February 27 - Sunset Bay in Stuart, Florida

Kip was up early, I slept until 9:00 a.m.  We decided today we would go and check out St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park.  We packed a lunch and took the boat (no dinghy or kayak) on about a 2-hour ride and docked at the park dock.  There was a really nice wooden walkway 3/4 mile across the island to the beach, and a nice restroom and hand shower.  

We put up our chairs and went in for a swim.  I got knocked down twice by big waves.  There aren't really any shells, but the water was wonderful.  We ate lunch and eventually started to get bugged by noseeums, so we left.  There was another boat on the dock, and we were puzzled by their boat tie up technique.

We drove through Manatee Pocket and saw a bunch of dolphins feeding.  There are several anchorages in the Pocket, but many of the boats are run down.  The marinas had huge fishing boats in them, and there were people everywhere. 

We had to wait both ways for the railroad bridge to open near the marina.  Kip threw a fishing line in for a while, but no bites. We were able to tie back up to the mooring ball and sat on the back deck to regroup and relax.

Kip made hamburgers and beans for supper, and we decided we wanted to go and get ice cream (even though we shouldn't).  At night we drove around in the marina in the dingy and looked at the boats and saw a 43-foot Ranger Tug.  It was a beauty.

  

February 26 - Sunset Bay in Stuart, Florida

We got up, had coffee, and took a kayak into a canal, under a small bridge, and entered Frazier Creek.  We were surprised that there was a person in a dingy, with all of his belongings, sleeping under the bridge. 

Doug and Gwen picked us up at 11:00 and we drove through Stuart to Hutchinson Island to check out anchoring options in case we want to stay in another spot for a night or two.  

We stopped to eat lunch and walked around to check out the water (which was a beautiful shade of blue).  

They dropped us off and we went back to the boat and napped.  Kip made pork chops for dinner.  Then we dinghied to the dinghy dock, watched the sunset, dropped off books at the book exchange, and walked into Stuart for ice cream.  The dinghy dock is quite funny - it's like bumper boats trying to get in and out of there.

February 25 - Sunset Bay in Stuart, Florida

We are excited for the day because it is our granddaughter Natalie's first birthday.  

We got up, had coffee, and walked into Stuart for the Art Fair.  There are so many people wandering around and the exhibits and products are beautiful.  There are paintings, jewelry, small wooden buildings, flowers made out of all kinds of materials, and more.  We bought a metal sign to put in our basement when we get home.  It is round and says, "Saltwater Born, Florida" and there is a big shell in the middle of it.  

We Facetimed our family and attended the party for about a half hour.  We didn't want to miss the fun of our family gathered together, which is always chaotic and full of laughs.

The Harley Davidson in Stuart (called "Treasure Coast Harley") was having an open house with food, a band, prizes, and stuff for sale.  So, we got our bikes out and rode 5 miles to the dealership.  We had to stop at a bike shop to put air in our tires!  We ate, listened to the band, and tried on clothes (Harley dealership visits can be very expensive, but we didn't buy anything, thank goodness). 

We stopped at Publix on the way back and got a few groceries.  We left our big backpacks at home somewhere and only have a small cheap one.  We squished most of the items into the small backpack.  The 12 pack of Diet Coke got taken apart and put into two separate plastic grocery bags that Kip will carry on his handlebars.  Yes, I know, it wasn't the best plan!  

We made it most of the way home, and one of the Diet Coke cans hit the spoke or something and blew up, and Kip just about lost his balance and wiped out.  I was just trying to not squish the two peaches that I had dangling from my backpack.  

We dinghied back to the boat and sat on the back deck to relax and cool down.  We had a light supper and plan on going to bed early.  

February 24 - Sunset Bay in Stuart, Florida

When I woke up, Kip had already loaded the bikes in the dinghy and took them to shore.  When he got back, we took the kayak down from the top of the boat.  He doesn't let any time get away from him!  We are ready for anything now.  Kip decided to take a quick kayak ride and check things out.

A boater in a catamaran sailboat came in to moor, but he couldn't reach the mooring ball.  Kip, again, saved the day and took the dinghy over and helped the man connect to the mooring ball.  

Kip's mom and her beau Doug picked us up for dinner at a Mexican restaurant, which was very good.  We talked and laughed and had a very nice time.  It was great to see them.

We are very pleased with our current location.  Kip calls it "paradise".  

As always, a sunset picture to end the day!

 

February 23 - Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina & Resort, Clewiston to Sunset Bay in Stuart, Florida

We got up early and decided we would stay at Indianhead Marina.  We saw the marina and decided it didn't look very comfortable, so we continued on to Stuart (which was a few more hours of traveling).  

We arrived at Sunset Bay Marina and hooked up to a mooring ball.  When you rent the mooring ball, you get to use all of their facilities (laundry, showers and restrooms, lounge, wifi, etc.).  We plan on staying here for a couple of months as our "home base" and travel using our dinghy and our bikes.

We are very happy to be here!  We have a great view and access to everything we need.  There is live music everywhere we go, which is great!  Kip made a steak for supper, and we are going to dinghy to town and go to Kilwins for ice cream.  I see this as a problem (thanks to Jeff for starting this)!

The Nebo didn't track us exactly - we didn't travel in a straight line, although it would have been faster

February 22 - LaBelle Public Dock to Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina & Resort, Clewiston

We left LaBelle and travelled to Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina in Clewiston, which was through a few small locks (the Clewiston lock was quite small only about 75' long).  We got fuel, did laundry, went swimming, and ate at their restaurant (I had fish tacos and Kip had a catfish dinner).  

Several other boats came in for the night, one of them only had one engine so they were having a hard time docking.  We met a couple from Princeton, MN and another couple from Alabama.  After dinner we walked into town and stopped at a bakery for a chocolate croissant and rice pudding!

St. Lucie Lock and Dam

We are intrigued by the lizards.  Two of them actually had a fight, which was scary!

February 21 - Captiva Island Tween Waters Marina to LaBelle Public Dock

We left Tween Waters around 7:30 a.m. heading to LaBelle to stay at the public dock.  The day is nice and calm, but as we got into the bigger water, the waves and wake from other boats got pretty rough.  

Kip took this picture of a burned cigarette boat being towed.  Yikes.

After we docked, we sat and relaxed for a while. 

We decided to walk into town and stop at the honey store.  On the way, we noticed there was a car show and other activities going on.  We found out that it is their LaBelle's annual Swamp Cabbage Festival.  

Considered a traditional Native American food, swamp cabbage is part of the historical Seminole, Miccosukee, and Calusa tribal diets. Native wildlife, such as bears, are also known to eat it. Today, it’s most often found in cans at your local grocery store. Locally, it’s used fresh in a variety of dishes, such as a hearts of palm salad topped with green ice cream at the Cedar Key’s Island Hotel.

During Panther Refuge harvests, volunteers “cut about the top two-and-a-half feet or so off the tree, and whittle it down until you get to the heart,” says Godsea. “It’s kind of like shucking corn.” Those hearts are then donated to the annual Swamp Cabbage Festival in the town of LaBelle, which hosts the festival during the last full weekend in February. Food vendors are encouraged to be creative with the bounty. Every year, you’ll find a variety of interesting dishes, such as swamp cabbage fritters or a spin on traditional Seminole Taal-holelke, boiled swamp cabbage.

We were the first in line for the Swamp Cabbage Fritters.  They were excellent!

The band was playing and there were quite a few vendors and organizations giving away free trinkets and information.  The people were very nice and we had a fun time.  We returned to the boat relaxed and with full stomachs.  

We had a really fun day today!  Now if we could just get rid of the noseeums!!!