West Palm to New Smyrna - Loop Trip Days 95 - 103

West Palm Beach is a pretty cool place. We didn't go to Worth Avenue or go to the Breakers, but did get out the bikes and rode over Flagler Bridge. It's a draw bridge so of course it opened just as we got to the top - actually it happened going both ways. Just over the bridge is a path under the roadway that takes you to a bike path along the water behind all of the huge mansions facing the ICW. We first cut off the path to go to a diner, located in a drug store, for bunch. Sounds crazy, but it was packed with locals and gets 5 stars on Yelp! The people watching entertainment was as good as the food. From here, we rode down to the beach. All of the mansions on the ocean side own a strip of land on the other side of the road for their private beach. These range from a few ignored plots to simple grass and chairs to very ornate areas with small cabanas housing a bathroom, kitchenette and lounge! After the beach, we went back to the path on the ICW side and rode north. The flowers and homes were amazing. We also saw the Episcopal Church built in 1894 which was the only church within 50 miles and most of the congregation came by boat. It appears to be a home now and looks nice. After our ride, we reloaded the bikes, cleaned up and went to town for dinner. Thursday nights are Clematis by Night days with concerts in the park so the area was packed. We went to Rocco's Tacos for a Mexican night. Fun spot right across from Grease!

At the beach

Very cool tree

Palm Harbor Marina from Flagler Bridge

History of the church

This is the converted church

They even had orchids growing in the yard

Friday was the next travel day and we're going to Jupiter. Castaway Marina at the Square Grouper to be exact. Sources tell us that this place is huge fun. They have two entertainers everyday of the week, but the weekend is said to be the most popular time. The trip up the ICW was another nice ride. There was very little traffic on the water and on this day, we didn't have to get any bridges opened. Most of the trip was no or minimum wake so we weren't setting any speed records. After locating Castaways, we had to stop at their fuel dock to find out our slip location. The marina was literally in front of the Jupiter Inlet and the wind was blowing pretty hard right from that direction. Backing into the slip was a bit exciting, but I got in! We walked up to check out Square Grouper and then went to U-Tiki Beach for dinner. This place was packed and it turned out to be a fabulous place to eat.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/968008

Looking out at the marina

Sunrise!!

The Jupiter lighthouse was right across the ICW from our location and I had been told it was well worth the trip to visit. We started off walking over, but on the way caught up with a free trolley that was making runs over the bridge. Turns out that this was some kind of special kids day at the park surrounding the lighthouse. It was a bit crazy, but going to the top of the lighthouse and visiting the museum was pretty cool. Views from the balcony around the top were great and the color of the water below looked like someone had added food coloring to make it an incredible shade of aqua. After the visit, we went back to get ready for dinner which was a trip back to U-Tiki because it was so good last night! The place was even more crowded than the night before. Fortunately, we found a spot on the corner of the bar and met a couple who were originally from Rockville, Maryland not far from the area where we once lived. He was a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot and they were a really great couple who have lived in Jupiter for a while.

Lighthouse

Lighthouse history

Getting ready to make the climb

View from the top

Castaways at night

Sunday morning meant time to leave Jupiter and head toward Stuart. Sunset Bay was the marina that our friends Tom and Fred had taken their boats and I wanted to go there because of all the things they had told me about it. Seems that everyone thinks it is a great location and they had no room for us, so once again it's time to make adjustments. Sailfish Marina is on the opposite side of Stuart and they had space so that's the place! The trip up the ICW took us past Jupiter Island which is lined with mega-mansions. Even the "normal" size homes on this island are priced in the multi-millions! It was just one after another for miles. We had left early due to the tide which meant not a lot of traffic on the water. That greatly reduces the stress of wondering what some of these people are doing with a boat. The arrival point for Stuart is at the St Lucie inlet from the Atlantic Ocean and there was a lot of activity by the time we got here. The Marina was not far off the ICW in an area called Manatee Pocket.  So it was a quick trip in and we were docked in the middle of huge sport fishing boats. After getting things straightened up, we are off to the Twisted Tuna for early dinner. This was right on the water, crowded, had live entertainment and good food! Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/968010

St Lucie Inlet

At the Twisted Tuna

Big sportfish boat at the Tuna

On Monday, the bikes came off for a ride to the park next to the marina and then on down the road to see the banyan trees. In the park, we met a guy flying a drone doing a video of a sport fishing boat. He was telling us about his business and the $3K drone he was using! This little gadget was cool - can I have one?!?  Down the road from the park, we found the trees we had heard about. The banyan trees make a canopy over the road that continues for about a quarter of a mile. It was a beautiful sight and the canopy made the air temperature very comfortable. After the ride, we got ready and Ubered across to Sunset Bay Marina and Sailor's Return restaurant. Sunset Bay is quite large and looks very nice. We met some folks from Connecticut there and Regina learned how to grow herbs on- board. Did a short walk after dinner over to the downtown area for an ice cream cone and to check out the area.

Banyan trees over the road

Sunset Bay Marina sunset

Tuesday was a travel day to Vero Beach. We got an early start and headed north up the ICW. Wind was pretty strong directly from the north and the ICW gets really wide and open in almost all of this area. That makes for a chop on the water and a lot of spray over the bow. Not a bad ride, but this means we’re going to be crusted with salt! Not a lot of activity today and we’re too far from shore to see a lot. Fortunately, not a lot of the area was slow speed so it was a fairly quick trip to Vero. Friends, Pat and Barbara, from Maryland were nearby and they came to visit us. Dinner was at Mulligan’s over on the beach and it was really nice to spend time catching up. Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/969510

Suntex Marina at Vero

Dinner at Mulligan's

These are turning into travel days so we can get to New Smyrna for the weekend. Today we move on the Melbourne. It’s sunny and the wind as changed direction. This made for a much dryer trip! We got into Melbourne Harbor about 12:30, got some fuel and into our slip. Yelp had a Cuban restaurant listed that was close and had 4 stars so headed there for lunch. Afterwards, we found a barbershop where I could get a much needed haircut! Downtown is being revitalized and had lots of shops and eateries. Looks like it is doing quite well. For dinner, we did the happy hour menu at Chart House right at the marina entrance. That’s a great deal!! Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/969780

Melbourne Marina

Next we're off to Titusville where we will stay at the Municipal Marina.  This leg is another section that is big and wide.  Best of all - no slow manatee zones.  This gave us another day to run the boat with the engines at about 70% load.  Diesels don't like to idle all the time so this was a good thing.  The winds started picking up a bit just after noon, but the direction is changing again now swinging to SW.  Our spot here is on a T-head at the end of the dock.  A long ways from shore, but will give us an easy out tomorrow morning.  This is the location of Dixie Crossroads restaurant and that's where we went for dinner and to watch the rocket launch.  This was a new weather satellite going off from the Kennedy Space Center.  I've never seen a live launch before and got to admit, it was pretty cool.  We were too far away to actually hear it, but the bright fire off the rocket was intense.  Maybe I wasn't the only one who hadn't seen one of these because there were a bunch of people who came out of the restaurant to watch!  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/970794

There is the track of the rocket

Sunset at the marina

Friday is the final day of this run to New Smyrna and it's probably a good thing.  The weather forecasts are saying that the Nor'easter up in New England is going to be affecting the weather down here.  Today was a good day with light wind and full sun, but later this weekend things are forecast to change.  We left Titusville early and came up the big, wide, open section of the ICW with some chop on the water, but not bad at all.  The sections where the channel is so wide doesn't provide much to see, but the upside is that means the "slow zones" aren't here either.  So we made the trip to New Smyrna fairly quickly and got into City Marina easily.  The winds of the last two days meant that the boat needed a de-salting wash so that was job one.  Regina did laundry while I completed the cleaning chores.  After all that was done, we went to Riverpark Terrace for dinner which turned out to be an excellent choice!  A great end to a great day.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/971354

We're going to be in New Smyrna for the next few days.  Friends and family from nearby are coming to see us.  After going everyday for the last several days, it's going to be a nice break and it will give us a chance to see what is going to happen with this - hopefully - last winter storm.