We blew into Palm Coast...and very friendly place...big space for Dakota to run but it was full of stickers...so once was enough. They had sweatshirts on sale...I couldn't resist. Another quiet evening at the fuel dock...I could  a barely get off the boat so I didn't! Winds died a little over night...but 48 degrees when we left there.

We spent a long day Wednesday  cruising to Jacksonville...we could have stopped at Matansas Inlet...where we anchored in a 13+ mph current last time....no! thank you!....or St Augustine, with those brutal tidal currents...no! Thank you very much!! Instead we opted for the Jacksonville City free docks...no electric, but a lovely, cement floating dock next to a city park and some sort of bus departure point. According to reviews we looked at, we thought maybe we'd be the only boat there but two other boats pulled in about 30 minutes behind us. Not loopers, and weren't very social...so another quiet evening on the TUMBLEWEED!!

Just a few words about dolphins and manatees...we never grow tired of seeing dolphins. They are a part of our daily sightings....sometimes singles but more often small groups, even babies. So graceful and sleek ....we've even watched them circle, hunt and catch....pretty exciting stuff. We try to keep track of how many we see... Often reaching 20+ per day. We love 'em. Those manatees are another issue....since arriving in Florida in January, numerous times during each day we are in " go slow zones" ...."manatee watch area"....and we have yet to see one in those areas. We did finally see one as we docked in Titusville...then later as we passed through the Canaveral Haulover Canal , we saw so many in the boat launch cove that we couldn't count them...or see how you could get a fishing boat in or out of there. Nothing pretty about a manatee...brown sludge, big back and tail, nostrils and snout like a hippo....and how do they know to stay in those manatee zones???

Tonight we'll be in Jekyll Island...working our way to Charleston. It is a little warmer but the sun has yet to make an appearance. Dakota seems to rest better during the day when we drive from below...which is the way we travel on cold cloudy days.

I thought Sunday was windy....Monday was worse. Cloudy, cold and windy, windy , windy.   Good that all that wind was on the nose....but sure makes for wind in your face...which is the name of the boat that passed us! We thought we were the only crazies...actually, before the day was over there were five of us in a caravan.   We drove from below most of the day. Halifax River Yacht Club for a quiet peaceful night....we were the only people around...then on to Palm Coast tomorrow.  Floyd is a little worried about going north...it is still cold and snowing up there...maybe we should slow down a little! Give 'em a chance to thaw!

On Sunday the wind blew us into Titusville....literally ! I thought Kansas was windy...Florida is sure doing its best to keep me from missing it! We managed to find the shocker radio station web site to live stream the basketball game...We arrived as the WSU women's basketball game was reaching its ending! Just when we thought they had it won...down they went.  I took Dakota for a little run in the dog park next to the marina while Floyd finished securing the boat...and we settled in to cheer on the shocker men against Kentucky....and what a game it was....nip and tuck, tuck and nip...our boys played with such heart and grit....but with nano seconds left, they scored and we missed the go ahead shot! Dang, the end! But alas, there are lots of good teams who are done! Now we owe Susan and Carolyn drinks plus we don't have to time boating around basketball games or keep track of brackets!  Folks came out of boats and hung around our dock...all talking about the game...yes, seems they are from Kentucky...I couldn't listen, even though they were saying great things about our shockers...Dakota and I went  back to the dog park....where he made friends with another lady who threw the ball...and he even took it to her....really, who is this dog??? Short night and we head to Daytona tomorrow.

Sebastian ....always a delightful stop! But what were we thinking arriving on Saturday! Captain Hiram's is a busy marina, bar, motel, resort kind of place....and it was hopping today....sunshine, basketball, spring break, fishing, jet ski rentals, boaters coming and going. Floyd has happy memories of other times spent here...in fact he claims to own one of the bar stools. We walked over to Squid Lips for happy hour and to get Floyd a new t-shirt....then back to Capt Hiram's for supper and another t shirt. Live music was to our liking and didn't even keep us awake past bedtime. Though the bass guy was surely trying! Boat ran great!!

What a day...Thursday we wanted a pump out before leaving....and that required the marina guys...waiting, waiting, waiting! Once they arrived it didn't take long...but instead of leaving at 9 , it was closer to 11... And we wanted to stop for gas along the way....

We did stop in Jupiter ...where gas was about 75 cents a gallon cheaper than places we are headed. Pleasant cruising into Port St Lucie...but then as we rounded the bend into Manatee Pocket and Sailfish Marina, Floyd watched the oil pressure gauge go to zero! He immediately turned off that starboard engine...and we panicked slowly! Calls to our friends at TOWBOAT US...for help docking this heifer ...and calls to marina about where and where not we could be docked. A mechanic came within an hour....diagnosis was oil cooler ...part ordered to arrive at 1030 Friday AM...short install and we should be on schedule.


Our plan for this stop was to rent a car and do serious restocking of supplies ...see my niece Lindsay, check in with Floyd's instructor at Chapmans, get some dog supplies and cheer on our Shockers at 7PM. Needing to be on board with a mechanic sure cut into those plans.  We talked about adjustments  and how it would all work or not....then to add to our excitement Dakota managed to miss his leap aboard...and guess what, he can swim. Thank goodness, we had a plan...he was wearing his harness collar and leash...I assured Dakota while Floyd grabbed the boat hook, got me the leash, then I was able to steady Dakota while Floyd hooked the harness and pulled him back to the dock. A quick rinse off, a little towel drying, and he's not even traumatized!! Amazing!!

Friday Floyd did get the car rented...and I ran all those errands with Penelope's help. At 4, the mechanic still hadn't finished so Dakota and I navagiated our way to Lindsay's apartment...to meet her 3 young charges, cheer for the Jayhawks, have a bite of supper(pizza delivery), and catch up. Those girls are precious bundles of energy...but very fearful...of lots of things...including Dakota. He eventually won over Natalie and by the time we left, JoJo had warmed a little. At least she wasn't screaming. Allison, on the other hand, hardly made an appearance...scared to death. And can I just say that without our help, the Jayhawks would have been one and done! Geesh, they were ugly!

Lindsay had to go play softball...and Dakota and I needed to cheer on our Shockers...plus see what Floyd was up to....

So back to the boat, deposited one pooped dog, picked up one happy captain...and off we went to Duffy's ....in our Shocker gear....what a game!! Almost felt sorry for those Cal Poly guys....we managed to win some Florida guys over to shocker fans...and we are outta there.

Tomorrow we head to Sebastian ....right on schedule ! Though Floyd's wallet is lighter!!

Left Ft Lauderdale right on schedule...and our exit plan worked well...we didn't need the bridges opened and had witnessed a parade of big boats passing back and forth...big boat show this weekend in Palm Beach...our plan was to cruise out that narrow New River during the rush hour when the bridges weren't scheduled to open for anyone... No traffic!

Our cruise to north palm beach was pleasant...finally no wind whipping us around...we saw lots of big yachts....and were able to sneak around several as they had to wait for bridge openings...but we didn't. Sometimes it pays to be short.

North Palm Beach Marina is as quiet as the ft Lauderdale one was busy. Absolutely nothing going on here. Dakota keeps looking out the side panels wondering where all his dog friends are! We did meet another labordoodle who had a tip about those hot spots he keeps chewing on....we are off to find Zymox to treat his leg...it's been a problem since we left Wichita in January .

Just a word or twelve about "the boys"! ...obviously, they are grown men and ever so interesting.  Manuel Ramirez just celebrated his 90th birthday...and does he ever have stories to tell. He is originally from Peru and for many, many years served as the Chief of Protocol for the OAS...he told stories about Presidents that were amazing....everyone from Truman to Bush...even a few Obama...his favorite though was Jimmy Carter.  He has declined a bit since we were with them last year...but hey, at 90, won't we all??  His companion, David Eccleston, has been with him for over 30 years and worked as technology chairman at several universities. They have a spacious condo in Ft Lauderdale (actually two units they have totally re-done) and another in Washington, DC.  They were getting ready to host a birthday gathering for Scott...so we got to see all the elegant china etc.... H. Scott Johnson was the third charmer. Originally from Chicago, he attended Julliard and then spent years teaching and singing in San Palo, Brazil.  He has a condo about 20 minutes away from Manuel and David. Kinder men you will not encounter.  While Scott's area is very dog friendly, the other is "no pets allowed".  They were great harbor hosts...wining and dining, squiring us around, showing us the sights, letting us use their laundry facilities, and encouraging Dakota to play. I think they enjoyed seeing our humble house on the water...and they got a very different view of their city as well. Saturday evening on the river was a boat parade they had never witnessed.   We had great fun re-connecting...and sure hope our paths cross again soon.