On the move again

We are on the move again.  But first a bit about our time in Vero Beach.  We read a lot about how unfriendly Florida is to cruisers.  Vero Beach is exactly what a cruiser would like to find - a cruiser friendly city.  First off, their public transportation is free.  A bus picks up and drops off at the marina every hour.  The shopping area is just a ten minute ride away.  If you need a big chain store like Target or Walmart it is a longer ride but just as convenient.

Saturday was a day of shopping, starting with a walk to the farmers market then the bus picks you up at the market to return you and your purchases to the marina.  No lugging everything back.  Then it was a bus ride to Target and Chipotle for supplies.  Did I mention lunch at Chipotle?  Just a bus ride away.  I also found out there are other things they serve then what is on their menu.  Try ordering a Quesarito.  It is a burrito wrapped in a cheese quesadilla.  Make sure you have help to eat it all.

On Sunday most things, including the bus, shut down so it was a project day.  We were due for an oil change.  Not one of my favorite jobs.  Everything was going well until we started the engine to check for leaks and verify we have proper oil pressure.  I found out what happens when the filter is not on tight.  I thought I had it as tight as I ever tighten it but suddenly made a funny sound and there was oil flowing all over the filter, engine and some flying around.  We even had some on the ceiling.  After finding the problem and replacing the gasket everything was good except for the amount of oil that needed to be cleaned up.  It is illegal to spill oil on the water so we needed to be sure none of it got into the bilge.  The engine compartment is designed so that spills stay there and not drain into the bilge and gets pumped out.  The rest of the day was laundry and showers.  Nice long hot showers without worrying about using too much water.

Monday was rainy and heavy overcast but it was our last chance to finish provisioning.  Off to the grocery store and West Marine to replenish the oil absorbing cloths that we used in the cleanup.  While waiting for the bus we had lunch at a nice Irish pub.  Back to the boat, still in the rain, we were putting everything away when Cori noticed she was missing the eggs.  She bought a dozen and put them in her egg lock and lock container to protect them and left them at the store.  Sitting out on a mooring ball means that every trip to anywhere starts and ends with a dinghy ride in the rain.  I shuttled Cori back to shore, she caught the bus and picked up her eggs that they were holding for her, bought more stuff and came back.  That was it for the day.

Today, Tuesday, we started early by tying up to the fuel dock, topping off the diesel (45 gal), gasoline (2.5 gal) and filling the water tanks.  We carry 170 gallons of water and 80 gallons of diesel.  We then headed out to catch up with the others.  We joined up with four others we know from the marina that were already here.  Victoria Gay, Temptation, Bubbles and Skat were waiting for a weather window when we got here.  We motored 41 miles to an anchorage for the night.  Tomorrow we will arrive early at Lake Worth which is in West Pa;m Beach to prepare for jumping across to the Abacos, Bahama.  Trip so far - 663 nautical miles.