Saturday, January 24, 2009

After coffee we made a garbage run into shore and then caught the bus into town. You know it's becoming home when you start recognizing the people at the post office, cashiers in the stores and the bus drivers - even when they're not on the bus!

It's kind of comforting; except for that niggling feeling that you're supposed to be somewhere else. So with the boat chores we set out to do here about done - we decided that it's about time to leave Vero Beach and head south again (There's got to be some non-30/40 degree weather somewhere south!) The plan for the day was to hit the post office, bank, West Marine and Sam's Club for some last minute provisioning of things we've been told we won't be able to get in the Bahamas (things like crackers, chips, snacks, etc.) except at premium prices.

The bus runs stop earlier on Saturdays (3pm) and are nonexistent on Sundays so the buses were a bit more crowded today than we normally have. It could be that there's a new crop of cruisers in town too though. Most of the boats that were here when we got here 2 days ago (interpret as: 1 day = 1.5 weeks in cruiser time) are now gone.

We chatted with 3 couples on the bus into town that are moored together here. Nice people. Marie (from Spirit) was having her 74th birthday today; this surprised me because I'd have taken her for 55 if she or anyone else had asked me. Good genetics!

Anyhow - we got off at West Marine, then our mail was sent off at the post office and then we hit the bank.

Next stop - Sam's Club. We had hot dogs and pop for lunch there - my goodness I never knew that they had such good dogs to eat there and cheap too! Then, with our energy restored, shopping - M&Ms, cookies, M&Ms, nuts, M&Ms, crackers, M&Ms, lunch meat, and did I mention more M&Ms? They had the Susan G Komen for the Cure; pink M&Ms on sale for half the price of the regular ones and since snacks are expensive, where we're going (where ever that is) and Wayne loves peanut m&ms (which don't melt all over the place in warm weather - ummm I hope) - we bought M&Ms. 6 months worth that will probably last, ohhhh.... 3 months? I also could not resist one of their caramel, walnut topped apple pies either - mmmmmm - as good as homemade Mary & Elaine! It'd been over 6 months since I had one of these pies, soooo I toted that back to the boat in my arms and lap, which was a feat between all the snacks, etc in my backpack and in our shopping bag.

We were a little concerned when we got back to Wal-Mart's to catch the bus. The amount of people waiting for it (the last one back for the day) was over the capacity that the bus could seat and we were all toting food products. It was standing room only, and we were packed in like sardines - but we allllll made it! One young lady gave up her seat for me (you know you're getting older when this happens) and everyone was eyeing my pie (10 inches of nut encrusted, carmel topped, heaped tall, tart apples) so much so, and commenting on it that, I thought for a while I'd have to start sharing it on the bus with everyone or get mugged for it LOL. I'm wondering how many will be going to Sam's Club on Monday!

Any how, it made it safely back to the boat, then got a bit smushed when we tied the dingy to the boat and started lifting stuff up into the boat. I had gingerly set it down on the floor of the dingy to climb aboard and a bag fell over on it. It doesn't look as pretty, but my - it tastes good just the same.

We have new mooring buddies again (George & Brenda S/V Rosie) - they were here when we got back. Nice people with a very pretty blond Lab. The dog is well mannered and quiet. We chatted with them for a little before I started my email and journal. He gave us the name of a marina in Deltaville VA if we wanted to haul out there. Hope we run into them again.

By the way - the picture is one of a type of palm that dates back to the dinosaurs that we got in the Publix parking lot.