It's a Working Day

Monday dawned another perfect day to work on the boat. We first went in to do laundry by 7AM and had fun talking to a few cruisers either going our way to the Abacos or have been there and have good advice. After the laundry was done and packed we borrowed Mary's car (Mark flew back to MA. for work) to get some errands done. First stop was the bank to stock up on cash for the Bahamas. You need $300 cash as a 90 day cruising and fishing fee for Bahamain waters. Second stop was West marine to stock up on some supplies and spare parts for our outboard, generator, and engine...AKA oil, filters and spark plugs.

Third stop was a boat canvas shop operated by a boat couple here at Sunset Bay Marina. Our front canvas piece, the dodger, has broken zippers in the center panel and some of the stitching is disintegrating due to sun damage. So that will be fixed in a few days.

Our boat minus the dodger.
Looking good though!

Once back aboard Peter serviced the Honda generator while Jane started dinner. Around 7PM we looked over the bridge and saw a huge moon "rising". We tried to take pictures of it but they don't do it justice.

Tuesday,  started off with a walk to town and breakfast with Mary. Historic downtown Stuart is quaint and fun to walk around.

Waterfront amphitheater

Steamboat leaving the dock for a tour on the
St Lucie River

Then it was a day to work aboard. Peter changed the main engine oil and fuel filters while Jane cleaned, waxed, and polished some deck surfaces and the stainless dodger frame. It was sunny but a nice wind to keep us cool enough to get things done.

Polish and buff!

In the afternoon around 4PM we went with Mary to see Bathtub Reef on Hutchinson Island. There was evidence of a lot of wave damage along the mile stretch of beach. the pictures actually show tree stumps where the land used to be and now they are in the ocean! We wonder how people ever got permits to build homes literally on the sand dunes. Now they are just one storm away from total destruction and more shoreline polution.



House for sale
By Owner
Any takers?

See the tree stumps where the shore used to be?

After we left Hutchinson Island Mary took us to a wonderful produce market where we could buy 10 grapefruit or honeybell oranges for just a dollar. Honneybell oranges are one of the first new crops to ripen in January and some of the juciest and sweetest oranges grown in Florida. Then we drove to the "New England Fish Market for dinner. Delicious fresh fish cooked any way you like!

Love this sign

New England fish in the heart of Florida
including fresh Maine Lobsters...not much more
expensive than what you would pay in NE.

Classic!