Sunday and Monday March 22 & 23, 2026
SUNDAY
We took our time getting moving this morning. With the launch scheduled for 10:47, there was no rush to get underway—and honestly, we had a perfect front-row seat. My first time watching the rocket lift off near Cape Canaveral …just incredible.
Once the excitement settled, we pointed the bow north and cruised up to New Smyrna Marina, where we’ll be hanging out for a couple of nights. No sooner had we tied up and headed to the office than—bam!—we ran right into fellow loopers (Weezer, Happy Hour, Summer Breeze) we hadn’t seen in quite a while.
As it turns out, this is home base for one of them (Weezer), and today was their big day—they were officially crossing their wake! 🎉 The celebration was already underway at Outrigger’s Tiki Bar and Grille, where they had a good chunk of the place filled with friends and fellow boaters. Of course, we grabbed some champagne and joined everyone dockside to welcome them in. Such a fun and exciting moment!
Hard to believe…that’ll be us next Saturday (minus the big party 😄).
After the celebrations and hugs all around, we shifted back into reality mode and knocked out a few chores before calling it a day. The evening brought us right back to Outrigger’s for a relaxed dinner, great views, and one of those picture-perfect Florida days that you just don’t want to end.
MONDAY
After a full day of boat projects—me wrangling stubborn isinglass while Jeff played snap-master extraordinaire—we decided we had earned a proper night out. So off we went to Third Wave Cafe, a favorite we hadn’t visited in…oh, about a year and a half (minor detail—we’ve been a little busy boating 😄).
Side Note: Our friends Ron & Alisa introduced us to this place. They frequent it. Last time we were here, Jeff gave the bartender such a bad time about not having Laphroig Scotch😆 They actually ordered a bottle and whenever Ron would go in there this past year and a half, they kept reminding him that they ordered this bottle of scotch for Jeff!
The plan? Simple. Grab a couple seats at the bar, chat up the bartender, enjoy dinner…then wander off to another fun spot.
Yeah…that plan didn’t stand a chance.
The place was packed. We actually had to wait for bar seats—always a good sign. When the bartender finally came over, it was Dillon. I asked if he knew Ron & Alisa. He wasn’t sure, so I promised a photo refresher.
A few minutes later, drinks in hand, I show him the picture. He lights up—“OH YEAH, I know them…WAIT…are you the ones I ordered that GD bottle of scotch for?!”
And just like that…silence. The whole bar went quiet for a split second before we all absolutely lost it laughing.
Then—just as loudly—he goes, “Did you come here by BOAT?! Oh man, I’ve gotta hear about this!”
And that was it. We were locked in.
What followed was one of those nights that just happens. Great stories, great laughs, and instant friendships with the folks around us. Dillon insisted we stick around a bit longer—he had just called Drew, the bartender who originally ordered the infamous scotch, with strict instructions: “If that guy ever comes back, you call me.”
Not long after, Drew and his wife showed up, ready to hear all about the adventure. The bottle? Well…there wasn’t much left—but Jeff made sure to give it the sendoff it deserved. A very generous pour.
Safe to say…we never made it to that “next spot.” And honestly, there was nowhere else we would’ve rather been. 🍻
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