Day 143 - February 21, 2013: Cocoa

As we left Vero Beach and headed out into the ICW, it was sunny and warm for such an early time of the day. The water was glass, there was no wind, and this was such a welcomed change from the last couple of weeks. Today would turn out to be one of the nicest cruising days of the trip.

We began to encounter pods of dolphins. They seem to gather around bridge abutments and in the vicinity of channel markers. As they hear the boat approaching (sound carries six times better in water than in the air), they surface to breathe and dive down to swim alongside and surf the bow or stern wakes.

There is something special about the dolphins that makes them seem human and causes one to associate with their behavior. We would rush out to see them each time they approached and watch till they tired of the experience and disappeared off to the side.

Dolphin surfing the boat wake off the port side

Mom teaching her child to surf

The homes here along the Indian River have their own unique characteristics. Unlike the Mediterranean styles of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, with the Spanish tile roofs, heavy stone railings, fences and statuary, these homes have a distinct Southern traditional style, with columns, porches, multi-pained windows and gables. They have an elegant but casual feel which we liked.

Homes north of Vero Beach

Traditional elegance

We passed Melbourne Beach and Satellite Beach, where Anne spent the first five years of her life while her father served as a pilot at Patrick Air Force Base. Her first exposure to boating was here, as the family owned a trailer-able boat and spent time cruising and fishing in this area.

We arrived in Cocoa, and as we docked in the Cocoa Village Marina, we were greeted by Bill and Joyce on Carried Away, who we first met back at the AGLCA Rendezvous in October. We walked the very nice shopping areas and then joined them for an Asian dinner.