Boating with Sunset Delight: 2023 South: Vero Beach to Lake Worth FL

20 November 2023
No boat travel.

Today we had chores to do. I took care of our laundry. Meanwhile Clark helped Don replace some bathroom light switches with ones that are lit so the grandkids can see where they are in the dark when they come to visit.

Anna prepared tacos for lunch and then we indulged on Key Lime Pie that Clark and I picked up at Publix after our trip to Fort Pierce the other day.

I spent time today bringing the blog up to date.

It started with one lone Ibis standing on a piling near the boat. Then there were three in Don’s lawn and then a flock.

21 November 2023
No boat travel.

Today was a mostly lazy day. Yet again Anna fed us. This time it was a chicken dinner with all the trimmings and the rest of the Key Lime pie for dessert. I am so spoiled; I think I have forgotten how to cook!

22 November 2023
Depart: Vero Beach private dock 11:10
Arrive: Vero Beach private dock 12:10
Distance: ~ 3 nm (guestimate)

We will be with Anna and Don for Thanksgiving Day and then we will depart on Friday to continue heading towards the Keys. Anna gave us strict instructions that we were on our own for food today as she would be busy all day preparing for the turkey feast she plans to provide.

In preparation for departure on Friday, Clark said we needed to go to the city marina for a pumpout. The round trip took an hour with most of that sitting at the dock waiting for the pump-out to do its job. Counterintuitive … the fuller it was the slower it went. Towards the end of the job it moved much faster. Don went with us for the ride.

Clark also filled the water tanks. I remembered enough about how to cook to prepare us both lunch and dinner. I emptied the garbage cans and vacuumed the boat – also in preparation of our upcoming travels. I should have done a last load of laundry but decided that could wait.

Adhering to our instructions, we did not bother the busy cook in the house today at all.

23 November 2023 Thursday Thanksgiving Day
No boat travel.

With nothing to do today until Anna’s dinner at 3:00 and reasonably cool temperatures, both Clark and I had the same idea. I grabbed the “Barkeeper’s Friend” and went out to clean the railings and other metal on the boat. Clark grabbed the compounding and scrubbed the cockpit clean.

We did not eat lunch because we knew Anna would stuff us with food later. After we completed cleaning, we got ourselves cleaned up and put on our good togs for the meal.

The menu was extensive starting with a variety of appetizers. Turkey, rice, sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts with chestnuts, broccoli rabe, and a cold asparagus side made up the main course. Both apple pie (homemade by Anna) and pecan pie (made by Cathy) were presented with ice cream for dessert.

The guest list included ourselves, Cathy and Franklin, and Don’s sisters and husbands. We all had a lovely time.

Some missing including Clark and Don ...
Louise, Rich (missing), Cathy, Clark (missing),
Anna (hostess), Ev, Franklin, Valerie, Gene,
Don (host) would be at head of table.

We returned to the boat for the night about 8:00 to watch “White Collar”. Fitting, but sad, we managed to watch the last of the episodes of the final season. We have exhausted this series as well as “Suits” and “Covert Affairs”. We have to decide what we watch next. We do not watch reality TV, gameshows or sports.

24 November 2023 – Black Friday
Depart: Vero Beach private dock 8:10
Arrive: Lake Worth, FL anchorage 4:15
Distance: ~ 65 nm

Both of us awoke around 7:00 anxious to get underway. Anna and Don came down to the dock to see us off. We must have behaved ourselves well as we received an invitation to stop back to visit in the spring.

Our host and hostess come to say goodbye.

We traveled the ICW to Fort Pierce inlet and then escaped out into the ocean.

A trimaran with some serious issues

Fort Pierce North Bridge –
very noisy when passing underneath!

It was very lonely on the ICW today. Everyone must have been out shopping.

This picture has most likely been in the blog before, but I find it an interesting way of advertising.

Clark pointed out the difference in appearance where the fast-flowing waters of the Okeechobee came into the ICW.

Pictures taken passing by Fort Pierce ...

Boat lift for a big boat

Ouch!

Ouch again!

USCG boat

USCG Station

Cloudy day today

Sun trying to peek through the clouds

Dockside Marina - "Docks Now Open"

Pictures taken as we headed out the inlet ...

"Carried Away"

Slow poke ahead with no clue we are behind him.
Guy next to driver saw us, said something to pilot, and
they took off like a bat out of hell.

Police car onshore

1 of 2 parts of a range marker

Folks fishing on jetty

The waters were exceedingly calm until we got out in the ocean. We traveled on the ocean for about 5 hours or so. Compared to the predicted 2 to 4 footer waves, the waters seemed a wee bit more choppy. Clark took some pictures of the waves.

Clouds over ocean ...

After lunch, I asked Clark if his sandwiches were okay. He gave me the same answer he's been giving me as we traveled along on this trip. "I don't know. The bear ate my lunch!"

We could see the buildings of the Palm Beach area well before we arrived at the inlet.

When we arrived at the inlet, I asked Clark, "What is that thing on the beach?"

Even with a slight chill in the air, the beach had people on it.

Motorized skateboard --
a quick way to travel home from fishing

Pictures of the area as we entered Palm Beach...

As per usual, the inlet from the ocean to the ICW is short but finding a spot to drop anchor takes us a long ways in. We had to pass by a lot of anchored / moored boats (mostly sailboats) before we could find a spot.