Are we really in Florida???

We are still in Titusville, trying to believe we are actually in Florida.  Since the beginning of the year it has been extraordinarily cold, or cold, wet and windy.  January 2nd it started in fact, I don't think we've been in shorts more than a couple days.  That wind was clocked at 42 knots at one point; we were rocking in the wind even though we weren't in the water yet.  One morning there was ice crystals in the water hoses on the docks after we did launch.   So, here I am complaining about having Canadian weather in Florida.We have had cold cold winds, straight from the North Pole, I think. Our little electric heater has been working overtime keeping us warm at night, along with an extra sleeping bag over top.  These systems are supposed to die off and regular weather patterns are supposedly in the offing, but I'm not holding my breath.   I know, I know I can hear you all now, snickering - 'you chose to go south!!  Quit complaining!!'

View from 40 feet up

We've been getting some things done, in fact the boat is now in the water.  I've been up the mast finally, to replace the lazy jack lines (neat lines that act as a cradle when you drop the main sail so we don't have to go out of the cockpit in bad weather) The old lines had broken in the first big wind storm after we got back from Ontario.  Al has been working on the different systems that need servicing, upgrading or replacing.  We've had to wait for parts to get here for other things to be repaired.  Nothing is easy to find as marine stores are not nearby, at least an hour away.  I think we have a majority share holding in ACE Hardware now. The heat and humidity has been hard on our grand old lady.

Boot Key - Marathon, Florida Keys

We haven't been working steady and for long hours on the boat, we're retired and in Florida, so why would we? We went to see The Moody Blues 50th anniversary tour in Orlando one night, it was a great concert, in a small venue We also saw a live performance of Momma Mia here in Titusville.  What a fun show, some of the actors had been in the Broadway version too.  I've had ear worms ever since- you know... I just can't get some of those songs out of my head.  We took a day and drove down to Key West, and the end of US Hwy 1, (that runs from Key West to the Canadian border in Maine) just to check out the Keys, only 600 kms...one way. The Florida Turnpike is something else for crazy drivers. It was a long day... but neat to see the area. There is still a lot of clean up going on but they are trying hard to be open for business.

Bridge in the Keys

 We have a favourite ocean beach about a 20 minute drive from our marina, called Canaveral National Seashore.  What a beautiful place to walk for hours and collect seashells, or flotsam that floats up with the tide.  Al found a boat fender that will work on our boat one day. The seashore is 24 miles long and all sandy beach.  There are parking lots spaced out along half of the park where you can stop and cross the sand dunes on the boardwalk to check out various stretches of the beach.  The view is different from each stop, though its still just sand and water, except the last parking lot... Tate view is quite ....different, ... we didn't realize until we were right in the thick of things that this section was a 'clothing optional' area.....I was glad I had a brimmed hat of which I could pull down over my eyes...and glad it was a cold day that not many people of the optional type were there...

Another beach we frequent is Cocoa Beach, a bit south of Cape Canaveral.  There is a long pier there that has a tiki bar on its end.  A lovely place when its not cold out like its been. The hurricane damaged it a bit, but its been shored up and is open for business.  The pier is where I got this picture of the Pelican quietly posing for folks taking its picture. 

Cocoa Beach Pier

Washed up jellyfish

 

Night time launch - SpaceX Zuma

We also have seen a few rocket launches from Cape Canaveral.  Its a clear view to there from over here where we are, (west from the launch pads) but we have been exploring other spots to get a better view.  SpaceX has been very busy sending off satellites and supplies to the Space Station.  We heard the test firing of the Falcon Heavy the other day.  It's to blast off on its test flight Tuesday Feb 6th with a Tesla electric car in its hold that will be sent off on a journey to Mars and beyond, great...  more space junk. Not sure if we'll be here for that launch, but one never knows. Its quite amazing to see the spent booster rockets coming back to land perfectly on the pads at the Cape.  The roar of the rockets takes ages to reach our ears from takeoff.  Note in the photo of the launch with the people in it, we still hadn't heard the engines when it was already that far off the ground.  Its tricky knowing where to look without hearing the sound.

SpaceX Falcon 9 satellite to be deployed 

SpaceX Falcon 9

This morning we got up crazy early to go and see the Super, Blue, Eclipse of the Moon.  We found a perfect spot just over yonder that gave us a nice dark view.  The full eclipse happened after the moon set here so we didn't get to see that much.

So, its not all play and no work, though the weather has been a big factor in not getting out of here yet.  We still haven't got the sails on the boat - as you can appreciate with the wind we've been having.  I nearly got pulled off the bow trying to slide the genoa up the furler when the wind suddenly picked up the other day; had to abort that attempt, no swims in the harbour for me.  Al has been adding new gadgets (battery monitor, solar panels), replacing old bits, hoses, foot water pumps (disintigrated when I first used it...) refinishing the teak hand rails, built a new wooden rack for the new dinghy motor, by hand, to sit on the back rail...I cleaned the winches, the cushions, cleaned the boats inside and the teak there.  I just bought a new Sailrite industrial sewing machine to help with how I'm going to attach the new solar panel to the bimini...it arrived late this afternoon...excited!!    :)

Launch day

There was nearly a major calamity the other day, with a sailboat that went out for a short jaunt - not sure why - on one of these heavy wind days. He then tried to back into his slip with a full on wind hitting him broad side.  There was some banging and clanging as he smacked into 3 other boats before the Dockmaster got his power boat over to push him around and into the said slip.  Thankfully, he didn't get blown over as far as our boat. 
 This afternoon the Fish and Wildlife officer was called in to get an injured pelican.  It appeared to have a broken wing, and hadn't been able to get food and such.  When the officer caught it, he found that a fishing hook had been caught in its wing and the line was wrapped around enough so that it couldn't fly.  To boot, the poor thing had frost bitten feet, likely because it couldn't get into the water or where ever pelicans go in cold weather. We are enjoying all the birds, dolphins and fish in this little harbour.  There are a pair of Ospreys building a nest along with several single ones.  A pair of dolphins cruise through here now and again too, so neat to watch.  Haven't seen any Manatees though.  They don't do cold at all and will be hanging out in the discharge ponds of thermal power processing plants.  The laws here say that they have to maintain the temperature in these discharge areas just for the manatees as they have become reliant on them in times like ...NOW... when its so darn cold!!
Well, should sign off on this edition of our blog.  Hopefully the next will be saying that we are finally heading south and in warmer climes.

 Take care and hope you enjoyed my rattling on and on....

Canaveral Seashore