Ft. Pierce to Stuart, Florida

First stop, fuel.  The best reported fuel prices were at Ft. Pierce Marine Center just under the bridge.  There was a confusion of buoys marking the marina channel to starboard and a shoal area.  The current was rockin’ through there also and we missed the turn so had to go down river a bit, turn around and try again.  Moving along the marked channel we were going sideways to stay between the buoys but made it to the fuel dock without mishap.   

On our way out of the channel another power boat was coming in.  If it weren’t for the narrowness of the channel and the fact that we were already in it, it would have been fun to watch the oncoming boat sliding sideways in the current as the captain tried to keep control and stay in the confines of the buoys.  We were skimming the green buoys as the incoming boat was fighting to stay high as we passed but luckily no hull paint was shared between us. 

  

The weather outside had picked up a bit, so we headed down the ICW.  The ICW is in the middle of a wide expanse of very shallow water here so the day was spent going from channel marker to channel marker.  Nearing Stuart we had a several hour trip weaving up the bay to get to Loggerhead Marina.  The channel is like following a rope that someone wadded up and tossed onto the floor.  

Fountain outside Loggerhead

The marina here is very nice with an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi with a jig saw puzzle in “The Captains Lounge” along with coffee, a TV and a comfortable couch and chairs.  Unfortunately we had no time to use it as we spent the time varnishing and oiling the teak gunwales, grocery shopping, downloading Bahama charts, and walking over to Sunset marina to visit the plethora of Krogens who call Sunset their home port.   Even with that busyness, Peggy did manage to find time to finish the jigsaw puzzle that someone else had started.

Loading Provisions

We enjoyed dinner at the Sailor’s Rest Restaurant and visited other boat people at Loggerhead.  Our neighbors Dudley and Candy from Texas on Serenity gave us their extra Quarantine Flag one for the Bahamas plus a ride to Publix which was a lot more convenient than carrying groceries on our bikes.  The car also enabled us to stock up on canned goods for the next few months in the Bahamas.   Also at this marina are 2 Krogens, Selkie (Felix – Philadelphia), and Cracker Jack.

New Car Bridge to Ft Pearce.

Lou, who we met at Zimmerman in Mathews, VA, was here on a boat delivery job.  He was also heading for North Bimini but since he was on a fast boat was headed directly there on Dec. 14.