Palm Coast - Daytona Beach & New Smyrna Beach

Wild life close up

We continue our casual cruise down the northeastern section of Florida's intracoastal waterway.  After our stay in St. Augustine we moved onto Palm Coast Marina located approximately halfway between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach.  Palm Coast is a medium sized marina connected to a rather large condominium complex.

Palm Coast Condos

 We discovered that many of the boats are seasonal return guests who travel from points farther north to winter at Palm Coast.  The marina is very well maintained and the staff treat you has though you've been their guests for years.  On 1/19/11 we left Palm Coast for the 34 mile trek to Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach- Getting warmer!

 Daytona Beach represented one of those milestones in our journey.  We used to visit Kris's Mom and Dad in Daytona Beach before we owned Dalliance.  In those days we visited Inlet Harbor and the Marina adjacent the Boondocks restaurant in Daytona Beach Shores.

Boondocks Restaurant at Adventure Yacht Harbor

  At this time in our lives we had only distant dreams of someday setting sail and tying up at the various marinas in the Daytona Beach area.  Once again on 1/19/11 our dreams became reality and we tied up at the Adventure Yacht Harbor in Daytona Beach Shores adjacent to the Boondocks restaurant.  The two days we stayed at AYH were sunny with cool temperatures in the morning but warming into the 60's by mid - afternoon.  We were able to spend sometime on the beach, catch up on some reading and re - provision the boat thanks to Paul on Irish Rover.

Beach Club Condo

One afternoon we took a walk around the Shores and took photographs of the various condominiums Kris's Mom and Dad had stayed at over the 25 + years they wintered in Daytona Beach Shores.


Sea Shell Villa- Party central

 It was a pretty nostalgic experience.  We tried to meet an old friend of theirs Ray Barkey who still lived aboard his sailboat at AYH.  The morning we left we stopped by his boat but Ray wasn't aboard.  We were anxious to get underway on the morning of the 21st.  Over the Xmas holiday we had exchanged phone numbers with Kris's uncle Jack who was staying for a few months in New Smyrna Beach.

Dorothy, Kris & Jack at City Dock

 We spoke with Jack after our arrival in Daytona Beach and told him we planned to be in NSB by Friday the 21st.  We were anxious to get to NSB to see Jack and his lovely wife Dorothy.  We arrived at City Marina in NSB approximately noon.  The short trip down had been a wet one due to a steady rain.  We quickly secured the boat, took hot showers and called Jack and Dorothy to meet for a late lunch.  Jack recommended the Steakhouse restaurant and no one left disappointed with their meal.  After lunch Jack took Kris and I on a tour of the NSB area.  We gained a great deal of knowledge from Jack regarding the real estate in the area and the numerous condominium complexes along the ocean and river.

Home Show on Canal St

Canal Street

On Saturday morning Kris and I did breakfast at Jason's on historic Canal St.  After breakfast we took in the Home Show and Farmers Market all happening in the open air of historic downtown NSB.  We found a Sports Bar "Merk's" around noon and watched with disappointment as Syracuse got beat by Villanova in the Dome.  Of course the couple sitting next to us were from Philadelphia and took every opportunity to remind us of this fact.  Jack stopped by the boat for a few minutes on Saturday afternoon and confirmed arrangements to pick Kris and I up for Sunday Mass.  Sunday was full of surprises.  Jack got us to Mass a full half hour before it was scheduled to start.  He said it was to get his seat closest to the exit leading to the coffee and bagels in the parish center after mass.  Kris and I suspect he felt we needed the extra prayer time after months at sea.  We made plans after mass to meet Jack and Dorothy for a late lunch at "Merks" and watch some of the Green Bay - Chicago game.  When Jack arrived at 2:30pm he brought Molly and Howard Waddell old friends from the DDSO over to see us.  Kris and I knew Howard and Molly were in the Daytona - NSB area and had mentioned their names to Jack on Friday.  It was by complete coincidence they stopped by to visit Jack and Dorothy while we were in NSB.  It was a nice reunion and both Howard and Molly look fantastic.  Kris, Jack, Dorothy and I went onto "Merks" to watch the game.  The place was packed but Jack got us a table.  It turned out later the owner took a "shine" to uncle Jack.   We plan to leave NSB early tomorrow morning and head down to Titusville.  We'll leave with memories of a great time with Jack and Dorothy.  If we've learned anything on our "Journey" it's the value of family and friends.  Thanks for everything Jack and Dorothy.  We love you!


Crabby Joe's at the Daytona Beach Pier



On the Move!

We're underway once again!  We stayed an additional week at the Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville Beach because we really liked the area.

Jacksonville Beach Pier

Several days were warm enough for us to get down to the beach and enjoy the sunshine.

Happy Captain

It's off season down there but most of the shops and restaurants were open.  Sneakers is a sports bar located on the beach where Kris and I stopped by to watch the NFL playoffs.  We had a few items shipped to the Marina office and used their fax machine to conduct some land based business.  We left Palm Cove on Sunday morining 1/16/2011 and took the ICW south to St. Augustine where this blog entry is being posted. 



Dalliance at the Bridge of Lions



Historic District land transportation




Fort Castillo de San Marcos by sea

 Yesterday afternoon and evening we took in the sites of St. Augustine's historic district.  The last time we visited the area was in 1995 on a family vacation.  Kris and I both were anxious to see if it was as nice as we remembered it.  We weren't disappointed.

Downtown at Night

Last night the temperatures warmed up and we were able to walk the streets well past dark in the warm evening air.  It felt real nice!



King St and Charlotte St

Progress on our home in Belize has been significant over the last couple of months.  We should be able to stay in our home the next time we go down which will be sometime early spring.  Kris and I have formulated a basic plan to make our move to Belize.

Fort Castillo by land

 We will bring Dalliance to the Indiantown Marina on the Okeechobee Waterway just west of Stuart Fla.  We expect to be there by early February.  We're going to take our time getting there planning to make stops and stay a few days in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna, Titusville, Vero Beach and Stuart.  While at Indiantown we will assemble all of our personal items for shipment to Belize.  These items will include our car, household appliances and furnishings.  We'll look to pull Dalliance out of the water in late spring and store it in the Indiantown area.  We're hopeful Indiantown Marina will be able to accommodate us.  We plan to remain in Belize until December 2011 at which time we'll return to Dalliance and make final preparations to sail her to Belize.  We expect this will be early in 2012.  Kris and I are both enjoying our journey more than ever.  So much of the uncertainty about our future plans has vanished.  Our home in Belize is a reality and we're actually going to be able to stay there although much finish work remains.  The pace we've set on Dalliance is leisurely and relaxed.  There's really no pressure or schedules we need to meet.  As a result we're seeing much more of Florida's east coast and enjoying every minute of it.  The weather is warming up down here and this only adds icing to the cake.  That's about it for now.  We'll be sure to keep you posted as we work to complete final arrangements for our move to Conesjo Belize, CA.  Stay tuned for our further adventures.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all our family and friends!  We had a wonderful Christmas Holiday back in central New York.  The whole family made it back to spend Christmas together.  It was a great time.

The Tilbe's

Special thanks go out to our hosts for the holidays Kathy and Mike Rosselle.  The accommodations and service at Hotel Rosselle is definitely five star.  Thanks again Kathy and Mike.  Kris and I returned to Dalliance on 1/4/11.  We're still at Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville Beach Fla.  We're going to complete some routine maintenance and continue south on or shortly after 1/8/11.  Stay tuned for further posts as our journey continues.

Kris' mom and dad-Aggie & Percy Bush

Hotel Rosselle Host - Mike





The hostess with the mostest - Kathi

Christmas Day with Shannon's Family