Hutchinson Island, Fort Pierce, Florida

Actually, we ended up on Hutchinson Island - went right on through Stuart and on up the Intracoastal Waterway to the Ft. Pierce Inlet from the Atlantic Ocean.  It's been a cloudy, rainy week here in Ft. Pierce.  Couldn't even really get a sunset picture. We're not complaining - at least it's not snow and the temperatures are still warm.

        We are at Pelican Yacht Club Marina and plan to have our boat here for a month.  It's close to the grocery, restaurants, pharmacy and hardware store, with lots of bike trails to the Jetty (Atlantic Ocean) and over the bridge to the mainland.  There are lots of huge fishing boats here.

Some of these "ocean going sport fisherman" easily exceed $1 millon.  Just to catch a fish that you unhook and put back in the water!!



                                                  And the U.S. Coast Guard, our neighbor.

Yes, we do ride over this bridge with our bikes - the bike trail is walled off from the traffic.  It is quite windy, though.  We are always glad to get back.

         The pelicans thought Don was cleaning fish and they were begging for the leftovers.

(He was really cleaning a boat fender.)  He's been doing a lot of cleaning, waxing, fixing and maintenance on the boat this week.

                                  
                                                Looks like the prop needs some attention!
             I guess it's hit "bottom" a few times (when straying out of the channel or off the course).



          The blade on the right is missing about 1/2" from it's tip.  Most water in the rivers, bays, and coastal areas around Florida is shallow.  If you stray from the marked channel, particularly at low tide, there is a good possiblity that you'll touch bottom.  Very unpleasant and embarrassing.  Also, can be expensive. 

Now here's one where someone wanted to make sure Don hit the right spot in the urinal!

I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted.

Today was sunny and we ventured over to the Farmer's Market - the best one in the area.  We had some breakfast and it was a fun time - seeing all the produce (and buying some), the arts and crafts and all the people.  We spent some time at the library, too.

Just relaxing a bit on the waterfront at the Farmer's Market. 

We may be running a little late with our Blog next week as we plan to rent a car and go down to the Miami Boat Show and the Florida Keys for the weekend.  But we'll sign in again later.......

YES!! The Miami Boat Show - the king of all boat shows.  Every kind of boat and marine toy imaginable.  Promised Theresa I would leave the checkbook in the car.   But if we had a boat that was just a little bit bigger...............

We had an uninvited guest last week.  A little green frog. Woke up in the morning and he was sitting on the cabin floor just like he owned the place.  He disappeared into the midberth.  Theresa wouldn't go in there for days.  Left the window open in the midberth for a few days and we haven't seen him again.  Boy, could that sucker jump.  Been married for 48 years and never seen Theresa that excited.  Okay, maybe a few times.

Also, had a large turtle (12") come up to the swim platform and beg just like the pelicans do.  Theresa threw him a peanut which he ate, then swam away.  I don't think he liked it.

Looking forward to the Keys.