Fort Pierce vacation

Keith and I left Palm Coast with Southern Style on Tuesday February 13^th.   We were heading south to meet friends in Ft Pierce.  We planned to take about 3 days to get there with stops in New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa and then Fort Pierce.   Tuesday we made it to New Smyrna Beach.  We had encountered heavy fog but still got in to the dock early.
                                                 
                                                            Ponce Lighthouse in the fog

  There was plenty of time to walk to the quilt shop there in town and I made a few purchases (imagine that). 

Wednesday morning the fog was so thick we had to wait until 10 AM to leave New Smyrna Beach.

                                             Fog at Marina entrance New Smyrna Beach

It was hazy and not very pretty but no rain all day and our arrival in Cocoa was uneventful. 

Cape Canaveral in the fog.  Site of Falcon Heavy launch.

Thursday began with (you guessed it), fog.  Our trip from Cocoa to Fort Pierce was a longer day of about 70 miles and we had a late start due to the fog again.  The sky cleared and fog lifted by noon. 

                                            There were dolphin following us in our wake.

There was also an eagle along the waterway.

 We arrived in Fort Pierce around 4:30 PM.  Keith’s parents drove up from Stuart and we all had dinner together.

                Friday our very good friends Ron and Robin Terry came to visit us and Southern Style

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They brought with them the best weather we have seen all winter.

The weekend was bright, sunny and temps were in the low 80's.  We found a tapas restaurant for dinner Friday and did some damage at the Fort Pierce farmer’s market Saturday morning.
                                                               
                                                                   Farmer's Market

Pengi with Dragon Fruit and Passion Fruit from Market

Dragon fruit insides (cool )

The search for manatees was a bust.  We did see one in front of the boat Saturday afternoon, but by the time I got the camera he was gone.  Keith and I also saw some on the way down earlier in the week but they were far enough from the boat to not make for good pictures.  I’ll get up close to one eventually.

Manatee sign in Fort Pierce Marina

Manatee postcard (closest I could get for now)

Feeding the Fish at the Marina

Sunday was another stellar day and Keith, Ron, Robin, and I all went on a boat ride out the Fort Pierce inlet and out into the Atlantic for a bit. 

                                                         
                                                       Ron and Keith at the helm

Robin and I 

Sunset in Ft Pierce

 The water off Ft Pierce was beautiful for our ride.  Clear blue and slick cam (see previous posts from Ocracoke). We tried to talk them into bagging land life and just heading to the Bahamas with us, but there is a very important wedding coming up none of us would miss.  Their daughter Lacey is getting married March 10th and we are all so looking forward to the event.

Sunday evening all four of us drove down A1A to have dinner with Keith's parents in Stuart.  The condo they have has a fantastic water view and the sunsets are also beautiful.

Ron and Robin left Monday morning to fly back to NC.  Capt. Ron flies a private jet for another person we know.  Luckily the jet’s owner had this trip to FL planned anyway and Ron and Robin were able to come see us at the same time.  I think all would agree the weekend was a success.  Maybe not the best for prewedding waistlines, but well worth it.

A week of visiting with Friends

Keith and I have have been blessed with many friends, and this past week we had the chance to visit with several.  After returning from Detroit, Pete and Rachel Ferrara drove from Orlando to Palm Coast to have lunch with us.  It was great to see them again and we are hoping to make a trip to their house in Orlando before we leave Florida.  We are also planning to get together with them this spring in the Chesapeake Bay.  Pete and Rachel have their boat Endless Summer in Kent Island, MD, and Keith and I will be spending a good chunk of May in the "Bay". 

Pete & Rachael's boat "Endless Summer" from last year in the Neuse River

Doran and Gail Miller also came for a visit and lunch this week.  They are Maryland boaters too, but were here in Palm Coast for 2 weeks and it was great to see them as well as their new pup, Romeo.  He is a beautiful collie and landed the best dog parents.  Even more friends to see while in the Chesapeake this May.

And of course we were so glad to welcome good friends, Dave and Paula on Sequel.  They are here for a few weeks before heading back to New Bern, NC.  Already we have had several meals and cocktails with them. 

                                Scallops ready to go into the oven (think there are enough for 4 people?)

 

A big shout out to the Philadelphia Eagles fans that may be following us.  We had a bit of a party for the game with Dave and Paula, and John and Toby from Sea Search.  As usual there was more food than a dozen people would have needed, but better extra for left overs than to run out.  That would just get ugly.

                                                          Watermelon with mint and feta

Cucumber with salmon spread

Shrimp ceviche shooters

Next week Keith and I will go south with Southern Style to Ft Pierce, FL to visit with more friends.  We have a big couple of days planned so stay tuned.