Vero Beach turned out to be our provisioning, dental care, and upgrade harbour. We (especially Geoff) spent much time installing equipment - an additional solar panel, new batteries, the autopilot which we have carried with us in a box since Ottawa, pieces of the floor, and new winches, just to name a few. Time was also spent provisioning the boat with food that will be harder (or much more expensive) to get once we are in the islands. Geoff was also able to get his root canal done and now has a crown on his tooth as well. During our time in Vero we have learned that things take much longer on a boat than they would ashore - if you think it will take a day to install something, it will take at least twice that, and if you go shopping for food one day, expect another to get it all put away on the boat.
Our time in Vero Beach was also filled with wildlife around the boat. Ruth particularly enjoyed the pelicans diving for fish around the mangrove island behind our mooring. Other wildlife included lots of dolphins, a very friendly manatee that seemed to be quite curious about our boat, and numerous wading birds.
Ruth: I would like to thank all of you who have sent me e-mails or otherwise expressed your condolences and offered your support over the last few weeks. It has meant a lot to me.
Ruth figuring out the medical kit
Vero Beach bus drivers
New solar panel (195 Watts)
All this for four bolts! (to install the solar panel)
Carrying our provisions back to the boat
Okay, now let's put it all away...
View of the ICW south from the Vero Beach bridge
