICW. As we cruised southward, we discussed how we were again feeling like we were on a quest to make daily distance and had some disappointment in the lack of relaxation and general fun that this whole trip south was supposed to be for us. We decided to make a major change in our overall plan – we do not have to go to Marathon. We turned the boat around and began thinking about alternatives and decided that we would head back to the last place that we really enjoyed being at, and rethink what we will do for the remainder of the cold season.
New Smyrna Beach and the City Marina were very nice in many ways, so that is where we would go to regroup. We will stay there for a couple of weeks, rent a car and join our Bahoric kids in Marathon for a few days of their vacation and return to NSB. Then we will go wherever we decide and at any pace that suits us on any particular day. That is now the plan.
The short term WX forecast contained a strong cold front passage by Tuesday night and Wednesday with very high winds so we decided we would hole up at (well sheltered) Harbortown in the Canaveral Barge Canal, to ride out the bad weather. I had read an article about the town of Melbourne which painted it as a lovely, idyllic waterfront community. It was on the way to the canal so we decided to have a look. The only thing that was accurate in the article was that it is a very snug little harbor. Traffic noise, train noise, jet aircraft noise and derelicts shouting from a nearby bridge, were not contained in the magazine piece. You can’t always believe what you read.
The offshore forecast was for pretty calm seas so we decided to have a look and possibly save some time and aggravation (speed control zones) by cruising down the coast to Lake Worth. As we reached the Ft. Pierce inlet, the tide was running out pretty strong and there was a pretty good breeze from the east opposing the current. This created some pretty steep and uncomfortable rollers as we approached the jetty, so we did a 180 and went back to the ICW. As we cruised southward, we discussed how we were again feeling like we were on a quest to make daily distance and had some disappointment in the lack of relaxation and general fun that this whole trip south was supposed to be for us. We decided to make a major change in our overall plan – we do not have to go to Marathon. We turned the boat around and began thinking about alternatives and decided that we would head back to the last place that we really enjoyed being at, and rethink what we will do for the remainder of the cold season.
New Smyrna Beach and the City Marina were very nice in many ways, so that is where we would go to regroup. We will stay there for a couple of weeks, rent a car and join our Bahoric kids in Marathon for a few days of their vacation and return to NSB. Then we will go wherever we decide and at any pace that suits us on any particular day. That is now the plan.
The short term WX forecast contained a strong cold front passage by Tuesday night and Wednesday with very high winds so we decided we would hole up at (well sheltered) Harbortown in the Canaveral Barge Canal, to ride out the bad weather. I had read an article about the town of Melbourne which painted it as a lovely, idyllic waterfront community. It was on the way to the canal so we decided to have a look. The only thing that was accurate in the article was that it is a very snug little harbor. Traffic noise, train noise, jet aircraft noise and derelicts shouting from a nearby bridge, were not contained in the magazine piece. You can’t always believe what you read.
Relaxing in Melbourne, amid the noises.
Catching up on the Melbourne news.
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