When Is A Mosquito Bite A Good Thing ?

SHIP'S LOG:

When is a mosquito bite a good thing? When it happens on December 30th 'cause it means you are some place warm!

I left Melbourne sort of early, about 8:30 for I had a little over 30 miles to go to get to the Vero Beach Marina. The day before up at Cocoa Village Marina, the Wrightmans - those of Canadian extraction and the gift of Christmas Cookies, had mentioned that friends of their had tried to get into the Vero Beach City Marina for a mooring ball and found that they were filled up. This is rather surprising because it is one of the only places I have heard of of the ICW that rafts-up boats on mooring. For those not in the know, rafting up means putting multiple boats together on one anchor or in this case on one mooring. So not wanting to be left out i n the cold, as Vero is also one of those places with a dearth of anchoring spots, I called ahead and secured a mooring. I wanted to get there as early as possible as I wanted to be the first on the mooring if there was going to be a raft up. I had a help of problem with the mooring in St. Augustine. It took me three shots to get the pennant and I figured if I had to do something like that again, it would be better not to have another boat as a fixed target to run into. ( I am definitely going to have to look into getting another boat hook for such eventualities.)

The weather was supposed to be partly cloudy and it certainly was that. It was also relatively warm. However, the wind (what there was of it) was out of the east and off the ocean and at times it go cold on the Indian River. For the most part, it was just partly cloudy, eventually becoming completely cloudy and you know what followed then. Due to the fact that Florida is so agreeably flat, I could see it raining miles ahead on either side. I was just hoping that it "would miss me" and I would get in safe and dry.

As I turn into Bethel Creek were in lies the Marina, it began to rain and it continued through the whole mooring process. Luckily it was not a hard rain. Luckily also there was no other boat on the mooring. Luckily, there was also on wind and I picked up the pennant on the first try and was tied down, safe and sound in moments. It was the easiest landing I ever made.

One interesting and rather weird note: a few miles before Bethel Creek, at marker "128" there is supposed to be a big rock right in the middle of the Channel of the ICW. It is only 5 1/2 feet below the surface at MLW and the locals, according to the guides, call it"the rock pile." It is recommended that you keep to the "Green Side " of the channel until you are well passed 128. Knowing how much I like to kiss the bottom, I did exactly that and as I did two locals came by. They passed very close to the "Red Side" certainly because I was going at steerage, but it was clear that they knew about the rock and were avoiding it. The thing I can't understand is that since it is there, why don't they remove it or at least put a marker right on it. Not all my guides mention it so I am sure that someone has come by at speed and done some serious damage to his or her boat for no good reason.

I am spending another day at Vero Beach City Marina and will proceed on to Ft. Pierce on New Years Day. I was able to get to the market on the city bus line "which is free" and pick up some of my basic need. The cruisers here have a Thursday Happy Hour which last a lot longer and you can get your hair cut and style by one of the lady cruisers. Vero Beach is a good stop and has everything you need to cruise. But lots of the people have been here for weeks, even months. It is one of those "good harbors" you have to be careful about. It is too easy not to leave.

Someone rowed up to me this morning as I was sitting in the cockpit and it turned out to be "Skip", one of the guys who man the West Marine Store in New London. He is down here, avoiding the winter in New England and is working in the West Marine Store in Ft. Pierce and living on his boat in the Vero Beach City Marina. He said that he had passed me way back at New Port News. He had tried to hail me but we were not able to make contact. Sometimes, no matter how far you go, you are always being surprised by running into people you know. Make you feel less lonely and alone.