Today at dawn Paula took the laundry to the marina’s facility. Since many boaters are also early risers, she was able to socialize with others similarly engaged. Despite the forecast of bad weather to come, many boaters had decorated their vessels for the Memorial Day Holiday with festive results and it was fun to view these in between changing the clothes from washers to the dryer (featured picture).
While the clothes dried, Tommy and Paula had coffee in the cockpit and discussed last night’s amateur production at the Titusville Playhouse, which was excellent and featured a cast which ranged from elementary school-aged to adult. The singing and acting was great, and the stage sets were professional and well done. If we lived here, we would definitely get season tickets.
After laundry and chores, we set off to find the Dixie Crossroads, a seafood restaurant recommended by Paula’s parents, who enjoyed it during their cruising days, 30 years ago. The restaurant was still functioning and still had great seafood.
After lunch, we extended our walk to the spit of land just under the Max Brewer bridge. By now the sky had gone gun-metal gray and threatening, and there was a brisk chop in the ICW and a stiff breeze- advance notice of the predicted deterioration of the weather for the next few days. Accordingly, boats began to appear in the channel to the marina on their way to tie up to secure berths.
Tommy spent some time wrestling with the charts and forecasts, trying to plan the best timing and route for the last 100 miles to St. Augustine, considering tides, currents, bridges, shallow areas, and possible anchorages and trying to predict the likely effect Alberto will have. Later, in the cockpit, we had the great pleasure of watching three manatees sporting in the fairway, seemingly enjoying the mild drizzle that had begun. Before this, we had only had glimpses from afar of these placid giants, but now we got to see and hear them “blow” like dolphins, watch them surface and submerge together in apparent play while flashing their round, flat tails.
The drizzle increased, so we came inside and took in the cockpit cushions and pillows. Paula made dinner while we listened to music. Tonight, we had the last of the Bahamian baked chicken leg quarters, tri-color pasta in tomato/basil sauce and pan-sautéed zucchini. Tommy also had rye bread and butter, but Paula skipped it. A quick look in the full-length mirror in the marina’s head has convinced her she is approaching manatee proportions after three-plus months of eating with no running.
2 Responses
I don’t know if you have observed the special wake the manatees make when diving. To me it looks like an almost perfectly round eddy which appears just behind their tails. It is, in my experience unique to the manatees. When you reach my age it’s good to know that some good experiences survive, i.e. Dixie Crossroads.
Yes, Dad, we have noticed that flat round spot in the water, although we didn’t know it was the tail that made it. Sometimes that’s the only way we know there IS a manatee, since they don’t always surface near us. I wondered about that flat round eddy. Thanks for clarifying!