Back In Melbourne Harbor Marina

After two more days of boat chores in Fort Pierce, diesel maintenance (Pete's job, not mine), more docktails with Pete and Ginny, laundry, a fun round of golf at Indian Hills Golf Course (complete with an alligator by my drive), and a tasty Italian dinner at "A Touch of Brooklyn," we headed north today. A long day of about 45 miles brought us back to Melbourne Harbor Marina.

On the way here, we admired a motor cat that blew by us at about 9 or 10 knots. Kinda gets sailors wondering, doesn't it? Should we too "go to the dark side"? Many of us abandon the sails and move to trawlers. But a motor cat might at least feel a bit more like a sailboat. Hmmm. Food for thought!

Our slip had no cable at the dock, so we hung out at Ichabod's Dockside Bar for the first round of this year's Masters. What a lively place for a Thursday night too. Unfortunately, after getting back onboard MicMac, we realized that the end of the harbor where we now have a slip is lively too--with ambulance sirens heading to the nearby hospital, plus bridge and railroad noises. Guess we'll run the AC to drown out the noise, and hope for quiet anchorages in the future.

Tiger certainly looked somber today--as well he should! We were happy that Phil Mickelson is just off the lead. Our goal for tomorow is to go to Cocoa Beach Marina (and their comfy boaters lounge with a huge TV) to watch round two. Go Phil!

Back in Fort Pierce after a successful NASA blastoff

Discovery launch "telltails"

We set our alarms at 6:15 a.m. this morning to watch the Discovery space shuttle take off from Cape Canaveral, even though it's about 70 miles away. The launch was set for 6:21 a.m. and I can't discover why that exact time was chosen. Any rocket scientists out there who can explain????

Lo and behold, (at exactly 6:22) Pete got a quick glimpse of an orange ball as the shuttle passed through a break in the clouds. A few minutes later, we both saw the first stage booster falling to the sea. Then the rising sun did a light show on the exhaust trail tendrils a bit later. Kinda cool.

We had missed a launch on the way south because I had forgotten what day it was. It's always "boat time" onboard. So we're happy we got to see one this morning (even from afar), since it's supposedly the last one launched in darkness.

Captain Pete was ecstatic to sail all the way from Stuart to Fort Pierce. Mary Ann was ecstatic to NOT listen to the diesel. The quiet was so welcome. We have motor sailed too much of this trip. Why does the wind always come from the direction sailors want to go? Finally a long stretch of perfect Florida weather too! Of course, it's also been in the high 70s in Virginia.

Pete and Ginny from Stingray Yacht Club

As we pulled into Harbortown Marina in Fort Pierce, Pete and Ginny (fellow Stingray Harbor members) greeted us. They just arrived here two days ago on their new and bigger Joy Ride from the Bahamas. We enjoyed lots of stories with them over docktails and dinner tonight.

It's sorta bittersweet to be here because this marina was where we left MicMac last December on our way south. Lots of water under the bow since then, and we're on our way home.

Easter Sunday Sunrise

We left Lake Worth anchorage at sunrise early Easter morning. We didn't see anyone on Tiger's yacht across the anchorage! Guess he really is planning on practice rounds for the Masters.

No leg of lamb onboard, so Captain Pete whipped up a mega-pizza for Easter Sunday dinner.

No jelly beans onboard either, but we've been enjoying the two chocolate Easter bunnies that Brody's Grandma gave Mimi and Pop Pop in Boston when we celebrated Brody's first birthday. They are specially yummy with red wine. Thanks, Judy.
I've been wearing my new super-visor that I bought in Islamorada. Pete now calls it my Easter bonnet. However, I think of Sally Fields since I also look like the Flying Nun.

My new Easter bonnet

Bridges are no big deal anymore, and we got a hoot when one of the bridge tenders called us an "Easter Parade" as we approached his bridge. There were four sailboats all under power moving north (two from Canada).

Many snowbirds are returning home.

Pete talked to Charlie Egan as we passed Jupiter Inlet Light, but didn't get to see them. Guess he'll have to play golf with him back at Two Rivers.

Jupiter Inlet Light

We anchored in Manatee Pocket, after going through the newly dredged Crossroads. LOTS of water under us today! Thank you, Corps of Engineers, for not adding to our distress this time.