April 1, 2010 provided a sunny day and calm waters to resume our trip down the ICW. After readying the boat, and a last minute trip for a few items at the grocery, we left our boat slip at Telemar Bay Marina around 11:00 AM. Pat Dennis was there to take pictures and wish us Bon Voyage. Her husband, Tom, stopped by to bid his farewell earlier, before going for his morning walk. We had dinner with the Dennis’s last evening before they came to pick us up at our home to take us to the marina. They offered to take us to the marina so we could leave our car in the garage while we’re gone. Pat and Tom have taken their boat, Swan, to the Bahamas and during our time together at dinner, they had a lot of experiential knowledge to share with us, that was insightful and should prove to be helpful. We plan on seeing them again next month when we go to Annapolis for a friend’s wedding, as they plan on leaving mid-April in their boat, to make the track back up the ICW to Annapolis. They have been spending the summers in Annapolis, and winters in Indian Harbour Beach, living aboard Swan, for the past ten years. They love the “live aboard” lifestyle. They are generous and kind to all boaters and are quickly available to lend a hand, or their car, or whatever a fellow boater might need. It was easy to fall in friendship with them.
Ed, Cheryl and Molly (their doggy) leaving port
After leaving the marina, we motored a short distance on the Banana River and met up with Ed and Cheryl just as they were leaving the dock where they kept Lady Bug the past month. We followed them out the Banana River and onto Indian River Lagoon where we began down the ICW.
We planned on a short traveling day, and four hours later we arrived at our anchorage at the small town of Sebastian. At Sebastian, the ICW is dotted with small islands, some of which are national wildlife refuges for pelicans. These small islands lining the ICW shores in this particular area are quite picturesque, as well as home to the many pelicans residing on them.
We were all tired from the exertion of preparing for this trip, so after anchoring, we just relaxed for awhile; after which, Gary grilled steaks while the galley slave returned from retirement and prepared garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli and a tart for dessert. Throughout the early evening, we were serenaded by the sound of nearby trains transiting through Sebastian. We wondered it they would quit running before bedtime, and to our appreciation, they did. After dinner and clean-up duty, we called it a day. The water remained calm throughout the night hours and we slept well.
Sunrise at Sebastian, FL 4-2-10