What have we been up to since the last post?
On Monday morning we were up relatively early to make our way across the state to Jupiter. We took Hwy70 across the top of Lake Okeechobee, through Arcadia and Okeechobee City, and then down to Jupiter where we had arranged to meet Robyn and Dave (our buddy boaters from the gulf crossing) for lunch. We found them, in the rain, at a Yacht Club marina, where they are preparing their boat to be hauled out, a little further north, for the rest of the year. They are going back to upstate NY for the balance of the year to accomplish some 'projects' and do some gardening (Robyn). I'm jealous!
We found out that they live across the river from some old Maui friends of mine who are currently wintering over in the Dallas, Tx, area. They may as well have stayed in NY, with all the cold and snow that Tx has had this year.
If we get that far, this year, we will look forward to visiting them both, either by boat or by car....leaving the boat somewhere while we take a road trip across the top of the state.
We had lunch at a really fun tiki hut place which had most of it's outdoors closed off due to the rain, unfortunately. We hung around waiting for someone to leave their table so that we could nab it, when vacated. Our meals were excellent, and we enjoyed catching up with Robyn and Dave and their plans for the future.
The view down river from the restaurant...on a wet day!
The up river view. Robyn and Dave had been here only in their dinghy, before:)
The 'waiting room' on the sidewalk, outside
Great sign, and great place! A good choice!
We left Robyn and Dave around 4pm, with an eye to avoiding the 5pm traffic...which didn't seem to be bad at all. We had sat on the cockpit deck for an hour and enjoyed the view from there, including watching two young Osprey trying their wings, on a high nest across the ICW, nearby.
It rained on an off all the way up the Hwy to our overnight stop...Comfort Inn suites, Ft Pierce. This was the least expensive place we could find, and we booked a room because it is something of a luxury for us...two queen beds all to ourselves. He got one, I got the other....stretch out time!:) A little selfish, I have to say, but we also got to spend a loooooong time in the shower; another luxury!
We are very economical with water, on the boat, because we have to be. We also have small spaces, so when we have the opportunity to take advantage of larger spaces, we do it.
We ate at Red Lobster, just around the corner....driving into the next door parking lot, because it was raining cats and dogs. I enjoyed a stuffed Tilapia with extra helping of broccoli, and Waz ordered Fish and Chips, which he didn't enjoy so much. The fish was dry and the chips looked pretty much the same.
Another benefit of staying at the Comfort Inn, was the included breakfast. Waz made waffles per usual, while I (not enjoyed) ate sausage patty and omelet...hmmm...say not more...and fruit.
We made our way east to Jensen Beach and a visit with Katie and Dean, who are staying at the Marina on Nettles Island. The island is reclaimed land, which is interesting...sticking out into the ICW, which is very wide at that point. Katie has many family members staying at the village there, over the winter, and it was great to meet them.
The four of us went across the road to Shuckers Restaurant, on the Atlantic coast (The Island is VERY narrow) for lunch, which we greatly enjoyed.
Looking right UP the beach from the restaurant...condos all the way.
Yes, though it was cool, and raining, that didn't stop these young people on Spring Break, from swimming and enjoying the small surf.
A few hardy souls out in the cool and damp.
Looking back to the restaurant. You can just see Waz's back, on the right.After lunch we went visiting Katies Relatives...first Mom and Dad who are in their fifth wheeler, opposite Katie's sister's house, then Uncle Bob and Auntie Kathie, just around the corner. Such nice folks! We left there around 3pm to make the trip back to Pt Charlotte.
We had passed the Historic district of Jensen Beach, on the way to Nettles Island, so decided to go and look for a coffee there. We were too late in the day, there, but took a walk around the village and visited a couple of Galleries, as we do. I was rather taken by this shrimp thing, outside a restaurant.
Down the main street of Historic Jensen Beach...the ICW is just at the end of this road.
Galleries in the historic villas
Quaint hanging things in one of the galleries.
A remodeled villa...into a gallery, of course:)
We hit the road again...Waz looked up the nearest Starbucks, on the GPS. We HAD to have a coffee before going home. That accomplished, we set forth, once again taking Hwy 70, back across the top of the Lake, to Pt Charlotte.
I hate that I don't have any photos to accompany what I am going to say next, but there was just nowhere to stop, and take any.
It appears that the highest points in southern Florida, are the Trash mountains. How sad!...BUT...we did drive through some 'pretty' countryside which was mostly ranchland, sod farms....miles of lovely green grass...palm and tree farms, Dairy 'Farms' the likes of which we have never seen before, they were so huge. This is farming on a grand scale!
Orange trees for miles, also. Trucks full of orange and green fruit pulled up alongside of us.
We wondered how the green fruit was going to be sweet, made into juice, which this invariably would be.
Yes, the trucks really are that long!!
We also passed a series of Jails, or Pententiaries, out in the middle of nowhere..which is why they are built there, no doubt! It was the other side of Arcadia, I believe.
Arcadia appeared to be a very rundown, low socio-economic area, and it was not just sad, but quite disturbing to see how many families are living, there. We were also appalled at the state of the Farm cottages, and couldn't believe people actually lived in those things. Inhumane, really.
It was good to be home, before dark...which is getting later and later, these days. Well, it IS the end of March already. Where did those first three months go to??
We had to chuckle...sitting and watching 'Swamp People' on TV....we know people like that, in Louisiana!...Gator hunters!!
Still not sure why we haven't see a Gator yet, but we did see a Manatee browsing on mangroves, while we were at the restaurant with Robyn and Dave. Fascinating watching it reaching out of the water to get the young end shoots.
Wednesday, Warren went into the County Building in Punta Gorda, to sit his Driver's test...well, the written one, anyway.
We always seem to have an issue with our Legal Residence, when we go and do any of these things....it is the BOAT! Most people cannot get their head around that. It appears that you should have brick and mortar addresses. Well, we are just being difficult, it would appear.
I also got my Driver's license changed to show the boat as my residence, where it showed the hosts address, as I have previously mentioned.
Waz aced the written test (on computer), of course and we have an appointment on April 9th, to do the 5 min driving test. It is cutting things a little skinny, time-wise, for us!. That is the day we take the car back to the rental company!
The vehicle license thing took us TWO HOURS! Just as well we had nothing better to do!
Thursday...We went out and bought foam and batting to re-fill the leather sofas. This has been the subject of discussion for a while, and we cannot afford to change the leather (which could do with a change) at the moment, so making it look like new was in order. Adding 2" foam to the bottom of the seat (under the leather) has made the world of difference in comfort. After 14 yrs, it was time!
Removing the old batting. We would have preferred to remove the old foam too, but that wasn't an option this time around. Waz carefully removed all the staples at the back and carefully took the leather off. It is a bit delicate in places, so it is good to reinforce those and make sure the upholstery will do us at least another year, if not more. We love the color, and they really are very comfy now they are re-stuffed.
The shoe box added the required weight, after spraying glue to attach the new green foam to the old yellow stuff, AND the plywood base.
TaDa! The new upholstery on the right and the old on the left. I think the leather will be better for the new foam!
It is a very physical job, doing all this, so it takes two of us to manhandle all the pieces back together. Waz has the heft and I handle the staple gun. Thank goodness we purchased an electric one to do the other chairs, because it makes the job 150% easier.
Today we have done a shop at Sam's club, put more photos on the website for sale (soon..be patient!!), attended to the end of the month business things, and made plans to continue the seating tomorrow. We have the dinette to do also, so this will keep us busy for a few days.
It really is past time for me to go and make some dinner. Trout for dinner...yum!
Ciao for now. Lets hope the rain goes away for tomorrow when the Punta Gorda Airshow is on. We have been watching some of the old aircraft circle overhead, and had the thrill of watching the Thunderbirds flying by...gosh they are noisy!!!
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