Marineland

We arrived in Marineland on the 22nd.  We stayed here last year and were happy to return to this marina, and to Captain's BBQ- one of the best barbecue restaurants in the country!

Pam and John's car was brought here a few days ago, so we'e been able to see the sights, grocery shop, attend church, and eat out.

Osprey eating a fish

We took a 2-hour eco-tour with Ripple Effect Tours in a jet boat powered by vegetable oil- interesting exhaust fumes!  It was disappointing- we didn't venture off the main waterway and saw a few birds and dolphins at a distance. But it was fun to be out there in a small fast boat, and to see the fort. This area is the GTM- Guana Tolomato Matanzas- National Estuarine Research  Reserve. "Estuary" is the technical terms for the area where salt and fresh waters meet. Brandon shared lots of information about the birds, dolphins, and importance of this environment.

Our naturalist guide Brandon, with Mark, Pam and John

Fort Matanzas was built by the Spanish to guard the Matanzas Inlet.

The cannons and watch tower

Fort Matanzas

Matanzas is Spanish for "many slaughters."

Terns

We also visited Marineland Dolphin Adventure, right across the road from the marina. Marineland opened in 1938 as a movie studio where underwater scenes were filmed.It used to be a popular tourist attraction, but now not much of interest is happening here.

Dinner at Captains Barbeque

These are ruins from Mala Compra plantation at Bings Landing near Marineland. 

Sunset at Marineland. 

Daytona Beach to Marineland

Hours today: 4.9

Miles Today:  38       Total miles: 3,144

Locks today: 0            Total Locks: 39

The grand exodus of MTOA vessels from Daytona Beach began today. We left earlier than planned this morning after evaluating the weather forecast. As it turned out, the 100% chance of rain did not produce any rain. It was overcast all day, but no precipitation. This area is experiencing an "anomalous summer weather pattern", as we learned in our NOAA weather class yesterday. That means there is a hefty chance of thunderstorms every day. We also learned that Florida is hit by lightning more than any other state. Good to know.

In many areas the Atlantic ICW we traveled today is lined with incredible homes and their docks, each one more spectacular than the last. Now and then we saw undeveloped areas of marsh or trees, but not often. There were no issues with depth, and bridges opened promptly.

 We arrived at the Marineland Marina around noon along with Serenity. Marineland is between Palm Coast and St. Augustine. The marina is small but very helpful and friendly. There is a dolphin attraction of sorts here, but it is mainly a research facility.

After a quick lunch we went for a walk on the nearly deserted beach with Kathy and John. Kathy taught me about a rock type found here called coquina. Coquina is a sedimentary rock composed of shell fragments that have become cemented together by wave action. Interesting!

A coquina specimen

We met another MTOA boat, Carpe Vita, with Dottie and Jack, docked nearby. The guys went to Captain's BBQ in a borrowed car and bought pulled pork and fixins for our supper. Six of us ate on Mara Beel, and I forgot to take a picture- the rock is the best I can do today!