On Sunday, November 30th, shortly before 9:00 AM we departed from the anchorage at Vero Beach. After stopping at the marina for fuel, we were able to motor-sail for most of the passage, which concluded in Stuart at about 4:00 PM.

Since our arrival in Stuart, we have had the alternator rebuilt and reinstalled it; Kevin has swapped out the bow navigation lights, rebuilt the engine raw water pump, replaced the heat exchanger zinc, and cleaned off rust from the prop shaft coupler and painted it.

We have also gotten to visit with fellow cruisers Gene and Ginny on m/v Free to B, Dave and Tricia on m/v Sovereignty, Dan and Cheryl on s/v Curieuse, Haines and Roberta on s/v Mimosa Morning, Bill and Sherry on s/v My Whim, Ken and Francie on s/v Release, and Dawn and Richard on s/v Zama Dawn. Additionally, we have enjoyed two free outdoor concerts, multiple lovely sunsets, and filled our rolling cart with provisions and supplies almost daily.

Last week the crews of the four boats here from Chipman Point in Vermont gathered together for cocktails followed by dinner in nearby historic downtown. Thank you to Ken and Francie for squeezing us into your rental car and taking us to the area marine consignment stores, where the treasures we found included anchor rode, which Kevin spliced to chain and attached to our Danforth anchor.

Above: a rare photo opp…as we departed from Lake Champlain on our first day of this snowbird voyage, the US Coast Guard personnel attending to a an aid to navigation.