 |
| 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 |
No comments:
Post a Comment