Like Old Home Week in Vero Beach

Vero Beach has seemed like a big cruiser's reunion. We have been visiting with friends whom we have met over the past three trips as well as meeting new cruisers. 

Carl and Marilyn in their new condo.

The first day we were here, our friends, Carl and Marilyn, from the boat Discovery picked us up and had lunch at Kelly's pub and then out to see their wonderful new condo that they had purchased this fall. They are just in the beginning process of furnishing it. They plan to cruise this season yet, but then sell their boat and become a CLOD (cruiser living on dirt) in Vero Beach for the winter and Michigan in the summer. 

 

Skip and Harriets new home.

We also visited with Harriet an Skip from Moon Dance who already sold their boat and bought a lovely home here too. It has a pool and a workshop for Skip that had Al drooling!

Al drooling over the workshop!

 

Skip, Harriet and Bailey.

 It is interesting how so many cruisers end up in this area. One highlight is the great Riverside Park with tennis courts, fitness trail, art museum and theater.

Riverside Park with lots of amenities.

 

 

Like a reunion at the marina happy hour.

On Thursday evening at the marina is the standard appetizer and drink get-together at a pavilion there. Many CLODS came as well as the cruisers anchored in the harbor. As you can see, we eat pretty well.

Lots to eat!

Although much was left due to the fact that many cruisers, including ourselves, went to Chef Lin's all you can eat Chinese buffet for lunch. I have never seen such a selection of dishes from sushi, dim sum, and peanut chicken, to steam shrimp, salmon, apple strudel and four kinds of ice cream. I never even saw half the dishes there. All for the low price of $6.95pp. (It is located on Rt.1 and 19^th St. for those in the area.) Needless to say we were not hungry for the appetizers later that day.

Libby the pine basket instructor.

I have been using the “Fitness trail” at the local park to get in my 3-4 mi. walks in, and using the free bus service to get our needed shopping done. I also was lucky to meet Libby Mills on Tarwathie who teaches how to do pine needle baskets. 

I spent one afternoon with her learning how to begin the basket and learning two different stitches. She also taught me how to finish the basket another afternoon on a basket she had made. 

Lovely pine needle baskets.

She showed me some of her baskets and some of her students which were just beautiful. She gave me all the supplies necessary to make one basket. I will be asking Al to stop in the Carolinas to look for the long pine needles on our way home in the spring. I can't wait to try some more! Thank you Libby for sharing your talent. All she asked is that I pass the knowledge on to someone else. Any takers?

Groucho or Al?

One day we got up and I took one look at Al and I said, “You're starting to look like Groucho Marx with your uncontrollable hair. So into the marina we went, where I trimmed him up enough until we get home in a week or so he can go to his regular barber.

Mershons caught up with us here in Vero Beach so of course we shared several happy hours and dinner on board Blue Heaven and dinner out one night. We both departed on Sunday but each heading to different locations. We headed into Harbortown Marina in Ft. Pierce. We are leaving the boat here while we fly home to share Thanksgiving with our family. Dave and Toni moved down the intra-coastal. We will meet them in Miami once we return and hopefully get across to the Bahamas.  Harbortown is a very large but nice marina.  

The treasure seeker called Aaaar Booty.

We happened to be put in a slip next to this boat which we were told is a treasure seeking vessel.   They reportedly just found a half a million dollar treasure not far off the coast from Ft. Pierce.  Maybe there luck will rub off on us.

We leave Friday and return Black Friday.  Maybe the flights won't be crowded since they will all be out shopping the sales!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Even Blue Heaven has a Tom Turkey!

Blue Heaven's Tom Turkey