The Space Coast and Velcro Beach

At the trailing end of January, we made our way to Titusville, Florida to visit the "Space Coast."  Our main reason for coming here was to visit NASA and the Kennedy Space Center.  We found docking space for three days, and rented a car for two days of exploration. 

At the Kennedy Space Center, we had one full day learning about space travel and the history of NASA.  Some of the attractions were closed due to the US government shutdown, but there was more than we could see in one day. We were happily spaced out.

Actual Atlantis shuttle on display

Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA

Dusk at the Rocket Garden

We also found some interesting local sights to see including an orange grove tour and an airboat tour through the floodplains.  For more exciting details about these adventures, see Wavey's Words and Simon SAYS.

Rainbow in Titusville

On January 26th, we made our way to Vero Beach, Florida where many cruisers make a stop.  It's nicknamed, "Velcro Beach," as many people get stuck here on their way south.  We passed the municipal marina with a large mooring field which was packed with boats; two or three boats rafted up on each mooring. We dropped our anchor north of the mooring field away from most of the other boats. We wondered what people found so appealling about this place. Certainly, we were not going to stay here long. Ha!

Vero Beach City Marina

Three boats rafted up on one mooring ball

Rowing into shore our first day

After a few days of being in Vero Beach, we realized what the fuss is about. This little cruising community is easy. There is a lounge with internet. Clean showers. A daily cruiser's radio net. Weekly social events. Morning walks. Laundry machines that work. A free bus service that comes on the hour and connects to the rest of the transit system. There is good shopping, restaurants and other amenities. There is an office where you can have things shipped. A weekly farmer's market. Perhaps the biggest draw, is that it is relatively cheap to stay on a ball or at anchor. While we chose to be on our own hook, we could pay a day's mooring rate and and use all their facilities.

Lunch after market day

Chilling in the lounge after hot showers

Catching up on internet

After a few days at Vero Beach, we decided to stay a little longer and get some jobs done. Michael got his clicky finger going again and ordered us more items we needed. We decided to replace the boat's batteries, install wind instruments, change some of the running rigging, and install a new VHF, to name a few. I sewed new harnesses for the kids with the seat belts from our old car. We also found a new (used) inflatable dinghy to use until we could repair the leak in Wakataitea's sailing dinghy.

Getting the old and heavy batteries (130 lb each!) out of the boat

Kids repairing dinghy

New struts for the salon hatch

Getting acquainted with Waka's Sailrite machine

Trying out their new harnesses

Installations aloft

During our stay, we made some friends with other cruisers also heading south. We shared meals, stories, advice, weather forecasts, charts, and laughter over the weeks.

Our first "Afternoonsies" on Wakataitea with friends Diane, Bob, Judy and Gregg

Simon with Diane and Bob from True North

Our new artist friend Teri Jones generously offered to come over to give us an art lesson using alcohol paints. What a treat!

Art lesson on Wakataitea

Our place in the anchorage turned out to be a sweet spot as well. On a daily basis, dolphins swam by the boat, we saw manatees coming up for a breath, and pelicans crashed next to the boat in search of fish. The only downside were the mosquitoes and noseeums that ravaged us some days!

Simon sailing around the anchorage before the center board started leaking too badly

Kids borrowed kayaks one day from our friends on True North

Wavey hanging around at anchor

Cruising presents many unexpected opportunities. On the Cruiser's Net one day, we heard that they gave free tours of the Piper Aircraft facility. So, for two hours one day, we had a guided tour of the Piper manufacturing plant and watched hundreds of workers hand build airplanes. It was amazing!

Amazing trees in Vero!

Too fancy for us!

Being in one place for awhile was great to develop some routines and engage in some school activities. When they kids weren't doing school or on field trips, they were hauling water, getting fuel and running errands for us onshore. Such independent kids!

Geology on the water (bring your own geodes)

Cracking open some geodes for science

Filling the tanks

And just enough left to have a bath on deck!

As much as we enjoyed Vero Beach, a month was long enough; it was time to rip away from this cosy spot.

Looking out over the mooring field at Vero Beach from our bit of paradise in the anchorage

We returned to the ICW and over two days made our way to Lake Worth and the upscale Palm Beach area. I don't know what we were thinking to travel during a weekend especially with the warm temps and beautiful sunshine. I think everyone in Florida was on a high speed power boat!

Simon at the helm

Palatial homes on the ICW

Coming into West Palm Beach area

Sunday afternoon on ICW

There were more bridges than we had seen before and on our second day to Lake Worth we had seven bascule bridges to pass through. It felt like we entered another world as we came into the swanky West Palm Beach area and into the land of mega yachts and monster mansions.

Waiting for a bridge to open with boats buzzing all around

John keeping a cool head throughout all the craziness

We met up with our pals on True North again in Lake Worth and had more fun hanging out and eating great food. Bob and Diane totally spoiled us by bringing ice cream sundaes for dessert which stayed solidly frozen with a block of dry ice. These people think of everything!

With our last loads of water, diesel and fresh food aboard we were finally ready to head east across the Gulf Stream .

Getting dinghy ready to get fuel and water

Fuel run

Filling the tanks

Onto the Bahamas!