12/11 Another Sunny Day

12/11 Monday  We started out just as the sun was rising.  As we started out we were headed south east and the sun was right in our eyes and shining off the water too.  Thankfully, it rose in the sky and we started running more directly south.  Just like yesterday,  the temperature on the fly bridge rose to the high 70's and we took to the fly bridge for a fabulous cruising day.

Dolphins checked on us periodically.  We passed the Ormond Beach Bridge.  All the pilings for this bridge are decorated with dolphin and manatee.  One of the best parts of our travels is finding art hidden in plain sight.

The iconic lighthouse at the Ponce de Leon Inlet shone brightly today as we passed.

Tonight, we are docked at New Smyrna Beach.  There is an island nearby that is covered by birds.  They look like Christmas ornaments on the bushes.

I didn't get any good pictures but about 8 dolphins were playing in the waters just outside the marina.  They were making sounds like Flipper did and slapping their tails.  I was amazed.

As we cruised today, we could hear the fan belt squealing so after we tied up, it was time to tighten the belt.  It is hard to get to in the engine room and the fan belt had left some dirt.  After we got the fan belt tightened, we took advantage of the nice shower rooms here.

Tomorrow, we go to Cocoa Beach.  We will be heading south but looking to the southeast.  NASA is sending up a supply rocket tomorrow and we hope to see the launch from our boat.  When the last space shuttle went up, we met Christine at the Kennedy Space Center and were guests of one of the astronauts for that launch.  What was the most interesting then, was that you could see the launch first and then heard and felt the sound.  I look forward to that feeling tomorrow.