Almost Paradise

Key Biscayne  

What a beautiful morning it was -- sunny, warm, light breeze. Shortly after breakfast, we lowered the dinghy into the water and made the trip into No Name Harbor. The designated dinghy area was already quite full, but I leaned out over the bow in figurehead position to clear our path to the steps. One last bag of trash was disposed of and we hit the familiar path along the water toward the Cape Florida Lighthouse. Several interesting shorebirds caught our eye as did a few of the ever present iguanas. By 10:30 in the morning, it was quite warm and the iguanas had already retreated to the shade. Not us, we were loving the sunshine. At the southern end of the island, the palm trees dominated the landscape and reached high into the clear and deep blue sky. Soon the lighthouse came into view and we were getting excited about the view we were going to get after climbing the 109 spiral steps to the top.

Dang it, the lighthouse was closed on Tuesday. Oh, well. We kept on walking through the Bill Baggs State Park, coming to the picnic area. One of the locals emerged from the shadows to greet us. The presence of the raccoons no longer surprises us, but we do give them respect and distance. We danced around each other akin to the gang fight scene from West Side Story and made our way down the path to the beach. A glance to the right revealed the base of the lighthouse. We were pleased to still see a sliver of land between sea and beacon. At this point, our paths diverged as we walked along the beach. Barry chose the high road, keeping his shoes on. 

I, of course, had already kicked off my shoes and was enjoying the walk in the surf. The gentle waves lapped over clean sand dotted with the occasional shell fragment. I was in heaven, but Barry was growing impatient. We took the next access path off the beach and passed a camouflaged creature sunning on the handrail. I put my shoes back on and we picked up Crandon Boulevard and followed it out of the park. Colorful flowers easily and frequently diverted my attention.

We dropped off some mail at the post office then tried to pick up a few spares at the hardware store. No luck there. No worries, though. The scenery was spectacular and it was a beautiful afternoon -- sunny and warm with a light light breeze. We returned to Crossroads for a few hours of reading and planning. Looks like we'll have a weather window to cross to Bimini tomorrow. With the decision made to depart early in the morning, we raised the dinghy and enjoyed the final moments of day from the flybridge. Key Biscayne is a very nice stop, but we realize it is "Almost Paradise." We're knocking on heaven's door and, if all goes as planned, we'll be enjoying the Bahama blues tomorrow afternoon.

Reaching The Florida Finish Line

Palm Beach to Key Biscayne  |  11.5 Hours  |  74 Miles  

Our anchor monitor showed that we had been firmly planted in the Palm Beach anchorage. A nice sweeping C-curve is always a good sign. We had set the hook in 30 knots of wind. This morning as we raised the anchor at first light, there were only minimal ripples on the water. We had to travel north to reach the busy and heavily trafficked Lake Worth Inlet. We turned east just past the dredge and set our sights on the open water of the Atlantic Ocean. Today was a light traffic day as we only had to navigate around one incoming container ship.  

The Tropic Carib was small in comparison to most similar ships we've encountered. We turned south, stayed out of it's path, and set a course for Key Biscayne. Barry set the throttle at the RPMs he wanted to run for the day then we sat back and enjoyed the ride. We passed very few vessels, but plenty of large motor yachts and fishing vessels passed by us. One order of business had to be taken care of before we reached our destination. We ventured out beyond the three mile line and emptied our holding tank. This little diversion put us out into the Gulf Stream which was running strong pretty close to shore. 

We futzed around longer than necessary in the strong counter current before returning to full speed in the near-shore water. We were in no real hurry and were busy checking out the scenery. The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse signaled our arrival into the Fort Lauderdale area. I was able to spend an hour or two on Fiberglass Beach catching some rays and watching the oceanfront skyscrapers come and go. We reached Miami as three cruise ships were departing with their latest load of passengers. The Cape Florida Lighthouse marked our turn into our anchorage in Key Biscayne as the sun was approaching the horizon. It was definitely the golden hour. We identified a spot in the back of the pack and dropped the hook. The sun was disappearing quickly and I watched closely in hopes of seeing a green flash. That did not happen today. What did happen today is we reached mile marker 1095 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, 1155 miles from our home marina in Deltaville, and our final stop in Florida. Tomorrow we'll take the dinghy into town for a few last minute errands in preparation for crossing over to Bimini. 

Walking On Sunshine

Palm Beach    

The beautiful morning beckoned us to get outside, lower the dinghy, and make our way to shore. We left Crossroads bobbing in the anchorage, at the mercy of wakes from passing vessels, and joined the parade of boats toward the Flagler Bascule Bridge. Today, we did not have to stage and wait for an opening. Our dinghy had no problem with the 22-feet of vertical clearance. We were soon at the dinghy dock and planning our route. 

After a quick trip around the amphitheater we made the big decision to walk to the beach. We crossed the Port Royal Bascule Bridge and headed east on Royal Palm Way. An ornate gate and a hedge of pretty white flowers caught our eye. 

We were drawn into the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden of the Four Arts Campus. Apollo and Daphne welcomed us and pointed us in the right direction. Grainger McKoy's Recovery is a high-detail depiction of a pintail duck's feathers. King Parrot is a painted cast bronze scarlet macaw perched on a heart. Allies is touted as the most popular sculpture in the Garden. Life-size depictions of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill are seated on a bench in relaxed conversation. An adjacent placard termed it an "approachable sculpture" and invited visitors to "sit and pose for pictures." I did not have to be told twice. 

Large mounds of bougainvillea added splashes of color around the dark metal artwork. The Bond, a life-size sculpture of a dolphin and calf, was crafted by David Turner who was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We thoroughly enjoyed this unexpected diversion, but had much more to see. It was a beautiful day and we were walking on sunshine. A few more blocks east on Royal Palm Way brought us to the beach. It is amazing how the low rumbling sound of breaking waves chases all my cares away. We followed Ocean Boulevard north until we had to divert around The Breakers resort. This luxurious property was founded in 1896 by Henry Flagler as a place of "unapologetic luxury, seaside glamour, and world-class service." The complex is home to Florida's oldest golf course, which was beautifully manicured and bustling with golfers.  

A left onto A1A began our return to the western shore. A new-to-me plant caught my eye. An app on my phone identified it as Pink Wild Pear. We crossed the Intracoastal Waterway via the Flagler Bascule Bridge. Off to our left was a massive collection of shiny, polished fiberglass docked at the Palm Harbor Marina. The roads and sidewalks were spotless -- no leaves or trash could be found. It all seemed too good to be true. A short distance later I spotted a spent shell casing in the crosswalk. The park benches and sidewalks along the promenade were occupied by the homeless. We were brought back to reality.

After our six-mile walking loop, we were ready for lunch. We chose a restaurant from a dozen options along Clematis Street, had a table on the sidewalk, and watched a wide variety of folks stroll by. The home stretch of our walk took us by many colorful and intricate pieces of street art. By 3:00 were back in the dinghy and enjoying the return trip to Crossroads. With a few hours of sunshine still remaining, I found my spot on Fiberglass Beach. After visiting with Franklin earlier in morning, I sat with Eleanor in the afternoon. I finished Book 3 of my trip, an interesting and easy read essay full of insightful tidbits that are still relevant more than 60 years after publication.

As the sun set in a dreamy orange and the wakes from passing boats calmed down, we raised the dinghy back onto the upper deck. We will depart at first light tomorrow morning, exit the ICW via the Lake Worth Inlet, and make a day trip in the Atlantic to our final State-side destination of Key Biscayne. 

Looking and Watching

Palm Beach    

Today was a down day as we wait for the weather to improve. A heavy cloud cover settled over the anchorage and stayed for much of the day. A few morning showers moved through the area. Barry and I passed the hours in our favorite ways. Barry watched TV and I completed my yoga and stretching. We also spent a lot of time looking out the windows. A small sailboat cruised through the anchorage. Large wakes would rock us and we would spring up to get a look at the offending vessel. A cormorant spent a great deal of time deciding how it was going to consume the very large fish it had captured. By noon it was time for the Virginia-Boston College basketball game. I could not receive the video feed, but watched the game old-school style in my mind while listening to the radio broadcast. I celebrated the convincing win with a lengthy phone call to Aunt B. It was great to catch up on all the family happenings. A visit to the pilothouse led to a few moments watching a pod of dolphin feeding in front of us. Dolphins in the water are like squirrels on land. If you pay attention you can spot one with almost every glance. Their numbers lead you to not pay much attention to them. Then the animals do something to catch your eye and you are fascinated by their grace and intelligence. Today, there were numerous occasions when the dolphins' flukes were out of the water. We don't see that often, so we sat and watched.

I had gone back downstairs and was finishing my workout, when I heard a dinghy approach. I got to a good stopping point and came upstairs to see Jeff and Terri from Change of Pace chatting with Barry. They had been to the Farmers' Market and were telling Barry where the dinghy dock was. We have stayed in this anchorage before, but have never known the "secrets" of where to go ashore. A big thanks to our cruising friends for sharing the knowledge. If the weather holds tomorrow, we will drop the dinghy and go to shore, walk around, and see what we can see. As I prepared dinner, through our round window I spotted a small area of sky turning a deep orange as the sun set. We went outside and watched as the city began to glow in the twilight.

Retracing Our Steps

Boynton Beach to Palm Beach  |  3 Hours  |  13 Miles  

Our 13-mile side trip to Boynton Beach was everything we could have hoped for. We were able to spend two days visiting Barry's uncle and enjoyed good weather, good food, and the opportunity to hit the grocery store. This morning it was time to get moving again. The strong southerly wind that kept us off the dock when we arrived had shifted to a strong northerly breeze that was pinning us against the bulkhead. Barry and I went over the procedure for backing away. He pinned our port bow to the wall, forcing our stern to move away. We then slipped backward just as planned. Although we were docked in the shadow of the Ocean Avenue Bridge, we had no desire to continue south down the Intracoastal Waterway. We set a heading of 0 degrees - due north - and began retracing our track back to the Lake Worth Inlet.

The morning was overcast, but that only made the orange on the Lantana Bridge seem more colorful. We've seen many bridges open during our travels, but its still odd to see the street lamps rotating with the bridge spans. Common, but difficult to see nonetheless, are Florida's version of crabpots which look more like bombs than those we normally encounter on the Chesapeake. The bridge at Southern Boulevard only opened the western span. There were three boats heading south with the right of way, and we were fourth in line moving north. By the time everyone cleared the bridge and got a glimpse of Mar-a-Lago, our timing was thrown off for the Royal Park Bridge 

We slowed down to near idle speed, needing to eat up some time. Off to port one house in particular caught my attention. The red heart, blue chairs, blooming birds of paradise, and turtle sculpture on the dock were all pleasant diversions. As we inched toward the bridge, the mega yachts at the Town of Palm Beach Marina grabbed our attention. This marina welcomes vessels from 60 to 294 feet along four docks. Crossroads comes up a little short. 

A long line of large passenger jets flew low and slow overhead as they descended into Palm Beach International Airport. Onboard the mega yachts, crews hung over rails and out ports busily cleaning the hulls. The wind was picking up and holding station was becoming more challenging. Pedestrians on the bridge delayed the opening for two more agonizing minutes. Finally, the spans lifted and separated allowing the boat traffic to move along.

We timed the Flagler Memorial Bridge perfectly and exited into a large anchorage. The wind was howling, gusting in the 30s, and when combined with the strong current, created a significant chop on the water. I went to the bow and strung up the bridle in preparation for dropping the anchor. We got it set quickly and Crossroads settled in nicely. Behind us was the striking Palm Beach Biltmore Condos. In the near foreground were our friends on Change of Pace. In the distant foreground is the Lake Worth Inlet where the mega yachts only appeared to run over all the anchored sailboats. We'll hold up here until we get a weather window to head offshore. I'm thankful for good cell service and an excellent selection of basketball and football games to occupy my time until we can move again and start laying new tracks southward.

Final Preparations And Goodbyes

Boynton Beach 

One of the smallest areas on Crossroads was the busiest area this morning. In our downstairs hallway, we began the first of three loads of laundry, I set up to do my yoga and stretching, and Barry prepared to change the oil in the generator. We had everything cleaned up by 1:00 as the tide reached the perfect level to have Barry's Uncle Ben come aboard. He lives 15 minutes from the Boynton Harbor Marina and drove over excited to get the tour. Barry met him in the parking lot as I went on a quick cleaning mission from bow to stern.

We were all quite happy when Ben stepped right off the dock, to the gateway sill, and then one step down to the side deck. Barry gave a condensed version of his "quick" tour and then we were off to run a few errands. Ben drove us to see his home as well as the home of his daughter/Barry's cousin. He then graciously took us to the post office and Publix where I loaded up on the usual perishable items.  Boynton Beach could be our very last time ashore in Florida before crossing The Bahamas. If we luck out and get a weather window, we will turn left and fast track it across the Gulf Stream. The other possibility leaves us waiting for good weather in Key Biscayne. In that case, we'll go ashore to stretch our legs and have the opportunity for a final restock redux. Back on Crossroads, I managed to get all the purchases in the refrigerator. We all celebrated by visiting the nearby Banana Boat restaurant for an early dinner. After saying our final goodbyes, Barry and I walked back to the marina. A cold front moved through last night and today was much chillier than yesterday. 

I reluctantly put on a sweatshirt before we took a walk around the marina and then to an adjacent park. A large hibiscus hedge was covered with blooms the size of my hand. From the public fishing pier we looked back at Crossroads occupying the entirety of the transient dock. In the near background is the Ocean Avenue Bascule Bridge. We caught tonight's twilight opening for the passage of a northbound tug. When we depart tomorrow morning we will not request an opening. Instead, we will make a U-turn and head back to Lake Worth and await an offshore window to Key Biscayne. We've taken the ICW through Fort Lauderdale before and prefer not to deal with all those bridges and traffic again this year. 

Cleaning Our House For A Family Visit

Riviera Beach to Boynton Beach  |  3.1 Hours  |  16 Miles  

Following last night's blog post, I went out to Fiberglass Beach to enjoy the warm evening. The lights from the boatyards and marinas glowed behind the Blue Heron Bridge. This morning, I again went to the bow after sunrise. The wind had intensified overnight, but the sky was clear. I had a good look at Phil Foster Memorial Park at the base of the bridge. Although not seen from the anchorage, there is a renowned dive and snorkel site on the south side of the park and bridge. The Snorkel Trail looks like an incredible place to visit. We'll put it on our Bucket List for another year. Our travel day was going to be short, so we waited until 10:30 to pull up the anchor. By that time it was a beautiful morning. The temperature had warmed nicely and the sun and wind were both strong. 

The Palm Beach area has every type of boat imaginable within eyeshot. Unfortunately, there area quite a few derelict and/or long-term non-moving liveaboards in the anchorages. Large sportfishers with skyscraping tuna towers zip by in all directions. The mega yachts, however, are what draw the most attention. I chuckled as we passed the 358-foot Bravo Eugenia*. Since Jerry Jones' plans for February have been squashed yet again, it seems his crew is preparing for his annual late January island escape. (Yes, his boat is longer than the field on which his Cowboys play.) 

Our eyes were once again on the lookout for our friends' boat. Change of Pace, a 43-foot Selene sister ship, was at anchor just off the Palm Beach Country Club. Terri and Jeff were not onboard, but Terri and I texted and shared smiles knowing we were really close. We hope to catch up with them in the Bahamas. We had five bridges that needed to open for us today. For most of the day we were in a parade of at least four vessels. When traveling in a pack, some of the pressure is off to time the opening perfectly. The fastest boat leads the parade and slower boats (like us) bring up the rear. While staging for the bridge openings we got an opportunity to look around and take in all the development.    

We arrived at the Boynton Beach Marina slightly ahead of schedule at 1:30. A two-knot current and 20-knot wind forced us to abort the first docking attempt. On the second attempt, Barry eased us gently into the wall. We promptly prepared to give Crossroads a full soap bath, her first since October. Its been too cold to bring the hoses out, but today it was in the low 80s and we didn't mind getting wet. Barry scrubbed the decks and I washed all the vertical surfaces. It was a pleasant surprise to see Flip Flop pass behind us on their way to Delray Beach. Boat washing took over two hours, but we got all the nooks and crannies, lids and sills. It was then time to get our showers in preparation for a visitor.

The reason for our stop in Boynton Beach is so we can visit with Barry's Uncle Ben, who lives in nearby Delray Beach. He arrived to the marina at 5:00 and we showed him the exterior of the boat. The tide was quickly falling, and the low water level did not allow Ben to come onboard. We'll try again at tomorrow's high tide. Ben took us on scenic drive along oceanfront A1A and we ended up at his favorite local Chinese restaurant for dinner. When we returned to the marina around 7:30, the water was still receding. We joked that it would be easier to climb onto the upper deck than use the caprail (which was below the dock) to step down onto the side decks. 

*A few additional notes on Bravo Eugenia: Built in 2019 by Dutch shipyard Oceanco  |  $225 million purchase price  |  41st largest yacht in the world  |  Crew of 30  |  Travels at 18 knots  |  estimated $15-$20 million annual running cost  (source: Yacht Bible)

A Good Day To Be On Our Trawler

Fort Pierce to Riviera Beach  |  7.6 Hours  |  45 Miles  

Our anchor presented an unexpected level of resistance this morning. Four days of bobbing and swinging at the mercy of wind and current had left our bridle wrapped around the anchor chain. In the six years we've had Crossroads, I had never seen anything like this. I attacked the problem from the other end and released the ears from the Sampson post to quickly free us. A deep sigh of relief followed and we were underway with the rising sun. My favorite sunrises are ones where the reds and oranges are layered against the blue and whites. We have traveled this stretch of the ICW several times and much of the scenery was familiar. New-to-us sights had us checking Google maps for identification. The Mansion at Tuckahoe in Jensen Beach was once the home of Coca-Cola heiress Anne Bates Leach. It is operated by the Martin County Parks and Recreation Department as a popular event/wedding venue.

We crossed the St. Lucie Inlet and entered the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. During this stretch we saw an abundance of red mangrove knees and bright green foliage. A Grand Banks trawler led us with the current to the Hobe Sound Bridge. The bascule bridge opened and we both accelerated through the opening made narrower by a work barge tied to its starboard fender. Out of nowhere a large northbound Fl*&$ing decided he could not wait any longer and joined us in the narrow space. Nerves were high, but all three boats made it safely. On the opposite side of the park boundary, huge estates began to sprout along the waterway. New construction, established residences, and high-end water toys encouraged much head turning and shaking.  

We were on the lookout, however, for our good friends on Flip Flop who were anchored just off the main channel. We saw Melissa and Jeff on their bow and nothing but happy thoughts existed. We did a slow pass and were able to chat a bit before current and shallows forced us to continue southward. We met Melissa and Jeff in No Name Harbor (Key Biscayne) as we were preparing to make our first cross to The Bahamas in 2019. Our paths have crossed a few times since that trip, and we have kept in touch via social media. We're hoping to see each other in The Bahamas later this year. 

Not long after saying farewell to Flip Flop, we were in the S-curve of Jupiter Inlet. Back to back bridge openings led us past the namesake red lighthouse. For all the bridges that have had to open for us, there are an equal amount that we can pass directly under. Our air draft is 26.5 feet, so we went under the 35-foot Donald B. Ross Bridge. This is where is was a good day to be on our trawler. This bridge has been stuck in the down position for a couple of weeks, meaning all of the sailboats and larger sportfishers must divert and detour to the ocean to avoid the low span. Landscaping always catches my eye and I easily pick out the colorful bougainvillea and hibiscus. Today a large mature banyan tree grabbed my attention. Oh, the stories it could tell of the many hurricanes through which it has stood strong. Shiny metallic pool-side sculptures were impressive, but so were the large pilings on this estate's floating dock. Most marinas do not have pilings as large as these.

A short distance later, Crossroads needed the PGA Boulevard Bridge to open. The golf courses that lined the ICW were very busy today. We had the opportunity to watch a foursome tee off at the North Palm Beach Country Club while we waited for the Parker Bridge, our final of the day, to raise its spans. We entered Lake Worth and proceeded to an anchorage we've used in the past. As we were setting the hook, an impressive black yacht cruised by in dark mode and turned our heads. It was nice to look at, but we agreed its always a good day to be on our trawler.

Note: As mentioned earlier, this route was quite familiar to us. If you're interested other accounts of the same stretch, click on this link for the 2022 blog entry and/or the 2020 blog entry. 

Bonus Day in Fort Pierce

Fort Pierce  

Knowing we had a slow day ahead of us, I embraced the opportunity to stay in bed a bit longer than usual and listen to the rain falling on the cabin roof. Nowhere else on Crossroads does the sound resonate so purely. This, however, was not unproductive time. I completed all my morning phone tasks and made a mental list of the projects I'd like to complete on our final day in Fort Pierce. Once the rain stopped, it was time to go outside and give Crossroads a sponge bath. Water droplets softened the heavy salt deposits (and dirt) covering every surface. The chamois and a little elbow grease removed it all in quick fashion. I went up to my favorite spot on top of the pilothouse to polish the stainless steel framing and enjoy the view. The heavy winds and choppy seas of yesterday were gone. Even with the heavy cloud cover, the blue of the water and the warmth of the day confirmed that we're getting closer to our destination. Following lunch, it was time to pack away most of my "winter" accessories. Wool socks, Cold Gear tops, beanie, scarf, wool gloves, and hand warmer packs were all happily moved to long-term storage. I left my jeans and a few sweatshirts in my hanging locker for a few more days, but they too are soon destined for storage.   

I finally did get around to dusting, vacuuming, general cleaning, paperwork, and some reading. A red glow flooded through the windows as I was fixing dinner. A beautiful sunset was occurring behind Crabby's. The colors in the sky lingered for another half hour before gradually fading to black. We have enjoyed our time in Fort Pierce and will definitely make this a go-ashore stop in the future. We'll depart at first light tomorrow and try to cover 55 miles. It will be a long day with five bridges that need to open for us, but it will also be one day closer to crossing to The Bahamas.

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.

Selene Owners Rendezvous

Fort Pierce  

We were able to have the ports open overnight as we slept. That's a sure sign we are getting closer to our kind of weather ... warm. Right after breakfast we lowered the dinghy into the water and started our 20-minute trek across the ICW to the dinghy dock at Fort Pierce Marina. We were pleasantly surprised by how nice the docks were. The welcome murals were a nice bonus. Neither Barry nor I had been to Fort Pierce before and we were excited to explore new territory. Today's main attraction was the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers Market occurring from 8:00-noon. Advertising claims say it is "Ranked #1 in Florida and the top 5 nationally for America's Farmer's Markets." We arrived at 8:30 and benefitted from lighter crowds and a full selection of merchandise. I always enjoy seeing the colors and presentation of the fruits and vegetables. 

The aroma of fresh-baked bread and pastries pulled us in to a very well-stocked booth. We purchased a loaf of Sourdough and an almond croissant. At this early hour, there was still sitting room on the seawall. We found a good spot and pulled out our treat to share. Thankfully Barry had his knife with him and was able to slice the gooey goodness in half. Powered by a fresh sugar high, we walked through all 70 booths twice and even paused to enjoy some great live music. In one area was classic rock and on the opposite end was jazz. 

We then set out on the Aldi 5K -- a walk to and from the grocery store to pick up a few items. The sign announcing high-speed train traffic caught our eye and made us look both ways a few times before crossing. For a short distance, a bird followed beside us as we made our way to Route 1. We passed the West Marine, but to my surprise Barry said he could not think of anything he needed. We zipped through Aldi and were able to pick up most everything on our list. The backpack and insulated bag were full, but not as heavy as they could have been. We took a moment to examine the 25-foot Leap of Faith sculpture beside City Hall. Quick Google research informed us that the piece represents history-rich Fort Pierce looking into a rosy future. We also reached out to Kelly and Richard (Untethered) to find they had arrived at the Farmer's Market.   

Back at the market for its final hour, it was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. It also seemed that everyone (but us) had a dog on a leash. The bread and produce were in limited supply. We were very glad we picked up our loaf when we did. We needed to get our groceries in the refrigerator so we headed to the dinghy for a quick run back to the anchorage. The clouds were moving in, but it was still pleasantly warm enough for another trip to the marina to meet Kelly and Richard for lunch at Crabby's.

Large, docile pelicans reluctantly shared the fairways with us. On our way to the dinghy dock, we spotted a Selene tied up in a slip and went over to take a closer look. We recognized it as the 53-foot SaltyMare, but we did not see anyone onboard. While waiting for our meal, I emailed Susie and found out they actually were onboard. On our way out, we all stopped by to say, "Hello" while having our own mini rendezvous. The Selene owners community is full of wonderful folks. Susie and Todd met us on their finger pier as we pulled close to their boat. We spent a while chatting, sharing stories, and comparing notes before returning to Crossroads for the evening. We hope to see everyone again tomorrow. All three boats will be heading to The Bahamas soon. 

A Night Offshore Yields An Evening With Friends

St. Augustine to Fort Pierce  |  27.5 Hours  |  180 Miles  

On my third sunrise in St. Augustine, I managed to catch a few shots of the lighthouse's beam. It was a challenge as I was shooting handheld on a moving boat, but these pictures are good enough for the blog.  

The Bridge of Lions does not open at 8:00, so we had a little extra time on our hands. For much of our wait, I just sat outside and enjoyed the warm morning. An osprey was perched atop the sailboat next to us. At 8:20 we dropped the lines holding us to the mooring and got in line for the 8:30 bridge opening. A short distance later we were being flushed out of the inlet by an ebb current. At one point, we saw 10.3 on our knot meter. For us, that's flying. We turned south and caught a final glimpse of the full lighthouse as we passed abeam of it.

We settled into our watch schedule. Barry went below to make plans and reservations for our next week of travel. I took the helm and had an easy time as Otto, the autopilot, kept us on the same heading for 14 hours. There was little traffic and the waves were low, but choppy. The water began to take on a most welcome lighter and brighter shade of blue. Just before midnight, we reached our waypoint of Cape Canaveral and proceeded to make a turn back to the southwest and Fort Pierce. Our night passed quickly with only one tug and four cruise ships in the area. I was on watch as the sun peeked over the scarlet red horizon.

As morning progressed, the red faded to orange and then to an overcast gray. By 10:00 beachfront development was growing larger on the horizon. We entered Fort Pierce inlet and spotted Unteathered, the Selene sistership of friends Richard and Kelly.

Before we anchored, we took Crossroads to the fuel dock to top off the tanks one last time before crossing to The Bahamas. After fueling, we claimed a spot in the familiar anchorage. Joining us there were swarms of lovebugs. Other than the tandem flying nuisances, it was a perfectly beautiful afternoon. I got in a little reading and napping on Fiberglass Beach while also soaking up some sun. Richard and Kelly later picked us up in their dinghy and showed us a few of their favorite spots -- Little Jim Bait & Tackle for drinks and 12A Buoy for dinner. My yellow snapper was both beautiful and delicious. Dropped off at Crossroads, we hurriedly worked on a few chores before calling it a night. We'll stay in Fort Pierce a few more days to explore the area.