 Our
float plan from Port Canaveral to Key West involved the ICW to
Fort Pierce. Thereafter, we planned to sail on the 'outside' to
Hawk Channel to Key West. We transited the barge canal with its
locks and two bridge complexes with little difficulty. This leg
reminded me of my late father as we would often 'do' the barge
canal when we visited the folks at Merritt Island. The entrance
to the ICW from the canal was dicey as there were many shoals and
not much water.
 Soon
we passed by Cocoa Village with the water tower with a painted
USA flag. Whitley's Marina (another Dad memory) was trying to
rebuild their marina after the 1999 hurricanes. The Save the
Manatee Club (SMC) had other ideas. After 2 years of legal
battles to rebuild their marina, they finally gave up. It is sad
to see a seemingly benevolent society using every trick in their
bag to break the back of the small marina owner. Condominiums and
private slips will replace Whitley's Marina. No reduction in
boats. Good going SMC!
 First
Mate Toby bought a guitar at a pawn shop in Port Canaveral. Big
mistake! He belongs to the Pie Tasters (a SKA band) where he
plays a trumpet. When you play a trumpet, you can't sing. When
you play a guitar, you can sing. He did. Big mistake! In the
course of the trip, Ann had murder in her eyes many times. We
made him play and sing on the foredeck (see video section).
 On
the southern tip of Merritt Island (where the Indian River Lagoon
and the Banana River meet) is a dragon. This dragon was a
playhouse for children long grown up. Though there is a great
anchorage around the dragon, we chose to continue to Melbourne.
There are several marinas in the area (fairly shallow) where at
least one is decidedly doggy unfriendly. Bob's dad and he would
often visit the dragon in the late 70's and early 80's.
 That
night, we anchored several miles below Melbourne. As the Indian
River Lagoon is not tidal, we had a restful anchorage. The next
day we headed to Fort Pierce where we stayed at the Harbortown
Marina. Our dock was much higher than our deck (especially at
low tide). Fortunately, the marina provided a plank so that we
could negotiate the dock. Capt. Ann was not too happy with the
situation. Fortunately, the 'kids' were not with us.
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