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