Yes, Virginia, Ther Is A Santa Claus!

SHIP'S LOG:

Yes, there really is. He gave me a free night in the marina and Mrs. Claus gave me two bottles of wine. On top of the plate of Christmas Cookies, it was a pretty good haul.

Yesterday, it was bleeding cold again. Somehow, ice covering a dock in Florida in wrong. It is just wrong. Today however, the warmth started to sneak in and with no wind, it was time to make a dash south, for as we all know, good harbors rot ships and men.

It was a short 20 mile dash to Melbourne, the home - for all you motorcyclists of Bill Lane - and I am sure known for many other things none of which I can now recall. The trip was boring, especially after the start when I went aground in the MARINA! They have a bit of a shoaling problem at the entrance to their basin and I kissed it on the way in. I made a big wide turn on the way out and went aground on another shoal. This can't be good for business. It took a little effort but after about 10 minutes I got off and underway. It would have been major league embarrassing to have to call Towboat/US to haul me off in a marina!

Do you know that dolphins have bad breathe? I supposed that fish do too but who would know. Dolphins, on the other hand, as air breathing mammals, expel their breath into the air just as we do. They do it out of the blow hole on the top of their heads and when they do it right next to your boat . . .. UGH, the stink is incredible. SCOPE! LISTERINE! SOMETHING! ANYTHING!

The terns were playing dodge the boat again today. They games involves a game of follow the leader as they line up along one side and then dart in front of the boat and letting out a squawk. They they shift to come in from the front and dart across the bow and squawk. This was the third time this has happened and it is really weird. Thankfully they don't keep it up for long.

I am the only boat tonight anchored off Melbourne in the Indian River. I've got the whole place to myself. I am not sure what to do with it.