Mike
12/08/2008, Vero Beach, Florida

November 30th... Vero Beach, FL

It was the first cloudy morning in a week or so and the wind was blowing about 20knots. It had rained a little before daylight but by 9 the sun was out occasionally and it was hot. By about noon it started to get black and the wind piped up to about 30.

We spent the morning reading and then listened to the Spartans. It was a boring game but it ended eventually. We broiled a flank steak in our oven ... and it turned out just fine. It was our first attempt at broiling and we were pleased.

The weather in the afternoon was interesting with low clouds sliding past. The front came through with some vengeance... winds at about 40 and so much rain that we couldn't see the next mooring We were forced below because the wind driven rain came thourgh our dodger.

In the evening Kathy did some shopping on line and as usual we watched a movie before retiring.



November 29th.... Vero Beach, FL


Luckily we went ashore to catch the 9am bus rather than the 8am because on Saturday's, there is no 8 o'clock run. Anyway, we went in a little early to shower but there was such a large group in front of the club house, that we boarded the bus in the rear by the dinghy dock. Not everyone was able to board so the driver called in and they sent another bus for the overflow.

We transferred to bus #2 and headed to Target to pick up a few things and then walked across the highway to Walmart where we went to the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions that our friend Colleen sent out to us. We talked to her last summer at White Lake and she had some ideas of what we should have on board.

After purchasing as much as we could comfortably carry, we went out and there was a bus waiting at the stop even though we were about 30 minutes early. As it turns out it was the spare bus that brought the overflow from the marina and she was running an express back to the marina. We were in luck and it saved us about 45 minutes of bus riding.

Back at the marina we had lunch and later Barry came over to chat and Kathy did dishes and picked up. We took the dinghy over for a load of water and we read for a couple of hours before going to dinner with Tom and Cathy on Perseverance 2.

We got back reasonably early and watched a movie before bed.

Comments [0]

Beautiful day!
11/29/2008, Vero Beach, Florida

November 28th Vero Beach, FL


Deb, one of our friends here in Vero, promised to cut Kathy's (and about 5 other cruisers') hair this morning starting at about 10 am. So after a big breakfast we went for a walk prior to then to locate an ATM.

There were a couple of parcels for us at the Harbor Master's office that I collected while Kathy was getting a trim. Jim and Nancy showed up to check their boat and Nancy sold a few of her books at the hair cutting table. Unfortunately they left their boat key at home and went back to have some lunch and pick up the key.

Returning to the boat, we had some lunch as well and sat in the cockpit soaking up some sunshine.

In downtown Vero Beach on one Friday a month, four blocks are closed off and folks come to sell crafts and other assorted junk. There are some food vendors and music as well. After Jim and Nancy returned and finished their boat jobs, we all headed back to town to see what it was about. On the way we stopped to fill propane tanks and checked out the Hospital where Jim is going to be spending some time.

The Street fair was interesting but minimal. We got away with out spending any money on needless purchases.

They dropped us at the marina and on our way back to the boat were flagged down by Night Hawk and forced aboard for some really good smoked fish pâté. We met Jay and Gee... who moved to Canada after being forced out of Croatia. I hope that we get to talk to them again. They have an interesting perspective on those of us from North America.

Comments [1]

Mike
11/29/2008, Vero Beach, Florida

November 27th , Thanksgiving Vero Beach, Fl


A little before 10am I took the dingy to the launch ramp at the south end of the mooring field. There is a park there and a very nice city owned event building. It's small and usually rents for $400 a day but the Harbor Master gets permission from the city for cruisers to celebrate Thanksgiving here without charge.

A call had gone out for set-up volunteers to meet at ten am and there was a great turnout. In twenty minutes we were finished. There were seats for 128. I had brought along some plates to reserve a table for eight.

We had been watching the "who's bringing what list" and determined that the only items that seemed to be lacking were dinner rolls and fruit which we had picked up the day before. Instead of just cutting everything and mixing things up in a bowl, we made fruit kabobs with some skewers that we had on board. It was more work but we thought it might be easier for people deal with on plates that were going to be overloaded.

At about 12:15 we motored back and spent 45 minutes chatting with friends and watching to tables of food fill up. The tables were numbered and after offering up a Thanksgiving prayer, we were called by table to the buffet line. The food was excellent and there was plenty for all.

At about 3pm we restacked the tables and chairs and rolled them back into their closet. The floors were swept and trash was hauled to the dumpster. Bob, one of our friends who make Vero Beach his winter home, stopped by to ask me to come back in to the Marina grounds in a while and bring my guitar. So...about 4:30 we dinghied in, found some folks at the picnic tables waiting for music. There were Bob and I and another guy with a case of harmonicas. We tuned up... but it was going to be a long night because all three of us are followers. There were no leaders. Then Jim from "Salty Paws" arrived with another guitar, a book of song lyrics, and a good voice. Things were looking up. Shortly after that a kid...(mid 20's) showed up and he knew words and songs for the whole night. We had our leader and had a great time until my fingers gave out. We said our good-byes and headed back to the boat to listen to the Spartans lose to Maryland.

With the exceptions on not being with our families, and the Spartans poor showing, it was a perfect day.

Comments [0]