Vero Beach Sunrise

Our day started bright and early.  Our intent was to ride bikes to the nearby Holy Cross Church for the 8am Ash Wednesday mass.  A quick dinghy ride to the dock, unlock the bikes and ....  Ugh.  My rear bike tire was flat.  A quick calculation - yup, we can walk if we keep a good pace.  

We cut through a construction site, a park and even hopped a fence!  And we made it with two minutes to spare!  Of course we were sweaty but mass was inspiring and the church - beautiful.  Worth the extra effort.

Back at the boat we started our new project - prepare Quiet Time for sale.  

At the start of our season, after waiting yet again for the yard, the weather etc, we began discussing options.  Having bikes have helped with the frustration of minimal movement but we want the freedom of where and when to travel.  Too cold - find some place warm.  Too hot - head somewhere cooler.  All without having to wait for something else to happen - just get in the car and go.

So we set out intending to finish our season in the Keys as planned.  Then we hit a couple snags while we were researching anchorages and marinas.  We regrouped again and called a broker we knew.  After a long discussion, the boat has been listed.  Selling during the season promises more interest than after and we will (fingers crossed) not have to pull her back out of the water and secure her during hurricane season.  And as luck would have it, a couple was driving through the area and stopped for a viewing.  Great practice for us (and the boat received a good cleaning!).

Now we are cleaning and sorting.  What gets packed for return to RI, what will travel with us as we explore and travel by car, what will stay on the boat and what will get donated.  

I will miss the dolphins - they came by this afternoon and spent time circling the boat.  I will miss the quiet of most anchorages and waking to gorgeous sunrises and ending each night with gorgeous sunsets.  The wildlife will be missed.

                                                This guy was hanging out by the dinghy dock.

We have done and seen amazing things that without Quiet Time. would not have occurred.  So no regrets!  Thousands of memories (and just as many pictures!).  On to our next phase of retirement.

The plan - hang out in Vero Beach while we wait for a dock to open in Ft Lauderdale near our broker.  Life is good in Vero - the weather, the people and with luck my new bike tire will be delivered by Amazon in the morning!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Driving Rain and Left Side Road

Image
 Today found us with lots of cloud and lots of rain.  We snuck in a fast soak in the jacuzzi this morning before our last trip to the grocery store.  A bit of fresh fruit (no fresh foods can be brought back into the states) and enough flour to continue my bread making.  We watched the downpour from the game room where I have yet to beat Paul at pool.  The closest I came was so close... Paul won after I left him this shot! The wet made getting on and off the boat a bit tricky.  During high tides, the boat is about 3 feet above the dock and 3 feet away.  Low tide 3 feet too low.  Normally Paul or I pull the boat closer and climb up or down.  Today I thankfully grabbed his hand before jumping - I slid across the wet dock and would have joined the fish on the other side!  Ugh.  No blood only a small bruise to my shin.  No jumping when wet! Our driving experience here in The Grand Bahamas. The signs:        ...
Read more

Getting Real (Close)

Image
 It's getting close.  All the planning.  All the decision making.  Tonight was the beginning of the celebration of Kevin and Isis. The venue is beautiful.     The rehearsal went well.   Isis - super focused.  Kevin and Dan - watching butterflies. Everything will go smoothly and everyone will remember where they are supposed to be and when. And we all know that only the bride is the focus unless something extraordinary occurs (Fall, fainting, vomiting).   Isis has assigned us all tasks.  Love it!  I get to be the family wrangler!!!  Perfect!  Thank you! Dinner at Avellino - supreme.  From the appetizers to the main course (best vegan dish ever!), and to the chocolate tort - everything was perfectly yummy.  The service - outstanding.  Great choice kids!   So many smiling, happy people.  Blessed.
Read more

Ocean Reef Yacht Resort, Freeport, Bahamas

Image
 It was such an amazing day I don't even know where to start.  After getting all set on the dock last night, talking about our crossing (and our mistakes) and waiting for the adrenaline to subside, we finally fell into bed at 2am. Although the crossing did not go as planned, I am still ecstatic to be here!  The West End is merely a stopping point to check in.  There is a gift shop (with little to no stock), a man selling conch salad, a beach with 2 people, the customs office and marina office.  That's it.  We walked the area in just a few  minutes. The channel out was just as narrow as I remembered .  How we maneuvered in the night - I don't know. As soon as we hit deeper water - 2 sea turtles!  One seemed to pose for the camera but I still couldn't capture him.  So cool! And lo and behold - the wind and seas were favorable!  We raised the sails, turned off the engines and sailed to our destination.  A glorious ride at 6-9 knot...
Read more