First Coast and Family

New Smyrna 4/10/19
​Palm Coast 4/11-12/19

Our time in New Smyrna was brief.  We arrived on Wednesday mid-afternoon and departed Thursday morning.  While there we took our "get off the boat" walk to New Smyrna Beach and checked out the tourist area on the other side of the bridge, and then grabbed dinner at the marina restaurant, Outriggers.  The Kennedy Space Center launch was suppose to happen, but was again delayed because of high winds.  Our marina was right on the ICW channel and traffic was steady until we went to bed.  We were thankful it stopped so we could get some rest for the night.

So the cars parking and driving on the beach was new to us.  Above:  New Smyrna Beach.  $10 and you can bring your car right down to the beach for the day.  We experienced this up in Palm Coast as well.

We laughed when we saw this business in New Smyrna called "Sue Who?"

Thursday we headed out for Palm Coast.  I was especially excited as my aunt and uncle, Dave and Pat Block ( my mom's youngest brother)  live there and we had made plans to meet up with them.  They have lived in Palm Coast for eleven years.  They are boaters too with lots ICW experience.  They were sailors and have now crossed over to the dark side and have a trawler, but my Uncle Dave still has a long boat that he sails on occasion.  

Me with my Aunt Pat and Uncle Dave at their home in Palm Coast having a little happy hour! We had a few drinks....nobody was counting ;)

I wish I would have taken a picture of the Low Country Boil they made us for dinner Thursday night.  Shrimp, kabasa, potatoes, corn - it was delicious.  Friday we met up again and they toured us around Palm Coast and then we drove up to Fort Matanzas for a tour.  It's located between Palm Coast and St. Augustine.  Fort Matanzas National Monument was designated a United States National Monument on October 15, 1924. The monument consists of a 1740 Spanish fort called Fort Matanzas, and about 100 acres of salt marsh and barrier islands along the Matanzas River on the northern Atlantic coast of Florida.  Coastal Florida was a major field of conflict as European nations fought for control in the New World. As part of this struggle, Fort Matanzas guarded St. Augustine’s southern river approach. The colonial wars are over, but the monument is still protecting—not just the historic fort, but also the wild barrier island and the plants and animals who live there.

Tom , Pat and Dave outside the Fort. Below: areas inside and the cannons and turret on the mezzanine level of the fort.

The view up the inlet from Fort Matanzas

We hit the road or the beach on our way back to Palm Coast with the Jeep. We also took a quick detoured to Flagler Beach.

Dave and Tom checking out the long boat at the house

The Block lawn ornament,,,,,trawler, Indecision tied up on the canal behind their home

Family pics at the beach

We had a great time in Palm Coast with the Blocks.  Thank you for spending time with us, hauling us around and for all your hospitality!  It was fun to catch up and hear all your boating stories!  Hope to see you in Minnesota the next time!
​More later~