Author: ortolancat

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Canoe Catch a Cat?

Friends snapped an action shot from shore

Friends snapped an action shot from shore

An area we travel through twice a year is the Upper Indian River/Mosquito Lagoon stretch. Dotted with mangrove islands, Fishing and RV Camps on the west shore, the lagoon is a haven for manatees, egrets, herons, dolphins, osprey and more. Weekends explode with small boats; pontoons, fishing skiffs, kayaks and today, Friday, the speed demon of them all: an outrigger canoe. The day was overcast which was a bummer because the area is so lovely with sunshine.

So we’re just going along around 7kts, faster than usual in order to make our destination and get through the Addison Point Bridge before it closes for rush hour traffic at 3:30. We look over and spot a two person something; they turn around and begin paddling parallel to us. Then they angle toward our stern- me thinks they want a wake to ride, and then they get in right behind us paddling like crazy and we see it’s an outrigger canoe. Oh, this is makes up for lack of sunshine! Of course, photos are required and when I step out on to the stern, the woman in front yells, “we’re from CT too!”

I have her tell – more like shouting- me their email so I can send the pictures. A few minutes later they are still at it; paddling steadily but not aggressively. I think they’ve done this before.

Our stern wake gets a fun second use down the Mosquito Lagoon

Our stern wake gets a fun second use down the Mosquito Lagoon

We pass s/v Snow Goose who gets a kick out of our tiny parade while a short time later I warn our wake paddlers that we’ll be slowing down to allow a motor yacht to pass; a “slow pass” we cruisers call it. The camera goes into Movie mode- I mean after 15 minutes this needs more than a photo or two.

We learn Vicki and Del are visiting her Dad for a long weekend; soon they bid us adieu and head back to their launch location. Damn but that outrigger canoe looked more fun and maybe easier to paddle, than a kayak. A two-person one appeals to me. 🙂 So many possibilities in the small boat category.

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Blowin’ in the wind

The chartplotter stayed on all night so we could see the wind graph.

The chartplotter stayed on all night so we could see the wind graph.

And the answer is…

…. 42kts! (48 mph). The forecast vacillated several times, leading us to figure that the boats still on moorings in St Augustine wouldn’t have it too bad, and even at 8pm the prediction was for a max of 30mph. With typical middle-of-the-night timing, the wind reached a noisy level around 1am with that 42kts soon after. For the next 24 hours we had 23-36kts, dark skies but not really any rain. Fortunately the wind was out of the north, pushing us on the dock; much preferable to having all our lines stretched like taffy.

Stella, a British Lab waits hopefully for a playmate

Stella, a British Lab waits hopefully for a playmate

When walking became possible I used the free washer and $1 dryer- not going to pass that up. Tops on our list that afternoon was to walk across to see the wave action on the beach. Was closer to low tide than to high so the view wasn’t as dramatic as it could have been.

Looking out toward the Atlantic at Marineland

Looking out toward the Atlantic at Marineland

Checked out the gift shop at Marineland- mostly to see the aquarium residents.

Jimmy Durante fish tickles our fancy in the gift shop tank

Jimmy Durante fish tickles our fancy in the gift shop tank

Look! I found Nemo.. and his protective friend anenome

Look! I found Nemo.. and his protective friend anenome

That evening we gathered aboard Traveling Soul for happy hour. Russ made his famous fresh-baked focaccia bread; always a big hit. Ann gave us a tour of their multi-level, multi-stateroomed boat. A full-sized fridge, a huge walk-in engine room, the living room contained an L-shaped sofa, coffee table, end tables and a round glass-topped dining table. Very, very comfortable.