Adventures on the Water: Journey to Vero Beach
Setting sail can be a remarkable adventure filled with unique challenges and experiences. In this blog post, we’ll explore a recent journey where we navigated the waters, dealt with some unexpected situations, and enjoyed the beauty of the coastline while heading to Vero Beach.
Preparing for Departure
Before setting off, we ensured everything was in order. The dogs received their shots, and we finalized our preparations in Coco. As we prepared to leave, my babe was busy doing the dishes while I took care of the engine, getting everything ready for our trip. Our destination was Dragon Point, and we were excited to head south.
Anchoring is crucial, and I made sure our anchor was holding well. A good holding anchor is straight up and down, and I was relieved to see that ours was secure. With the preparations complete, we were ready to embark on our adventure.
The Journey Begins
With the engine started, we began our journey. I navigated while Danielle kept an eye out for dolphins, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I joked about our speed, saying we were moving at “the speed of smell,” but the journey was beautiful nonetheless.
As we traveled, I had to remind babe about our route. At one point, she humorously mentioned that she didn’t drive much, just like in a car, which led to a bit of confusion at the helm. But we managed to stay on course, thanks to some adjustments and teamwork.
Halfway Through the Trip
We were about halfway to our destination when things took a turn. The wind was light and directly against us, making it difficult to sail. I attempted to calibrate the autopilot, but that didn’t go as planned. Despite these challenges, the trip remained enjoyable, with only a few boats passing by.
As we approached our destination, I prepared my babe for her favorite job: dropping the anchor. She had some trouble with the oversized anchor, but with a little practice, she managed to get it down. It was a learning experience for both of us.
Exploring the Islands
After anchoring, we decided to explore the nearby spoil islands. The weather was beautiful, and we were excited to spend some time on land. However, we had some unexpected visitors—birds that decided to drop in on us. I got pooped on, which added a humorous twist to our outing.
Despite the bird incident, we enjoyed our time on the island. We reminisced about our past experiences there, particularly a memorable Fourth of July celebration with fireworks all around.
Dealing with Challenges
As the sun began to set, we faced another challenge: the cold weather. We had anticipated this, so we prepared by making sure our boat and supplies were ready. I filled up our diesel tank using a shake hose, which made the process easier and cleaner.
After filling up, I realized we were in a quiet, unprotected area, which made us a little concerned about the approaching winds. Nonetheless, we settled in for the night, cooking up some hamburgers for dinner. It was a nice way to end the day after a long journey.
Exploring More of the Waterway
The next morning, we woke up ready to explore more of the waterway. We were excited to head down towards Vero Beach and see what else lay ahead. As we moved along, we encountered some challenging navigation, particularly with the narrow channels.
Danielle pointed out the beauty of the scenery around us, and I focused on keeping our boat steady. The winds picked up, and I had to make some adjustments to our course, but we managed to navigate through without too much trouble.
Anchor Down and Reflections
After a day filled with sailing and exploring, we finally dropped anchor for the night. We found a peaceful spot to rest and reflect on our journey thus far. It had been an adventure filled with laughter, challenges, and beautiful moments.
As we settled in, I took some time to fix our autopilot, which had been giving us some trouble. It was a bit of a hassle but necessary for smoother sailing in the future. I learned that the placement of our GPS dongle was crucial, as it could affect our navigation. Once I made the adjustments, the autopilot worked much better, making our journey more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
Every journey on the water is filled with lessons and experiences that shape our skills and memories. From dealing with a stubborn anchor to navigating narrow channels, we learned to adapt and find joy in the adventure. Our trip to Vero Beach was just another chapter in our sailing journey.
As we continue to explore, we look forward to more adventures, more learning experiences, and hopefully fewer bird incidents.
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