We installed the new vent hose for the holding tank, and this is me in the pic - inside the stern locker. It didn't end up to be too terrible a job feeding it through from there under the engine and up from the bilge to the tank. It has a new route from the old one and perhaps a straighter one. We'll see, now, if the blasted thing works the way it should!

Our weather has been beautiful the last few days - breezy but warm and friendly. I had another fantastic beach walk while Jim rested on a sunny bench. The waves were thundering in, reaching up the sand with foamy fingers and then sucking back out to sea to regroup and do it all over again. I was stunned to look down mid stride and find a hamburger bean just sitting there all by itself on the wet sand. I've never found one in Florida before but those powerful waves carried it from Central America and flipped it up there at just the right time for me to find.

We peppered Julie and Mark (Rachel) with questions about the Western Caribbean as we sat in our cockpit yesterday, and they gave us an absolute wealth of information, from waypoints to charts to favourite anchorages to clearing-in procedures in several countries.

I visited the Art in the Park show at the beach, browsing among the various booths of paintings, jewellery, and pottery and then, on my way home, discovered another Art and Craft show at Riverside Park where I was lucky enough to be under a tent during a short but heavy rain shower. Here again, it was great fun to see the products of the artists' creativity. I bought a little dish from an elderly gentleman (older than me at least) who proudly exclaimed, "I made everything myself." It was an ordinary little dish, but I liked his enthusiasm so he made the sale.

Jim was feeling energetic enough to walk to the beach last evening and we joined a crowd of folks at Waldo's - the funky bar at the Driftwood Resort. We discovered this place a couple of years ago and make it a point to revisit it each time we come through. There is often some rousing music, the happy hour prices are good - and so is the coconut shrimp - and on a good day we can hear the waves crashing in. This time we thoroughly enjoyed all of the above along with the great company of Rachel, Lady Hawk, Celilo, Rising Tide, and ... hmmm ... can't remember the other boat. It was an altogether fine evening, and Jim was so tired by the end of the walk home that he had a good night's sleep.

We called Stuart again this morning and got the same answer, "No available moorings. Call again later." Later is fast catching up to us since our departure day is Friday, and we are becoming increasingly anxious about the uncertainty of where to leave Madcap. After another cup of coffee, we decided to bite the bullet, empty the wallet, and book a slip at Harbortown Marina in Fort Pierce. We'll head on down there later today.

A bit of Vero Beach Marina info for cruisers who are interested:

Daily rate is $13.90. Mobile pumpout boat makes the rounds on Tuesday and Thursday - and sometimes other days depending on available staff. Laundry room has 6 washers ($2.00 per load) and 7 dryers ($1.50 per load) takes quarters and the change machine sometimes works. The lounge has several shelves of take one/leave one books, internet and plugs, TV, pop machine, and a bulletin board where cruisers post wanted and for sale notices. The local free bus is a great way to get to grocery stores and the malls. Happy hour at the picnic table on Thursdays at 4 always attracts a large crowd so it is a great place to meet people.

P.S. We got to Ft Pierce, loaded up with fuel and pumped out the holding tank, and then made it successfully into a slip. Ahhhhh.....