Camaraderie

Fort Pierce  

Last evening we made arrangements to spend our final day in Fort Pierce with fellow Selene owners Susie and Todd (SaltyMare) and Kelly and Richard (Untethered). I was able to get my stretching done this morning before we headed back across the ICW. We all met at 10:30 on the dinghy dock. With no agenda other than walking, we made trips up, down, around, and through the streets of the historic downtown area. It didn't take long for the boys and girls to separate into their own groups. A wide variety of subjects caught our attention. The cow above The Fort Steakhouse was just as interesting as the numerous steps leading to The Boston House.  

As noon quickly approached, we turned north with a mission of finding a spot for lunch. Our walk along 2nd Street passed residences with flowers blooming along the sidewalk. We enjoyed our meals at Captain's Galley and stayed well past 1:00 even though the restaurant closed at 12:30. Walking back south we spotted a few interesting wildlife specimens from the Moore's Creek bridge. Back in the historic district, the marquee in front of City Hall confirmed what we knew was a warm afternoon.

I had done some online research of places to visit on a walking tour and found a listing of street art. "Night Train" is on a building that dates back to the 1890s. Originally, a functioning light shone from the nose of the train at night. It had to be removed because it was too real and scared folks into thinking an actual train was on the move. Along another street was a colorful and funky take on the familiar bird on a branch theme. Our final destination was the Arcade Building. Intricate murals wrap the outside of the structure built as the shopping hub for the region in 1926. Two dimensional art utilizes perspective to create a three dimensional effect.

The murals capture the spirit of the Arcade Building's heyday and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We all studied the scene and pointed out our favorite aspects. The building was closed on Sunday, but we were able to peer through the gate to get a glimpse of the interior murals that further told the story of Fort Pierce.

Our final mural was more of an oversized postcard. We all returned to the marina and began the hour-long process of saying our farewells. Susie and Todd returned to SaltyMare before I realized I neglected to take a photo of all six of us. On the dinghy dock, we did capture four of us together before casting off. We followed Untethered out of the marina and turned south to the anchorage as they turned north toward the inlet. The wind was much stronger today and it was a choppy and wet ride back to Crossroads. In preparation for tomorrow morning's departure, we put the dinghy back on the upper deck. While having our salads for dinner, Barry asked, "What day is it?". I told him Sunday to which he replied and informed me we cannot leave until Tuesday morning. Whoops. So tomorrow, we'll still be here in Fort Pierce, but confined to the anchorage. Maybe I'll finally get the cleaning done that I've been postponing in favor of walks through town with friends. Enjoying the camaraderie among cruisers will win out over dusting every single time.