Brrrrrrrr....it was 54 degrees when we weighed anchor at 7:00  this morning.  We experienced gray skies, strong winds and intermittent rain as we continued north on the ICW toward our destination, Marineland Marina.

Enroute, the Knox Bridge at Orman Beach was unable to open due to a bicyclist accident.  We weren't sure if the rider was part of a pelaton or if there was a race today, but apparently the bridge was slick and the bike went down.  About a half hour later after the ambulance arrived and took the biker to the hospital and the bridge reopened, the bridge tender thanked all waiting boats and advised the biker had scraped legs and a shoulder injury.

We continued on through intermittent rain and arrived at Marineland, FL around noon.  The marina is part of and just across the street from the famed Marineland which opened in the 1930s as Marine Studios, featuring a huge concrete aquarium pitted with glass portholes allowing visitors to observe undersea life.

In the 1950s Marine Studios began intensively training dolphins with help from animal trainers from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  The most talented and popular bottlenosed dolphin was "Flippy."  The attraction was also used for filming episodes of "Sea Hunt" and filming some of the "Tarzan" movies.  Marineland was one of Florida's most popular attractions but after Disney World opened in 1971 in Orlando, the attraction slowly declined.

Now Marineland exists as a Dolphin Conservation Center where guest can enjoy up-close and personal experiences swimming with dolphins and participating with other eco-tour programs, such as kayaking excursions throughout the expansive nature area.

Today I did laundry which many of you know, I find therapeutic.  We met some new friends, including a couple who also have a portie like Striper.  Tomorrow we hope to introduce Striper and Reo so they can play a bit.

We're snuggled in toasty warm this evening and look forward to touring this beautiful facility tomorrow.  Here are a few of today's photos:

Sunrise at Daytona Beach

Many large estates in this area

Tutahaco YTN-524 originally stationed with the Navy in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1945

Another large estate

Ambulance for bicyclist injured on Knox Bridge, Orman Beach

Pelaton -- not sure if the injured biker was racing or part of this group

Going through Knox Bridge

Part of the pelaton

A variety of homes along our route

Palm Coast

Palm Coast

Palm Coast

Palm Coast

I loved these three little boys fishing

Palm Coast Marina

Palm Coast Marina

Homes closer to Marineland

I like the setting of these homes

Full house a Marineland Marina tonight

Striper and Mr. W. out for a jaunt

Tonight's back yard

We're sitting at anchor at Daytona Beach, FL watching the news in Boston where the police have surrounded the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing.  Life as we knew it changed dramatically twelve years ago, we are sad to say.  Thoughts and prayers to friends and family of those injured or killed in this horrific incident.

We weighed anchor at 7:00 AM and departed Titusville, FL after a very blustery night at anchor across from the Kennedy Space Center.  We traveled 56 miles today and entered into the narrower portion of Indian River.  This section has timed draw bridges and we were able to easily make the bridge openings.  The weather was cool and breezy in the morning and warmed up nicely in the afternoon.  We saw a manatee today and I snagged a picture of more than just a manatee nose.  They are such gentle souls.  We also saw many dolphin in our travels today, majestic creatures.

We had brief showers during dinner, then the sun came out and gave us an interesting sunset.  It's lovely out now.  We've got the windows open and there's a cool breeze...and some music at Caribbean Jack's across from us.

Here are a few of today's photos:

Sunrise this morning in Titusville

Much boat traffic today

There are many anchorages that seem like they're in the middle of the waterway, but they're really not.

This is Oak Hill -- a large fish camp.  Not sure what the stakes in the water mark -- maybe oysters or clams?

This lady has a fish on the line

And a manatee just a short distance from the lady fishing

Oak Hill, FL

There are many draw bridges that have timed openings.  Many have fishing areas at the base like this one -- very popular here

This appears to be some sort of shrine

The draw bridge leading to New Smyrna Beach, FL

The New Smyrna Beach draw bridge

Picturesque sand bar at New Smyrna Beach

Draw bridge leading to Daytona Beach

Beautiful mosaics on the bridge pillars

Beautiful mosaics

The small dot to the right foreground is a man fishing

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Anchored at Daytona Beach, FL

Tonight's back yard

Today we traveled 81 miles from Ft. Pierce to Titusville, FL where we're anchored in front of the Kennedy Space Center.   Today was perfect -- low humidity and the highs in the 70s, sunny and breezy.  Not much boat traffic today.  Looking forward to sleeping at anchor, fresh air and just like being rocked in a cradle.

Here are a few photos from today:

Traveling on the Indian River

Melbourne, FL

These little islands are so beatuiful

The Captain teaches another boater how to do a slow pass

Today's lunch pizza on artisan flat bread

Mr. Wonderful did some touch up painting while Striper the foreman looked on

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach

Twin span at Cocoa Beach

Double draw bridges near Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center

Many phases of tonight's sunset

Many changes of the sunset

Another phase of the sunset

And dolphin around the boat

The sun was like an orange ball

My choice for tonight's back yard