Dirk and Nancy meet us at Ft. Pierce

Friends we hadn't seen in years came in to the Ft. Pierce Inlet and we were able to have a great 2 days with them and their great boat Renegade.  Dirk and Nancy were buddies when we first got Divine Miss Em and were at St. Andrew Marina.  They left cruising in a ODay called Tybee Time and have never looked back.  Many miles  and now a Vagabond Later, we were able to enjoy a nice evening on their beautiful boat.

Dingying in for a visit and fun

Dirk and Nancy's Renegade
Check out thie blogspot for greater pictures

Fun ubering to Walmart and then dink loading

We loved the pictures of the Bahamas Dirk showed us.  I am looking forward to many trips in the future for Miss Em.

Boat Projects in Ft. Pierce

The removal and replacement of the teak decks is underway.  Gary has been working hard to take out the hundreds of screws and sealing them. We have waited so many years to get here, I am a little giddy.  My job is brightwork and keeping the captain fed.  Gary's is everything else.

Taping the screw holes after removal

All the way to the front

Nasty mess to be sanded off

Top panels to be dug out and re-embedded

Before

After sanding

Thanks to Whiticar for help, and to Maritime Wood Products, who will do the teak decks!  More later!

Harbortown Marina

Moving from one marina to another here was very involved.  Low tide to get under the bridge, high tide to get into  any marinas. Moving to Harbortown was interesting but necessary to our further projects.  The marina has a large laundry, swimming pool, fitness center, large captains lounge.  We are also right in front of the restaurant which has live music frequently.  The Whiticar boat yard is next door in case we need any help with our projects.

Lots of cruisers

Miss Em from another pier, she has the flag flying

Restaurant at Harbortown

Boat yards

Miss Em from the restaurant

I have been getting over a small injury this week and Gary has been busy settling us in.  We have gotten our estimates and ordered some materials.  We have been using Uber to get around, but there are shops closeby for small purchases.  The weather has been fine and we are looking forward to brightwork prep and varnishing.

Finally Ft. Pierce!

We have been waiting for years to arrive at our final large project. Teak deck replacement by Maritime Wood Products in Stuart.  We drove here last year to check out a great place to move Miss Em for this repair.  Ft. Pierce inlet was deep, the people we met friendly. We knew we would be here an extended time.  We first went to the City Marina with floating docks to work on taking the toe rail down to bare wood.  Then we moved to Harbortown Marina for the rest of our stay.  We expect to be here at least 2-3 months.

At anchor At Ft. Pierce bridge

Jan relaxing before high tide

Start of a new project

At the City Marina

Gary won a fishing trip on Indian River!

At the Original Tiki Bar

Settled at floating docks

Manatee friends here also

Lots of things within walking distance here

Retired one year!

One whole year of retirement.  Gary likes to say a plan is just a point of deviation.  We had planned to be further from Florida by this time.  We have had a great time just doing what we want with no time tables.  If we wanted to stay we did.  If we wanted to go we did.  We gave new meaning to the word, fair weather sailors!  Who wants to get beat up if they don't need to.  I've enjoyed a year of excellent health that I haven't experienced in many years.  We love our home, Divine Miss Em, as much as ever and appreciate her even more.

We are now anchored at Palm Beach, Lake Worth.  It's a short trip to Ft. Pierce and we are waiting for a weather window.  When we get there we will be doing our last big project with Miss Em, new teak decks.  I am looking forward to bike rides, and fun as well as lots of hard work, varnishing the toe rail.  We hope to get finished in a couple of months and head to the Bahamas.  

Jan and Dockmaster Andrea at New Port Cove marina, friendly people at West Palm!

Anchor down Lake Worth Sunset, West Palm Beach

Morning leaving Biscayne Bay to Lake Worth, Gary driving, Jan sleeping

Lighthouse originally built in 1825, survived numerous hurricanes, a 1836 Seminole Indian attack.  Was in service until 1878 when Fowey Rocks Light took over.  Restored to original 1855 condition and still functioning

Stilt houses in Key Biscayne

Last Look at Miami

Dingy dock at Dinner Key, the town shops are in walking distance

Market at Dinner Key at Coconut Grove

Laundry Day!  Moved most of our clothing to hand wash in buckets and line dry.  Doesn't work for linens which have to wait for marina laundries.  Changing pillow cases helps to have a great night.

Beach day at Bill Baggs Florida State Park

Visiting dolphins at Hurricane Harbor, Key Biscayne

Traveling to Biscayne Bay

We got a final weather window from WRI and were all set up and ready to leave at hightide on the night of the 27th.  We had such a great time at White Marlin Marina and will be so glad to winter with them again at the end of the year. 

It was a beautiful day leaving to go to Roderiquez Key our first anchorage.
Very few crab/lobster pots to look for and I enjoyed sitting as lookout on the bow.  Gary just enjoyed being out I think.

By the second day out heading to Bisccayne Bay our anchorage was called Hurricane Harbor.  I had gotten some great tips on provisioning while cruising.  As sometimes is is too rolly to move around safely below, it is a great idea to put together the days meals first thing while on anchor.  I would put one of my ice bags (from the freezer) in a small ice chest with drinks for the day.  Then breakfast and lunch would be things that could be hand eaten, like sandwiches, boiled eggs, snacks, canned peanuts.  A friend at White Marlin said she would put the nights dinner in a small crockpot so they would have a hot meal when they stopped.  I checked and ours drew less than1 amp.  So first night out was lentils, and the second was roasted chicken with potatoes and onions.

Crockpot cooking in the sink during the trip

Biscayne Bay right before bad weather

Hurricane Harbor

A beautiful night!

Seafood festival

Great fun and a beautiful day at the Seafood Festival in Marathon

Just a few people enjoying the day, music, and food.

Marc just chillin

Lori finds a friend

Just dancing

Marc, Lori and Bruce

We had a great weekend riding bikes and going to the seafood festival here at Marathon.  I really made a 10 mile ride, 5 out 5 back.  The festival had great seafood including Lobster!  Great weather.  We are really going to miss being here, but our time is almost done and Ft. Pierce awaits.

Stopping halfway during the bike ride