Daytona Beach, FL - 5/25/11

Our final day in Daytona Beach was spent getting things ready for moving on tomorrow. The three guys made final arrangements at the harbor office to leave including a pump out. then we made our customary stop at West Marine before returning to the boats. Ricki spent most of the day working on photo albums and I watched the Casey Anthony trial and worked on travel plans.

We all got together for dinner on Lucky One. Tomorrow we have reservations in Palm Coast for one night before moving on to St. Augustine.

Daytona Beach, FL - 5/24/11

This morning the three guys took off early to pick up Skip's water pump that is supposed to be in by 12:30. When we returned, the three ladies took off for the afternoon to grocery shop and visit the Ponce deLeon Light House. This is the tallest brick lighthouse in Florida with over 200 steps to reach the light.

The next 2 photos are rafts that have been used by refugee Cubans in their attempt to reach the United States.

Tomorrow will be our final day at Daytona Beach before we head toward Palm Coast and St. Augustine.

Daytona Beach, FL - 5/23/11

Another hot day in Florida. We have had several days this week in the mid 90's with no relief seen before the weekend. Skip & Huen took off early this morning in search of a water pump for Moor $tuff and located one that will be here tomorrow afternoon. Good news since we will look forward to moving again Wednesday. My cousin David from De land, FL was able to come over for a visit today and after catching up on all important issues, he took us for a drive thru Daytona and onto the beach. The sand was not as firm as usual but we did enjoy the views.

At 6 p.m. we met up with Skip & Barb and Huen & Cricket at Caribbean Jack's for another great meal.

We had a great time and after dinner entertainment was provided by Skip.

On our way back thru the parking lot this Loggerhead Turtle was discovered. Now Ricki has something else to look for in the water.

We enjoyed our short visit with David and look forward to seeing him & Agnes when we go up the St. Johns River late next week.

Daytona Beach, FL - 5/22/11

Today was a non-event day for the crew of Quest. First thing this morning when I ventured next door to Moor $tuff, there was Skip with a long face with his body in the holy place. Unfortunately he still had another raw water engine pump go bad and it is Sunday so nothing will be open. So he spent the day in catalogs and on the Internet looking for a new pump. Huen was up early giving Lucky One a bath. Ricki and Barb decided to go to the store since our day of being a tourist kinda flunked out. Sounds like everyone was busy except .... me. I did nothing!

SHE'S BACK! Our friend Cricket drove back from Ft. Lauderdale early in the afternoon. We sure did miss her smiling face.

We all got together for a Mexican dinner on Quest in the evening with a nice sunset out our door.

Tomorrow Skip will leave early to see if a pump can be found anywhere in town so we don't know if or when we will be back on the move. Huen & I will not leave without him unless it is more serious than we anticipate.

Daytona Beach, FL - 5/20/11 & 5/21/11

5/20/11

Friday was work day for all 3 boats. I got up early and washed all the salt off Quest and Skip tore into removing his leaking water pump. Huen (Lucky One) had a genset that wouldn't keep running so after quite a bit of diagnostic work and reading manuals, we discovered that his raw water impeller was not functioning properly. As luck would have it, his genset and mine are very similar and I happened to pick up a spare impeller kit last year in Green Turtle Marina.


Ricki finished her power cord cleaning project.

As we were all leaving for dinner that evening we discovered a couple of these guys hanging around Quest.

Dinner was at Caribbean Jack's and Huen insisted on picking up the check. Huen loves all girls and since Cricket was at home with her ailing father .....

Just kidding!!!

Caribbean Jack's was a very neat place overlooking the AICW with entertainment and great food.

5/21/11

We made arrangements for a VIP tour of the Daytona Racetrack and had to be there for our 4 1/2 hour tour by noon, so we all left the dock at 11:30. Skip was already at the top of the ramp so Huen took charge of Barb on the way to the car.

We were shuttled around to various spots via an air conditioned bus. This was only the 3rd VIP tour they have given so there was only about 16 folks on it.

As we drove around to the back side of the track the tour driver explained everything about the history and construction of the track. One of our stops included the 500 Club and a visit to victory lane. Here's the 5 of us in the winners circle.

A couple different things were going on at the track today. The Richard Petty driving experience where you could ride in a car for $150 or drive one for $700 plus Chrysler Corp had a road course deal going for all their different cars that were actually driven by the new owner. Our crossings in the bus had to be timed between the circuits on the road course.

After several tries, we finally got a picture of the cars running on the track. They told us that those that chose to drive them could go up to 165 MPH.

This picture was taken from the top of the 500 Club which is at the finish line.

The perfect couple!

Our tour included the pit area .......

The inspection area ......

Pit road ........

And a tour of Suite 701 which is the France Family private box. This is actually the equivalent
of close to 14 stories above the track and is BIG. They had cookies and drinks there for us plus the great views of the whole track.

Looking down from the box to the starter stand. This took several more tries to get a car crossing the finish line.

Our driver and tour director for the adventure. He also does the radio commentary from the inspection lane during the races.

A small portion of the Frances' box.

This lady was in a box below the suite and has radios to control all the track action.

The original tunnels under turn four ..... They have put new tunnels toward turn one to accommodate the large haulers the teams use.

We were then bussed to a secret location a few blocks away where we were allowed to view the archives and memorabilia clear back to 1903. This building is not open to the public and we were not allowed to take any pictures inside or out because they don't want the public around it. It can only be used by media folks or those needing to research stuff. If the general public wants anything from it they must use the Internet. After leaving this interesting facility, we were returned to the track and the winner's museum. This is the car that won this year and is still covered with champagne and confetti. It will be on display until next February when the new winner will be put there.

We left the track at 4:30 and decided to go to Hooter's across the street for wings. Another full day in Daytona. Tomorrow we will make like tourists and go to the beach and the Ponce de Leon Light House. Cricket is due back tomorrow so we will probably leave Monday for Palm Coast. Our flexible plans are to be in St. Augustine on Tuesday and Wednesday then on to Jacksonville before starting up the St. Johns River toward Sanford. That will probably take 10 days up and back before starting again north toward Georgia.

Daytona Beach, FL - 5/19/11

Our last morning at New Smyrna Marina was properly acknowledged with biscuits and gravy prepared by Ricki & Huen along with a orange juice adult beverage. Another day in paradise!












We pulled out of the marina at 10 a.m. bound for Halifax Marina in Daytona Beach, just 16 miles away. Skip led today since he has a bad water pump that will get replaced in Daytona, followed by Quest and Lucky One.












There was an island at the entrance to the marina that was probably created with dredging spoils and is now a roosting spot for birds ... a lot of them.










Ricki has spent the past 2 cruising days cleaning our power cords and conditioning them with wax. Here is the before and after photo. Somehow they get so yucky with a black sticky mess that leaves marks on everything they come close to touching.

Since Skip only has room for one butt in his engine room, I supplied the refreshment and moral support. After checking around he found that not only was NAPA the best spot for a marine water pump, they will deliver it here at the dock no charge.

Cricket left us today to be with her father during his procedure and will return in a few days. We all hope everything goes well and he will be in our prayers.

Dinner this evening was veggie appetizers per Ricki and chicken wings (hooter style) and wedding soup per Huen.

N29 12.178 W 81 00.819

New Smyrna, FL - 5/18/11

5/17/11

Tuesday was spent cleaning the boat inside and out which was a full days job. In the evening went back to the Pizza Shop for another great meal.


5/18/11

After filling with water and a pump out, we left Cocoa Village Marina at 8:40 a.m. for the 5 mile trip to Harbor Town Marina on the Barge Canal for fuel. The marina is located 3 miles east of the AICW and is a manatee zone the whole way. We arrived at 9:35 and departed after receiving 111 gallons at $3.78 per gallon. Still getting 1.6 mpg.



















Photos of Cocoa Village Marina











Our voyage today took us through a place called Mosquito Lagoon where a lot of loopers anchor
on this portion of the adventure.










Could this be the Monitor or Merrimack?












More interesting craft along the way.











We got to New Smyrna at 5 p.m. and got in our slip in a very strong wind. Cocktails at 6:30 with Huen bringing the boiled shrimp. Ricki had put pot roast in earlier today which was enjoyed by the six of us. Another great day!

Tomorrow we head for Daytona Beach and will probably stay there a couple days.

Our position is N 29 01.635 W 80 55.236