Stranded…Sort Of

Despite my raving about the Vero Beach City Marina, we didn’t intend to stay there long. Unfortunately, as we were motoring away, we realized that the transmission wasn’t working right – at low rpms, it wouldn’t go into gear, then would clunk in as we revved up. Not good. So, back we went to the mooring ball under the watchful eyes of a couple of friends in dinghies (ready to push us into place if necessary). Then…the engine-drive fridge crapped out, and I (Anne) developed a bump on my forehead necessitating a trip to the dermatologist (all was fine with that). Bad things come in threes, right? Anyway, as always, we had good luck in our bad luck. If you’re going to break down, there aren’t many better places to do it in. Now the fridge is chilling and the transmission propelling - we're back in business!

Close Quarters

Standing on Mr Mac, looking across Brilliant and Star Gazer

We stopped in Vero Beach, a town along the ICW that has little to offer for anchorages, but makes up for it with a terrific city marina. They’ve got an extensive mooring field for a reasonable price ($15/night), and great amenities (good showers, laundromat, lounge, fuel dock with water, pump-out boat, mail drop, walking distance to the beach and nearby theater with free music on comedy nights, and a free city bus all over town). However…lest you think you’ll be alone on that mooring, think again. Cruisers are flocking south, and many flock here for Thanksgiving, so boats were rafted three across on most of the moorings. Luckily, our friends Carl and Carrie saved us a spot next to them so we didn’t have to live literally three inches from strangers. It also made it quite convenient to socialize!

Love is in the…Water

Traveling down the Florida Intracoastal Waterway, we’ve been treated to several enthusiastic dolphin performances. Our first occurred while we waited to transit the Cape Canaveral lock. Dolphins were jumping out of the water and frolicking together…until we realized that they were, in fact, trying to mate. The female was using the boat as a safe zone, scooting close under the hull in seeming avoidance of the ever-enthusiastic males (aren’t they all!). All through the Indian River Lagoon, similar scenes have been playing out. It makes for interesting cruising…