On Monday, we motored past more mega-home on our way to Ft. Pierce. While traveling along, dolphins would swim over to the boat and surf in the waves made by the boat, usually just off the stern quarter where I sit and steer. We have been told that the dolphins like to be talked to, so you will often see people on boats (especially boats from the North), standing by the lifelines, waving and speaking to attract the dolphins. Well, on this trip I was in one of the Zen states that I disappear into when steering for hours from marker to marker. While in this relaxed state, a dolphin sneaked right up by the stern of the boat and jumped out of the water, exhaling loudly by my ear. My sons will be happy to know that my startle reflex still works well as I came about 2 feet off my comfortable perch at the helm seat. This particular dolphin continued to ride our wave for the next few minutes. I am sure it was looking for further reactions. So now I am careful to keep an eye out for dolphins and wave and mutter to them as they draw close.

At Ft. Pierce, we again stayed in a marina as it was getting late and the anchorage again was exposed. On the way in I noticed that the water level was getting lower and lower. Now one thing we always ask when going into a marina or fuel dock is the water level. Guess what we forgot to ask at this marina. Well when I last looked at the depth gauge just before docking, we had 5.0 feet. Fortunately, this was at low tide so we just cleared the soft silt bottom for the evening. We do enjoy our 5-foot draft. Just after docking, we were treated to a fishing display by a tarpon and pelicans going after a school of small fish all around our boat. There was water splashing and fish leaping and great excitement. It was also, being low tide, a 4-foot climb onto the dock. We treated ourselves to the local, open-air restaurant at the marina, enjoying the music and the sunset. We also saw our first pelican tree. Karen told me to look at the fruit on this tree at the end of the harbour. The tree was in fact covered with sleeping pelicans too numerous to count.

Next we went to Stuart, which is about 7 miles off the ICW at the entrance to the Okeechobee Waterway. We had planned to go to Stuart to catch up on some boat jobs, provision and install solar panels that we had ordered to be delivered to the Stuart Marina. The marina rents out moorings that are relatively inexpensive and has good washrooms, showers and laundry facilities. We could also use it as a mailing address to get some parts delivered. We also realized that we were tired from all the traveling and needed some time in one spot. We had covered about 1000 miles of the ICW over the past month. As a bonus, we also were able to see Bill and Ruthe on Tarshish - friends from our Boat Club in Burlington. They had stored their boat near Stuart last winter. We had a great reunion and dinner with them going over ICW adventures.

When we got to Stuart, all our parts were there except the solar panels. We started into getting supplies and doing maintenance on the boat. We also had to arrange for a marine survey for insurance as the existing survey was out of date. So on Thursday, we got the boat surveyed (she passed with flying colours and got a "bristol" rating), and attended a potluck (American) Thanksgiving dinner at the marina. Two of the cruising boats arranged the dinner, complete with turkey and ham. About 30 people turned out and it was a great time. On Saturday, we were invited to a birthday party on a trawler where we were served eggs benedict - the trawler people sure know how to live. On Sunday, we had a farewell dinner with Safina and Imagine at a local Thai restaurant. Safina was heading south for Cuba and Imagine to Lake Worth. We had traveled with Safina off and on since Sandy Hook NJ. It was sad to see them go but I am sure we will meet up again as they are heading toward the Caribbean after Cuba. Fortunately we can keep in contact by e-mail.

Meanwhile there are no weather windows for a Bahamas crossing so we plan to stay in Stuart for at least another week.