April 28, 2020 – Some unplanned activity interrupted our routine this morning, when the generator cooling water intake became blocked with weeds. Ben noticed a change in the sound of the exhaust (which is usually muffled by the discharge of cooling water as it runs.) He quickly shut it down before it had a chance to overheat, and the diagnostics began.
Some engine room activities ensued, followed by a short dive under the boat using our ‘diving hookah’ setup we bought in Marathon. It’s basically a SCUBA rig, except the hose from the first stage regulator at tank to the second stage breathing regulator is 50 feet long, so the tank can stay on the boat (or in the dinghy, or in a small floating tank raft, for excursions).
We finally got underway at about 11, for the run up to Daytona Beach. This was actually an interesting stretch, as we transited a short canal, saw some rugged native waterfront up close, and began to encounter some wide tidal flats and sandbars that required attention to avoid shoaling near the inlets. And we got to see some more roseate spoonbills (not flamingoes after all- sharp eyed birder friend corrected us- thanks Jennifer), and were able to get the camera out fast enough this time to get a photo. Doesn’t that pink jump out at you?
A lot of this stretch was at “Slow Speed – Minimum Wake”, both due to manatee protection zones, and a long stretch of fishing camps and private docks past Oak Hill and Edgewater on the way to New Smyrna Beach.
As we approached Ponce de Leon Inlet, we began to see some different waterscapes, with wide tidal sandbars. In the distance we could see the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, the tallest one in Florida.
We got to practice our close quarters maneuvering a couple times, and get used to following the specific tracks from Bob423, noted AICW guru, through some known shoaling spots south and north of the inlet. Even more challenging stretches lie ahead, made more complex by the height of the tidal swings that we will see as we get to Georgia and South Carolina.
But for now, we pulled over at Daytona Beach and anchored for the night, enjoying cool temperatures again.