It was gusty in Melbourne anchorage (20-28mph) until past midnight, then calmed. The anchor held fast, and we were able to get some good sleep. We got our start around 7:30 a.m. as did multiple groups of dolphins. They appeared to be playing, leaping and splashing right at each other. Tommy caught one pair head to tail.

We were also surprised and delighted, about 8 miles into our trip, to hear a familiar voice on the radio. It was Chris and Ted, friends met during our prolonged stay in Norfolk during Hurricane Matthew. They were returning north in their Chris Craft Trawler to their home port of Palm Coast from Vero Beach. We hailed them and were able to briefly catch up as our boats approached and passed each other. Christine kindly took a picture of C Ghost as we passed. Notice that we have no sails up as this ICW stretch is too narrow, as it often is, to sail effectively.

Most of the trip from Melbourne to Vero Beach was beautiful, sinuous and lined by mangroves, with homes that changed from modest to multi-million-dollar the closer we got to Vero Beach. One community, Grant Island Estates, was an island totally cut-off from the surrounding land: no bridges led to it. The only access was by water. Royal terns flew a few yards behind us, looking down at the water to spy small fish startled by our wake. Then they dove, snatching them up. We also noted that almost every channel marker had a pair of nesting ospreys in residence. In Maryland, this behavior doesn’t start until early March. In fact, yesterday we seemed to cross over an invisible temperature line. North of it was the Florida winter (admittedly mild compared to the Northeast). South of this line we had crossed into temps consistent with spring or summer.

Just before the Vero Beach Bridge, we made a hard turn to port to enter the channel for the Vero Beach Municipal Marina. We were able to tie up at their gas dock and top-off on diesel.  We then pulled into one of their slips. The marina is very shippy and there are lots of boats (and boaters) with tons of character. The surrounds are beautiful, mangroves and live oaks. We took the free “Go-Line” City circulator (bus) to West Marine and Publix. We then rode the circulator through the rest of the route and got to see the beach and shopping area, which we may visit tomorrow. We plan to stay until Monday, since rain and thunderstorms are forecast for tomorrow and Sunday. Tommy and I cleaned up and tried the Riverside Café, which was recommended and only a 10 minute walk away. It was loud, boisterous, and full. Also extremely efficient. We hardly had to wait for a table on the water where we ate delicious flounder and key lime pie. All in all, a banner day.