We are back from the family reunion (Sylvia's family) in Austin TX @ Lake Travis…a huge man-made lake that has multiple fingers and beautiful scenery on it's 270 miles of shoreline.  The water level in the lake is down 40', although an18 year old reported that he has not seen the high level of water (681' above sea level) in his lifetime.  There is an assortment of steps, lifts, everything short of a cable car to accommodate that fact that the endless number of docks are now several hundred feet  below where they used to be.

This wonderful multigenerational Castille family gathers each year, usually in LA near to Lafayette which was home for the ten siblings as children.  At this reunion, banter abounds as does delicious food; bringing a hearty appetite and a love for Cajun cookin' might be the only requirements for a having a great time.
 As always, Frank expertly concocted  the crawfish-boil-feast where 100 pounds of crawfish simmered in a flavorful, spicy blend of seasonings know only to Frank; with his gumbo's and etoufee's, he is the undisputed chef extraordinaire of the family.

Fearless Jordan with killer crawfish

                                                         Anna and Jordan enjoying crawfish

For a bus-man's holiday, I managed to spend two lovely afternoons on the lake, one in a speed boat with tube in tow creating merriment for the grandchildren, Anna, Sophia and Jordan,  and one afternoon  on a pontoon boat with Kurt, Gerald and Jan, Carl and Barbara and Louise and Virgil.  For me, being on the water is always preferable to being on land.

 

                                                           Sharon, Chris and Jordan

                                                                   Jordan and Sophia

                                                                    Louise and Virgil


Yesterday morning we departed Vero Beach where we spent a night on a mooring at the end of the harbor so it we got to enjoy seclusion in a very crowded harbor.  Dolphins with babies slowly meandered around the harbor, onshore Osprey young protested abandonment as mom and pop searched for fish, cormorants relentlessly pursued fleeing fish….it was lovely except that it was too hot and the no-seeums were dogged in their attempts to squeeze through the screens and torment us.  Barbecued chicken, guacamole and sliced tomatoes were on tap for dinner….early to bed, early to rise. Our departure was marred by a substantial grounding, imagine my joy at not being the one at the helm:)  The grounder did mange to extricate us with no harm done to the props as they are well up from the bottom of the keel and we were in mud; my apologies to all the denizens of the mud who were rudely awakened.

It's deliciously cloudy and a little cooler today, no wind, easy motoring past endless miles of palatial homes perfectly perched on the shore of an ICW area that is punctuated with verdant islands of spoils from year's- ago dredging providing many safe havens to nesting shorebirds.

Last evening the dock slip in Cocoa City Marina provided us the perfect location for a dress-up night out for dinner at Cafe Margaux a lovely little French restaurant;  as luck would have it they were having a special:

Rhone Wine Dinner

Featuring: E. Guigal

One Seating Only at 6:30PM

Reception

2010 Côtes du Rhône Rosé, Côtes du Rhône

"Spicy, white pepper heat curbs this wine's sweet strawberry fruit.
It's simple and easy, with a lavender scent." 

86 Points Wine & Spirits Magazine

Soup
Shrimp and Crab Bisque
Sherried Creme Fraiche & Basil-Thyme Pistou

2010 Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Côtes du Rhône

 "A very fresh, floral style, with breezy white peach and pear notes and
a juicy, green-almond tinged finish. Drink now."

 
88 Points Wine Spectator

Salad
Baby Spinach and Bitter Field Greens
Chestnuts and Shaved Beaufort
Apricot Blackberry Vinaigrette

2010 St Joseph Blanc, St Joseph

"Light gold. A fragrant bouquet displays crisp mineral, floral & pear scents. Fresh pear & apple flavors are nicely focused and refreshingly dry. An understated, focused and mineral-dominated midweight that finishes long and bright." 

90 Points IWC

Fish

 Wild Salmon and Chevre wrapped in Fillo
Garden Herb Risotto and Lobster Cognac Creme

 2009 Crozes Hermitage Blanc, Crozes Hermitage

 "The 2009 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc is made from an identical blend and has an identical upbringing. It exhibits much deeper fruit (bordering on tropical) in addition to abundant minerality as well as white currant, quince & citrus blossom characteristics.
It is an impressive, medium to full-bodied white to enjoy over the next 2-3 years."

90-92 Points Wine Advocate

Duck
Duck Confit over Golden Beet and Fennel Galettes
Citrus Peach Syrah Sauce

2008 Crozes Hermitage Rouge, Crozes Hermitage

 "Surprisingly good, the medium-bodied 2008 Crozes-Hermitage exhibits aromas of tomato skin, roasted Provencal herbs, red and black currants, cherries, spice and earth.
It should drink well for several years."

87 Points Wine Advocate

Veal
Gruyere Crusted Veal Tenderloin
Lyonnaise Whipped Red Bliss Potatoes
Boar Bacon Grenache Reduction

2006 Chateauneuf du Pape, Chateauneuf du Pape

“Bright ruby. Sexy, perfumed aromas of raspberry preserves, potpourri & Asian spices, with a touch of anise in the background. Juicy and appealingly sweet, showing very good depth and vivacity to its red fruit and floral pastille flavors. Picks up a smoky quality with air and finishes with excellent clarity, silkiness & length. This is already drinking very well." 

92 Points International Wine Cellar

Cheese

 Morbier, Franche-Comté

2009 St Joseph Rouge, St Joseph

"The 2009 St.-Joseph possesses the most opaque ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of blueberry, black raspberry, cherry, crushed rock, spring flowers, incense & ground pepper. It should drink well for a decade or more. While the generic St.-Joseph is aged in neutral wood barrels, the Lieu-Dit St.-Joseph is kept in new oak for 24 months."

90-92 Points Wine Advocate

Dessert
Callebaut Chocolate Cake
Black Walnut Vin de Noix Mousse
Dark Ganache and Spiked Cherries

Quinta do Noval “BLACK” - Douro, Portugal

 “There are ripe blackberries, tar, smoke & orange liqueur on the nose that takes time to open. The palate is medium-bodied, very sleek on the entry, fleshy black fruits, sloe, spice & just a hint of white pepper, leading to a very focused finish. Drink now-2020." 

90 Points Neal Martin, Wine Advocate

 Now, none of this is on our diets, but the seven course dinner was sublime and the wine superb!

This morning we have been treated to a glorious sunrise, playful bottleneose dolphins and several relatively close sightings of Roseate Spoonbill; three flew overhead in their Easter-egg pink finery and a small flock mingled with an integrated congregation of fowl on one of the hundreds of small island rookeries that we pass.  

The passage through Haulover canal, a .4 mile canal that links the Indian River to Mosquito Lagoon,  did not yield the anticipated photo-op; apparently the waterfowl that typically line the shores, standing shoulder to shoulder with fisherman, were busy with nesting duty and not interested in ogling the snow-bird-boat parade, however there were several manatee to delight the senses.  

The sailors are happy today with the 20 kts of wind from a direction that is favorable for sailing with a 330 degree course that most of today entailed. 

This evening will find us in Daytona Beach where we will by joined by Daniele and visit my sister and her husband for the weekend.  Happy Easter everyone!