December 4-10, 2022
This is week six in Fort Pierce. We thought we would be gone from here by now, but we’re still waiting on a parts order to arrive. However, if there is anything I have heard repeatedly from the boaters and cruisers I’ve met, it’s to ‘throw your calendar out the window’ and learn that things don’t happen on your schedule.
Sunday, December 4th
It’s been a busy week. It started with street church on Sunday. Several roads are blocked off downtown for a parade and other festivities that happen later today. Once a year, the church I attend here (Common Ground Vineyard Church) holds worship services in the street, right on 2nd Street and Orange Avenue (right outside Duncan Donuts). This is the first time I’e ever participated in street church, and it was a different experience for me to worship and praise while people were walking by and watching. Faith in action, right? 🙏🏽 ⛪️
Paul and I expect to leave on Wednesday morning or afternoon, so after worship services ended, I said my goodbyes to my new church community. In return, I received a much needed and welcome prayer and blessing for our travels. In all honesty, I was feeling a bit tearful to be leaving this community, and I am grateful to have found them during my time here.
Wednesday, December 7th
Wednesday came, and Wednesday went.
The parts Paul ordered arrived! 🎉
The parts were wrong. 👎🏽
The wrong parts were returned and a new order was placed with another 3-5 delay (at minimum). ☹️
Yes, we’re disappointed, but there’s nothing to be done other than wait for the right parts to arrive. And so we shall.
Thursday, December 8th
Today was our (rescheduled) Navionics course. We didn’t think we would be there to attend, but the parts snafu which delayed our departure by another five to six days allowed us to attend the previously cancelled course, so Paul and I walked over to Fort Pierce Yacht Club for class. Paul has used Navionics for years, but this was another first for me.
It was a short class- about an hour long, and the information was flying at me fast and furious. At the end, a few boat owners told stories about how using Navionics has been a lifesaver in some tetchy situations.
It all made sense in the moment, and I hope that it will make more sense over time. But, as crazy as it seems, a lot of what is in this picture actually makes some sort of sense to me!
After class, we walked back to the boat at a leisurely pace. I appreciate that the evenings are warm, but not overwhelming stuffy, and even the slightest breeze feels nice. I’m still adjusting to the fact that when it’s dark here, it’s DARK… there is no snow to reflect light – but the path from the yacht club back to the marina was well-lit (and not annoyingly bright).
With our class completed, we settled in to watch a few episodes of season six of Grimm (I am really enjoying this series– it’s my second time watching it!)
Friday, December 9th
On Friday, we enjoyed a nice dinner at Wasabi Thai Sushi with Bri & Stu (S/V Strathcona) and Jason & Monica (S/V Breathe), then we all went up to the marina lounge so everyone could look at charts for each group’s respective upcoming crossing.
Bri & Stu are from British Columbia, and are trying out the cruiser lifestyle for the first time this season. I enjoyed hearing Bri talk about her work as a veterinarian as we walked to the restaurant. She’s been self-employed for five years, specializing in euthanasia. She shared how heartwarming (but emotionally draining) it was to be able to assist owners as their beloved pets crossed the rainbow bridge at the end of their lives. Her practice allows her a deeper, more personal relationship with owners and pets that she finds deeply rewarding.
Jason & Monica are passionate about sailing, diving, photography, and videography and have blended all four together into their business, Breathe Sail Dive. They even have a YouTube Channel, where they share their videos.
Saturday, December 10th
Saturday evening, we were invited across the dock (a whole ten feet) by Kevin & Marilyn to hang out with them on their boat, the S/V Serenidipity (a Lucia 40). We were joined by Lee & Dani of the S/V Toil’ de Mer (which translates to Starfish), a Leopard 42.
Kevin & Marilyn plied us with lively conversation, cocktails and appetizers. Lee and Dani are docked behind Kevin & Cindy and diagonal to us. Essentially, it was a neighborhood dock party! 😂 ⛵️
Our conversations were energetic and insightful with no pretense, and it was fun to learn about the lives everyone had led prior to arriving here in Fort Pierce. Most of the group was retired, except for Dani, who continues to work remotely on a part-time basis (and me, who is currently trying to figure out what’s next in terms of a career).
As we talked, we took turns peering down the end of the dock, looking for the promised Boat Parade of Christmas lights that happens each year. Maybe we were too engaged in our conversation, but we never did see a line of boats, lit up with Christmas lights.
After saying our goodnights, we wandered back to the boat and wrapped the evening by watching the final two episodes of season six of Grimm. All in all, it was a successful Sunday.
Before I close this travelogue entry, have I mentioned in this week’s post how much I love the added beauty of the painted electrical boxes and the inlaid benches? Here are more pictures- and I’m pretty sure they are all different from what you have seen in previous posts!
And I know I’ve already said it several times in the last few weeks, but we are literally DAYS away from heading south along the Eastern coast of Florida until we get to the Florida Keys, which is where we’ll spend the Christmas holidays with Paul’s son-in-law and grandchildren.
We are crossing our fingers to leave by Wednesday or Thursday. Weather permitting, we may even get to sail part of the way (it’s not looking good).
One way or another, this chick is heading (further) south for the winter!
