Rocking a bit on a mooring in a new marina, Causeway Cove Marina. We stopped here to hang with Fordyce and maybe visit Greg and Diane, and maybe get an interview for a SVRP (small vessel return Program). But Greg and Diane are in the city marina quite a distance by dinghy, especially in bouncy water with lots of wind and the SVRP takes more time to apply than we have before we leave (we hope) for the Bahamas. So, we're here following a short, short day of travel.
I accomplished insulating some of our walls, against the heat absorbed by our black hull. We are in FL where it is (finally) hot...and a bit sticky. David installed a tiny electric fan that might push around the air in our aft sleeping quarters. Much as I like hugging my honey, I've discovered that on sticky nights it is better to sleep at opposite ends of the berth. We can kiss each others toes. Less crowded, thus less warm. I'm confident the insulation, that silver enclosed bubble wrap we used to keep the heat in earlier on our journey, and the fan will help...if not cure the too-much-heat situation. To be clear, I'm NOT complaining.
We spent a pretty relaxed morning chatting with Kasey, who will stay in Vero another night in order to telecommute with good wifi, and getting garbage to the dock and taking on water. I took the dinghy in by myself to do the shore errands...a first this trip. Released ourselves from Fordyce's Nauticat and floated the 2+ hours to Ft. Pierce (me at the helm), debating about stopping or continuing. Stopping won.
Backing up, though...at Serenity Island we also took some time leaving. We went ashore, which we'd not done on previous stops, to see a grounded boat that is the same kind as Kasey's, a Gulfstar 35. David found very little to salvage. Boat had really been stripped. Graffiti added.
While David investigated the boat I investigated the island and wildlife. There were 4 great herons (maybe blue herons, didn't see clearly) constructing platforms of sticks that I assume will become nests. Maybe they are nests but they look rather sparse.
There were two osprey, one sailed over my head and picked a reed out of the water, flexible enough to use as nest-building material. One of the osprey caught a fish, sat on a limb and called to the other. Not sure if fish catcher was calling to invite or to warn away.
Vero Beach:
We'd expected to see Abigail Grace at Vero Beach City Marina and had asked the dock master if we could raft with her. All was probably possible...except Diane and Greg decided to not stop there. So we turned in and, 'lo and behold, there was Sea Dyce on one of the first moorings in the field. Fordyce saw us coming and started putting out fenders even before we'd reached the marina on radio. As David was angling toward our friend I reached the dock master and said we'd seen our friend and could we raft with him. "Yes, that's probably where I'd have put you anyway." Very cool!
All secured we shared beers on deck and Fordyce came over to see our boat...bridged the 6" gap between our two hulls, only separated by those fenders. Early evening for all of us.
Tuesday was beach day and off the boat by 9:30. David and I decided to walk the 5, which turned to about 8, blocks to the famous Vero Beach. The walk through the Date Palm Road neighborhood was beautiful. Big, big trees draped in Spanish moss, those multicolored leafed plants that I can't remember the names of (Crotons?), big hanging pots of elk-horn ferns, sweet homes that weren't too large and very well-manicured yards.
We sat on benches on the boardwalk to dry off before tackling town and the free bus to somewhere else.
I just noticed my elbow shadow on David's shirt.
We both got a bit too much sun. And then we started walking again, mostly looking at stores that were way more expensive than we would ever afford and not too interesting to us anyway.
Lots of mortgage companies, real estate dealers, financial investors followed closely by fine men's and fine women's clothing..... oh, and fine baby's, too.
And we walked. Tried to figure out the bus schedule but couldn't.
And then we were near the Vero Beach Art Museum which had been recommended to us.... so we went.
A fantastic traveling exhibit of guitars, From Medieval to Metal, was so informative. I'd no idea that there was such a design element, as well as the acoustic and electronic aspects, to guitars. A wonderful exhibit of about 40 guitars from early lutes through extruded plastic and air guitars.
We needed to get back to our boat before 1:30 and discovered that the museum was two, count them, two blocks from our marina. So... we walked. I started the laundry while David met Kasey to get her rafted with Fordyce. Then Kasey came ashore and David finished the laundry while she and I got her registered. Then we all walked along a dock to find the other Nauticat that belonged to Nancy Lindgren's friends. Nancy is the woman whose apt we rented in Matthews, VA when Grace's engine mounts were being installed.
Small world! Nancy and her beau were arriving Thursday or Friday. And my friend from South Portland, Nancy Etiner, was arriving Friday. We've missed them all. Bummer. But we are closer to the Bahamas!
We did a major grocery shopping via bus, there and back with some walking. More expensive than I'd ever spent in one shopping trip. Shared dinner with Fordyce and Kasey on the big Nauticat, Fordyce cooked. I brought homemade (from a package) brownies.
Tonight in Ft Pierce we were invited to Happy Hour at the dock. Turns out it is the 2nd Happy Hour of this place. Some cruisers who've been here a month or so organized it. Lovely people, another couple are traveling to the Bahamas, also newbies. Perhaps we'll all go in a flotilla.
The journey continues...as do our many blessings.
Grateful
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