Sunset photos

This sunset is looking from our slip

Stuart

Monday - Still enjoying the win by US in the hockey game. This marina is loaded with Canadians and they watch the Olympics with enthusiasm. Curling is very popular and therefore the captains lounge is always showing it.
Tuesday & Wednesday - More of the same, very good weather, buses, shopping and etc.
Thursday - Another Met & Greet in the Captains Lounge. Ladies Hockey was the Olympic event. Unfortunately the US lost to Canada. One of the cruisers had to leave for Maryland. He needed to get back home to START vegetable plants. He was a postman. So we did not ask more.
Friday - Cold morning but it's good to be at the dock. I heard from a friend that we need to provide more photos, so here are some of the marina.

Stuart

Saturday - No buses on the weekend. Walked to Lola's Restaurant for some GREAT lunch. Warm enough to eat outside without our jackets, then to Publix for MORE provisions. Saturday night at the Marina is a supper get together. Barbara has befriended a gentlemen from Australia. He is an inspiration. No hands and no legs below the knees. He handles a 50foot trawler usually with one other person. He is on a journey to Mexico, then to the West Coast to see Alaska. When he stands up next to Barbara, she is 6 inches TALLER. Need to get a picture.
Sunday - Beautiful day. Street fair in Stuart. Had to go since it included a farmers market. More vegetables, some different foods and Air Plant info. These Air Plants grow without soil. They are nice. We have several all over the boat. They need a mist once a week and they are not to be in direct sunlight.
Here are some photos of Stuart.

Stuart

Wednesday - As a result of the Tuesday night get together, Barbara had a lunch date with seven other ladies of the dock. I went back to Publix to buy a special 2 for 1 vine sale. We are walking more.
Thursday - Took the bus southbound to check out the beach and the bus line. Walked on the Hutchinson Island beach at the Marriot. Will be a nice beach day once the weather warms up.
Friday - Checked out the bus line northbound. Shopped at Sam's Club and Walmart. When we can back to the marina, we inquired about a better location for the boat. They placed us in a much better slip. More protected from the passing boat traffic and further from the bridge. We are happy !!!

Sunset Bay Marina

Monday - Left early for Stuart. Cold night and a brisk morning. About a mile down the ICW, we lost steering on the bridge. Check, check, could not find a problem. Had steering below. The air pressure in the hydraulic steering system seemed low probably due to the cold. I pumped it up a little and check the bridge. Steering was back. While I was checking all this, the boat was on autopilot. Strange, autopilot worked, lower station worked, need to check level of fluid at Stuart.
No more problem. But it sure wakes you up when the boat doesn't do what your anticipating !!
Tuesday - Cold night, but we had power for the heater. Nice inside the boat. Got settled. Walked to Lola's for Fish Tacos, then to Publix. If your ever in Stuart you MUST go to LOLA'S. Tuesday's get together with other cruisers. Drink and snack. Met more nice people. Marina has nice large captain's lounge with wide screen LCD TV.

Vero Beach

Sunday - Our last day at Vero. Pay the bill, pumpout, ready the boat for an early start. Check, check, & check. Placed the dinghy on the deck and clean the bottom and the same with the motor.

Vero Beach

Friday - It wasn't going to be a nice day so we found the movie theater and saw John Travolta in From Paris with love. A good action movie for Travolta.

Saturday - Took another walk to the Beach. Found a good place to eat, The Pearl. Had an ICE CREAM. We had met a couple in Brunswick, before going home for the Holidays. They had a 8 week old standard Poodle, Bella. Ellen and Don came over for dinner and showed us a cd of their trip to Alaska. One month to get there, one month there and them one month to get home. They have a trawler on the West Coast and a sailboat on the East Coast. Well the CD was outstanding. He edited it with music in the background while he spoke of the journey. OUTSTANDING!!! How do I get this boat to the West Coast ???

Vero Beach

Thursday - Recieved our replacement kayak. Not warm enought to deal with inflating it. The problem we had with the original kayak was when we took it for the madin voyage. We were several hundred yards away from the boat when I noticed one side was soft. We moved along quickly to get back dry. We made it. After examining the hull, and talking with the manufacturer, it was not repairable. They suggested that we destroy the hull to avoid others having a problem.
The photos are of a get together at Vero Beach.

Vero Beach

Wednesday - Nice day. Did some laundry, shower and went shopping. Had to get ready to visit friends, Don & Ellen aboard S/V Sirius Endeavour. We met them at Brunswick Landing. They had a 8 week old standard poodle puppy, Bella. Don would bring Bella over for a visit (socializing her). We then met them in Vero. Bella was "fixed" recently and created a problem by licking her stiches. She is a very active puppy.
We are waiting for a replacement kayak, but the bad weather north may delay its delivery.
This photo shows the people I BEAT at DOMINOS. Strange that they did not talk to me.

Vero Beach

Sunday - Windy and warm. Went to Riverside Cafe to watch the big game with some new friends. Great game ! Took some pictures of the harbor and bridge.
Monday - Cold ! Had to crawl out of bed to heat up the boat so Barbara could get up to feed me. Warmed up quickly ! Another ride on the FREE bus to Sam's so our friends could shop. Good day.
Tuesday - Very nice day forcasted. We went to the beach for a walk and found another very nice place to eat lunch. We have attached some photos. Got back to the marina and found that the water main was busted. No wash today !

Vero Beach

Wednesday - Nice day, so we packed a lunch and headed to the beach. Still windy. After lunch we had a little ICE CREAM and caught the bus for the marina. Unfortunately, the bus wasn't going to the marina. They needed to make up time so they went back to the transfer. We changed our plans and went to Lowes to get a tool. Pot luck day at the marina. Met many nice people.
Thursday - Another nice day. Walked on the beach. Dressed too warm, mlooked for the shade. Laundry day.
Friday - Farmer's Market in town. Barbara MUST check out all of them. She found a vendor with "air flowers". She is hooked.

Saturday - Farmer's Market at Vero Beach. Found more "air flower" vendors. Flower/plant flea market at Vero Beach had very nice material. Barbara talked with State Extension people to learn more about growing these flowers.
Happy hour at the marina, we met more new people.

Vero Beach

Monday & Tuesday - Back to riding the FREE bus and settling into a routine. We had a pot luck dinner Tuesday, and while speaking with new friends, we were discussion problems along the ICW.
Going back to Friday, Jan. 29 - The Bridge Of Lions has been closed for continued work. We were told if you could get under 22 ft clearance, we could go under the fixed portion of the bridge. Bridge of Lions was easy to get under. West side of bridge opening almost parrallel to City Marina. I contacted City Marina for info before choosing the best route.
More problems at Matanzas. Three sailboats were aground when we got there. There were a number of drop bouys, we stayed outside the bouys toward the west shore. We were listening for sometime and one grounded sail boat was in 4 foot of water. I tried to pass but hit ground and needed to back off. The tide was rising and all were ok so we continued on.

Vero Beach

Sunday - Arrived at Vero early afternoon. Not many boats moored. We think it might have to do with a 25% increase the City Council imposed in a down economy. While some marinas are dropping prices, they have increased theirs. O'well, we will move on a little quicker.
They did promise a pump out boat, but we can't find it.

Cocoa Beach

Saturday - Anchored south and west of the bridge. Strong winds were not predicted, but not too bad. Up early the next day to get to Vero Beach.