Daytona to Vero Beach

We left Palm Coast Marina on Wed. Nov. 11th after Hurricane Ida made landfall well to the northwest of us and all threat of danger was over. Winds however were still too strong to cross the open water above Titusville and so we found ourselves holed up at a Daytona anchorage for another two days before we could finally head south once again.

We spent only a day at Titusville and another at Melbourne Beach before finally arriving at Vero where we were welcomed by several old friends. Ed and Eva from “Makai” were here and Ian and Sue from “Kokopele”. All six of us got together aboard “Makai” one evening shortly after our arrival and we had a wonderful get together over drinks and a great tortellini dish that Ed whipped up. The next day we ran into Muffin and Will from “Antares” and enjoyed breakfast with new friends George and Jackie from “Sea Otter.” There’s never a dull moment when staying at Vero Beach and everyone is always reluctant to leave--some never do. And we met several cruisers who were planning on spending the entire winter here. That’s why Vero Beach is also known as “Velcro Beach!”

We stayed for almost a week. The Marina at Vero is only a 5 minute ride by dinghy or short 15 minute walk to the beach, shops and restaurants. The “walk” passes through a gorgeous neighbourhood of lovely homes sheltered under huge umbrellas of “live”oak trees draped with yards of Spanish moss. The arms of these massive trees stretch completely across the streets themselves making the walk into town not only incredibly beautiful but cool in the shade. There is nothing “honky-tonk” or “busy” about this place. The shops are elegant, the restaurants varied and tasteful, the mood is laid back and the setting lushly tropical--teeming with plants, palms and flowers.

There is also an efficient transportation system of free buses! They pass by the marina every half hour and will take you anywhere you wish to go. And every possible service is here--dentists, medical specialists, shopping malls, groceries, bakeries, live theatre, cinemas, library--you name it, they have it. All an free easy bus ride away. And it only costs $14/night to tie up to a mooring ball in the marina and have it all available to you. The marina itself boasts 16 washers/dryers, clean showers, and an attractive boaters lounge with 2 televisions, computer tables, microwaves, kitchenette, library, sofa and comfortable arm chairs.

There are two other “boats” here that we must tell you about. We met “Tom” aboard his rowboat “Habitatcrew.com” two weeks ago when he rowed into the marina we were at outside Fernandina Beach. This adventurous 25 year old set out in a modified rowboat last June from Cleveland Ohio and has been rowing south ever since. He stops at selected cities along the way to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity. When he rowed in--tired and hungry--to our marina, we invited him onboard for a meal of hot Chile, coleslaw and toast, and we had a great visit with him. Now we have run into him again a Vero on his way to his final destination of Key West.

The second interesting boat we are travelling with is “Brydil Ankar”. Aboard is Phil, Satya and their 4 children aged 10-16 who they’ve taken out of Canada for the year and are home schooling as they travel south to Cuba or wherever. We first met them in Georgetown SC and have seen them at Fernandina, St. Augustine and now at Vero. We’ve become good friends and share information. The latest information they gave to us was news of a Caribbean cruise, aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines out of Miami on Nov.29th that was too good to miss!! Get this: 5 nights aboard the 4.5 star liner Norwegian “Dawn” stopping at Grand Cayman and Cozumel for $100/per person plus taxes!! Yes, it’s true. They booked their entire family for the trip on the website Vacationstogo.com and suggested we go too. And so we are. A cruise within a cruise. The actual price came to $253. each after taxes--an opportunity to good to pass up. And so tomorrow we set off once again south towards Miami and Dinner Key Marina where we’ve arranged to leave Fortnight while we’ll be “living it up” aboard the cruise ship “Norwegian Dawn.” Check it out on the internet!