Cocoa Village | Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch

Boating often starts out like this. Ed and I are traveling on our trawler, Finito, and beauty is all around us, but for some reason, I feel crabby.

I think it has something to do with adapting to my role as “first-mate.” It is difficult for me to take orders; it always has been. First-mate is a big job but it is not Captain. I am not in charge.

I know that It is good to be humbled and I have been through this before, especially in 2024-25 when Ed and I took one year to complete the 6000 miles of America’s Great Loop. Thank goodness we had Luna and Okee with us. This year we have Diesel and Okee.

— Luna RIP🐾🌈

Diesel and Okee are good boaters and great companions!

This crabbiness? I will snap out of it in a day or two, but in the meanwhile, I keep seeing crabs. I feel like Mother Nature is empathizing with me!

For instance, this morning, in New Smyrna, blue crabs were swim-dancing as they floated by- wading birds perched on boat transoms trying to catch one for breakfast.

At our first stop along the Intracoastal, Vero Beach, there were magnificent oak trees, a book exchange, pin fish breeding by the docks, and a 5-acre dog park. When I was walking Diesel, I noticed a beautiful orange and blue land crab trying to make a life among floritam grass and expansive pavement. It ran into its hole as we approached. It made me recall as a girl growing up in Stuart when thousands of land crabs would make their way from the mangrove swamps and rivers’ edges to the ocean. What a sight to see!

Over the years in Martin County, AIA along Hutchinson Island was developed, mosquito ditches expanded, roads widened, and condominiums replaced dunes, and mangrove swamps were filled in for more condos or million- dollar homes. Eventually, it became all but impossible for the land crabs to make their annual migration to the sea . This is a non negotiable for the females as they must deposit their eggs in the ocean.

While following their urge to procreate they had to cross the highways and roads. They were crushed by cars – by the hundreds and by the thousands. Over time, their habitat was almost entirely gone and few crabs survived. But no person seemed to care. “They’re just crabs….and who cares about the food chain! ”

The Florida Wildlife Commission limits harvest but does not close roads as is the case in Australia’s Christmas Island that has made a tourist event of their amazing land crab migration.

I think this attitude of man over nature is the basic problem with our society, instead of trying to live with especially non-charasmatic native species, or at least protecting them in a humane way, we often opt for just plowing them over…

Anyway, I better stop, I know I’m sounding “crabby.”

After Vero, Ed and I also stopped in Cocoa Village, another favorite, because of their awesome historic downtown. But like the land crabs one has to navigate two major highways to get to the downtown, praying the whole time that someone missing the light after coming down the bridge doesn’t hit you at 50 miles an hour. Ed, being impatient, ignores the WALK signs and jaywalks — with Diesel training behind. Me? I can’t do it. I wait. I am a cautious like a crab…

I actually am a crab if you believe in astrology. This ancient star-language of the Babylonians, the Greeks, then the Romans says that because my birthday falls on June 29th, my zodiac sign is Cancer- the crab🦀

“Represented by the moon, cancer is a cardinal water sign known for deep emotional sensitivity, strong intuitive abilities, and a fierce dedication to home and family. Weaknesses include being moody, overly sensitive, defensive, and prone to clinging or isolation. Just like a crab with a hard outer shell and a soft interior, Cancers project a tough or cautious exterior to protect their sensitive soul.”

Goodness! That sounds about right!

Bottle-nosed IRL dolphins welcome us to the Space Coast!

At Cocoa Village Marina we were welcomed by bottlenose dolphins and witnessed the Space-X liftoff across the Indian River Lagoon at Cape Canaveral. It was amazing. Inspirational really. But I did wonder how many crabs and other animals got burned up or sprayed with chemicals at the liftoff site located on the Bannana River – part of the Indian River Lagoon – and natural lands region of Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt island National Wildlife Refuge. 🦀 Oh, I’m so crabby!

Next we stopped at New Smyrna Marina only a few files away from the Turnbull Settlement of 1768 where over 1200 people from Menorca, Greece and Italy worked as indentured servants on an enormous indigo plantation until they rebelled for being treated like slaves half dying and half walking to St. Augustine to plea to the British Governor for refuge which was granted. I guess they were feeling crabby too! 🙂

As I look forward, I see the Halifax River and St. Augustine lies ahead. Maybe I can convince my Captian to take a break and eat Greek food? Then I’ll be as happy as a clam!

July 5, 2019

Hi. I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! Wasn’t it exceptional? Exceptional because the St Lucie/IRL’s water wasn’t toxic like so many times in recent years. So nice to be able to enjoy our waterways. No dumping of Lake O. I am grateful!

Today I am a back with an Indian River Lagoon Report for the entire Indian River Lagoon.

During my husband, Ed, and my recent 156 miles trip up the IRL, aboard ADRIFT, I contacted Duane DeFreese Ph.D., Executive Director for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program. I called Duane because I knew why the southern lagoon looked better but was impressed by how good the water in the central and northern lagoon looked as well. No brown tide. No superbloom.

Since am unfamiliar with the waters north of the Treasure Coast, except by books, I wanted a scientific update. Well, boy, did I get it! See Dr. Duane’s comments below. Also included is the invaluable, recent St John’s Water Management District’s “June 20th Indian River Lagoon Conditions Update.”

For visual input as well, I am inserting some of Ed and my photos, with comments, of our incredible journey along what is still considered to be one of the world’s most biodiverse estuaries. What a treasure! From north to south, we must do all we can to ensure a toxic-free future.

Keep up the fight!

Jacqui

Ed and JTL start of the trip on “Adrift.”

Location: Jupiter Island near the Jupiter Inlet, as almost always the water here is like the Bahamas, looking great! Near the border of Martin and Palm Beach Counties.

Near Jupiter Inlet, border of Martin and Palm Beach Counties. Wow!

JTL:

Duane, hi. Hope you are having a great summer. At this time, are there algae blooms reported in the IRL near Melbourne, the N. IRL north of Titusville, or anywhere in the Mosquito Lagoon? Thank you for letting me know. Jacqui TL

Duane DeFreese, Ph.D. Exec. Dir National IRL Estuary Program, http://www.irlcouncil.com

Conditions being reported to me by the local guides are consistent with the report and my own observations. Overall water quality looks pretty good, but small, patchy areas of poor water quality continue. The fishing guides tell me one day it looks great and a day later the same area will have color and turbidity (probably patchy bloom conditions). My personal observation is that we have been lucky so far and the system is vulnerable. I would not be surprised to see blooms intensify as we move deeper into summer and the rainy season. Lagoon water temperatures are also really warm. the SJRWMD Report documents that we have had patchy blooms occurring of multiple species. Two confirmed species of concern are Pseudo-nitzschia, a marine diatom and Pyrodinium bahamensis, a dinoflagellate. The worst water conditions continue to be in Banana River and in Sykes Creek. There are boater reports of patchy poor water quality in some areas of the northern IRL. The third species of significant recent concern has been Brown tide (Aureoumbra lagunendis). It was in almost in continuous bloom for most of last year in the Banana River. Bloom conditions have subsided. Aureoumbra thrives in warm, high salinity environments. It is not known to be toxic. Blooms of pseudo nitzschia, a marine diatom, can produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid. Blooms of Pyrodinium can produce saxitoxin. I expect that we will see patchy and flashy bloom conditions of multiple species throughout the summer. If we get lucky, I hope none of these blooms get intense enough to elevate toxin levels, low DO levels and fish kills. I’m very concerned about the slow recovery of seagrasses, even in areas of good water quality. Feel free to call me anytime. Have a great 4th July!

Indian River Lagoon Conditions Update June 20

JTL:

Dear Duane, thank you so very much for the super informative reply! I wrote because my husband and I are taking our maiden voyage in a trawler. We have gone from Stuart to Jupiter to Vero to Cocoa, north as far as possible in IRL, past Titusville, and today-through the Haul-over Canal into the Mosquito Lagoon. Not being familiar with these waters, all I have seen visually appears quite good compared to the St Lucie and even parts of the S. IRL. Some varying coloration is apparent, but overall seems good and in the north, many baitfish balls are shimmering under the surface and dolphin families are gorging themselves and teaching their young! We have seen many dolphins everywhere. Throughout Indin River County, Ospreys nesting in channel markers. One after the other! In the Mosquito Lagoon there were many more wading birds than S IRL. Even saw a few roseate spoonbills. I was not expecting it to be so full of life up here… a nice surprise. Not off the chart healthy, but marine and bird life very visible! I really appreciate the info you sent. I plan to blog on trip once home, so I can quote your knowledge. Happy 4th of July to you as well and I hope to see you soon.