March 24 -- boating

Another beautiful day -- it looks like it is going to be this way until we head north. It was sunny and close to 80 degrees. As much as we want to see our northern home it will be depressing to leave the green and go to the brown.

I went out for a ride early so that I would be back by 10am. Since time was the limiting factor I decided to do some sight-seeing. I headed north, but once into Port Orange, cut over to the river side streets and gawked at the beautiful houses along the waterway. What a setting ! -- quiet residential streets, tall trees, river front -- what a life ! Some of these homes reminded me of the Tomenson cottage in Sutton.

I continued to follow the river whenever I could right up to SR 92 in Daytona and then turned around. The last few blocks, however, are really quaint -- small shopes, touristy, outdoor cafes -- we'll have to get up there to take in the sights one of these days and people watch.

I then turned around and headed back down riverside but once I had to cut over to US1, I continued that route back home.

We then got ready to go out in the boat. Alistair had already had a short (for him) walk; Sandy had made a trip to the store to pick up food for supper; we packed the boat and set out.

Launching at the north causeway, we followed the route under the bridge and putted along looking at the homes and the boats. I never tire of looking at how the other half lives (the other half of the money, that is, for a very small percentage of the people). We made our way up to the inlet and stopped at a small sand bar letting Abby out to romp with a couple of other dogs. There are a few sand bars like this that appear and disappear with the tide and create shallow wading pools -- ideal for small kids and dogs. There were two things missing -- I need another anchor so that I can anchor both the front and back of the boat -- and being a sand bar there was no stick for Abby.

We then headed north and followed the waterway past our eventual lunch stop at Harbor Inlet up one of the many watercourses through the mangroves with boats parked and long walkways through said mangroves to houses up on shore.

It was hot. The sun was blazing down. We went back to the restaurant, found a place to tie up, got Abby some water and found a table. Alistair grabbed an umbrella; I climbed on the table and we were all set.

After lunch we headed back to the boat launch ... we have concluded that we need a couple of things in a boat for down here -- more power, so that the boat can plane with a group of 4-6; some shade; seat-backs (we're too old for no seat-backs) a V-hull with a higher bow so that small waves don't spray us. One of these years I'll go shopping -- but time will tell. We had a great time but we all had enough sun.

Once home, I did the usual cleaning out the boat, running the engine to flush it, etc. Later I tackled the shifting problem that I had with the bike -- notice the past tense ? -- I finally found my problem -- the cable retainer clip on the rear derailleur was facing the wrong way and stopping the derailleur from going to the smallest sprocket. I'll give it a workout today.

We ate late, after 8pm, having Kylie's Greek salad and a green salad, cheese, bread, wine, good company -- what more do you need.

Ride stats -- 37.5 miles @ 17.2 mph.