The wind was absolutely howling this morning—howling in that way that makes you grateful for the safety of the dock lines and the choice to extend your stay in Titusville. Out there on the water? It would have been anything but pleasant. Instead, we embraced the rare luxury of sleeping in, letting the rocking of the boat in the breeze lull us into a slower start to the day.

By the time we were up, the planning madness had already set in. Even before breakfast, we dove into the complicated web of trying to get ourselves home for Easter. We’re missing Jecca, and we’ve been hoping of catching up with Kevin and Jaxie too—it would be so special to see everyone. But making it happen? Easier said than done.

Step one: flights. Not just any flights—affordable flights. Easter holiday doesn’t make that an easy feat. Then, the next hurdle: finding a marina for Koko while we’re away. This is peak boating season, so slips and moorings are at a premium, and we needed one that would check all the boxes—safe, secure, shielded from the winds, and close enough to an airport where a reasonable (price and timing) flight could be found. Throw in the unpredictable Florida weather and the logistics of getting to the airport without a car, and, well, you can see why it felt like a game of nautical Tetris.

But luck was on our side today. After much searching, we managed to snag a slip at a marina on Amelia Island. Bonus: although they don’t offer weekly rates, booking a full month actually turned out to be more affordable than a 1½-week stay, giving us great flexibility. Now we can return to Koko without any pressure—cast off immediately or savor a few extra weeks exploring. Perfect.

With that puzzle solved, we turned our attention to more terrestrial needs. A walk to the local grocery store was in order to replenish the essentials—fresh lettuce and milk, among other things. Along the way, we swung by a CVS for a couple of extras. Back on the boat, we enjoyed a short coffee break in the afternoon sunshine before an early dinner.

Then came the highlight of the day. We headed over to “Space View Park,” a charming little spot just ten minutes from the marina, to watch a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. It’s hard to describe the excitement in the air—families with kids buzzing with anticipation, photographers setting up their gear, and even an opportunistic ice cream truck hoping for last-minute business. The view of the launchpad was perfect, and the park itself was a treat, with its thoughtful memorial walk celebrating NASA’s missions.

The launch? Well, it wasn’t meant to be tonight. After being postponed several times, it was eventually canceled. The crowd sighed but seemed to take it in stride—sometimes the magic of the moment isn’t just in the event itself but in sharing the anticipation with others. Maybe tomorrow we’ll catch a glimpse from Daytona Beach, where we hope to drop anchor by the evening.