November 17, 2011
Up early this morning and got underway at 0620. Ran aground on soft mud enroute to the ICW. Not a good way to start the day. We managed to work out way off the mud lump and continue on. The wind has been out of the SW to W so we set out jib and motor sailed along at 6.5 kts. It was a warm day on the ICW. The cold Wx is behind us. Lots of wildlife along the shores and we saw one manatee. Dolphins are everywhere.
Tonight we are anchored in Cocoa Beach just South of the Merritt Island Bridge on the West Bank (28 deg 20.0' N x 80 deg 43.1' W). The wind has started to pick up out of the NW and is blowing 20+ kts. I am in 10 ft of water and have let out 120' ft of chain. Life is good on the hook.
After anchoring, I had to climb up the mast this evening to free up the mainsail halyard. Yesterday in Ponce de Leon anchorage, a hundred or so blackbirds landed on the rigging. I didn't want that much bird shit on the boat and sail covers so I sent up an artificial owl to frighten them. I got jammed half way up the mast and I couldn't retrieve it because it was too light. This was an over reaction on my part that accomplished nothing but climbing the mast. We got the blackbirds off by shaking the rigging shrouds and yelling. From 40' up the mast, the view is great!
Tomorrow we motor to Vero Beach which is 50 miles distant.
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