Time to Move on to Stuart

It is hard to believe that we have been at Loggerhead Marina, Vero Beach for 2 weeks now. It is time to move on to Loggerhead in Stuart.

We have had a wonderful time and met some new people.

We have spent a number of afternoons in and around the pool. And I learned that doing the laundry can be an enjoyable experience when the laundry is beside the pool. Put the clothes in the washer, have a swim, put the clothes in the dryer; have a swim, fold the clothes; have a drink.

Dinghy ride to lunch

One day we took a dinghy ride to a restaurant for lunch. 5 miles in our soft bottomed dinghy is an experience. A slow experience; but an experience. The dinghy required more fuel than Peter expected, so we had to pull over to a dock along the ICW and John and Nancy Coble gave us some fuel. They again gave us some more fuel for return trip. I rode back with Mark and Chris in their truck as it looked like rain. Peter was able to make it back on one tank of fuel. The return trip was much faster; and everyone returned soaking wet. I know I made the right choice.

John and Nancy, Chris and Mark, Greg and Leslie, Cheryl and Peter

The bad news; Peter now knows that he needs a hard bottomed dinghy to go the Bahamas. John and Nancy Coble have a Seabright dinghy and they are very happy with it. Peter has been in touch with them and they will ship it directly to Loggerhead Marina Hollywood Beach. Looks like a new dinghy is in the cards. Anyone out there want a soft bottomed dinghy? Not sure what to do with it.

Of course we have had a number of docktails parties, and another pot luck dinner in the captain's lounge. We still have not learned how much food to prepare for these pot lucks. When everyone has eaten their fill ...... there is still enough food for a second pot luck.

Greg and Leslie sporting our Mardi Gras hats.

We also had to have cocktails and snacks on Greg and Leslie's boat, Amalia, the night before they left to begin to make their way north. They have a wonderful trip to Alaska in June and need to get home and get organized.

John & Nancy aboard Amalia

Mark and Chris took us down to Fort Pierce to have a look at Harbourtown Marina. It looks like a very clean, and secure marina. We think this is where we will decide to leave Surona when we return home for the summer.

Chris and Mark saying Good bye

We had breakfast at the Fort Pierce Craft and Vegetable Market. Oh and then we had to stop at a fabulous chocolate factory/store. I was not only tempted, but I succumbed to the chocolate fairy.

Don't be so serious Bill

On our last day we did some grocery shopping at the Publix. A short 1 mile ride by bicycle. We tried to limit the shopping. Well that did not quite work out. We were trying to arrange the shopping between the two bicycles and not doing a very good job. We were fortunate to see Bill Edelstein, two boats down from us, had his truck in the parking lot and he would take our groceries back for us.

John and Nancy Coble saying Good bye.

On our last night, John and Nancy Coble invited to join them on their boat for cocktails and dinner. Their boat is a Mainship trawler. We joined them on their flybridge. We had a great view of the marina. A wonderful evening. I have always said that in a sailboat, you are basement dwellers. You see very little once you are down in the cabin. So you can say that for one evening we went from basement dwellers to top of the world flybridge guests.

We were up early to prepare to get away in good time. We had help from Mark and Bill to get us off the dock. We then proceeded to the fuel dock for a pump out and fuel. Everyone showed up to help with the lines and say good bye. John and Nancy, Mark and Chris, and Bill.

Thanks to all for making our stay in Vero Beach most memorable. We hope to see you next year.

The 43 mile trip from Vero Beach to Stuart was uneventful, in about 7 hours time, averaging 6 knots. We caught the current for the first half of the trip down to Fort Pierce travelling about 7.5 knots, and then after the inlet our speed reduced to 5.5 knots.  The day was a perfect travel day, bright sunshine, little to no wind, the ICW was like a mirror. We got into Stuart about 3:30.

It was warm enough to turn the airconditioner on. It is doing a great job to keep us comfortable.

Now how did this picture get in here??????