MAKING OUR WAY TO REST IN STUART FOR A WHILE

3-25-13 TO 3-31-2013 FORT LAUDERDALE TO STUART

        With the Sony Tennis Tournament taking place in Kay Biscayne, Dan found that Sam was playing on Tuesday afternoon.  Garth and Kathy drove down from Stuart, picked us up and off we went to watch Sam play.  We didn't bring him any good luck but it was fun to be there.

SAM SERVES A FAST ONE

                Tuesday morning found Quest back traveling in the ICW and heading north.  With 20 bridges in our path it was an extremely slow day.  We were lucky to get into the proper groove and very seldom had to wait more than a few minutes for a bridge opening.  A few of the larger bridges we are able to pass right under and the Lantana Bridge is dismantled and open while they are working on a new bridge.

                Boy is this Southern Florida the place to find the “Big Boys”.  We found Spielberg’s 7 Seas, Pegasus that we saw in the Exumas along with numerous other huge yachts.  The beautiful 122’ Mariner III was a sight to see.  This classic motor yacht was built in 1926 and has been used in Ralph Lauren and Maybelline magazine commercials.  She has accommodated many famous guests like Jimmy Buffet, Bruce Willis and the Rockefellers to name just a few.  You can check her out at www.mariner3.com

SOME OF THE BIG BOYS

THE CLASSIC MARINER III

      

                Funny the things you see on the water in Palm Beach.  The floating snack bar and patio boat complete with slide were a new sight for me.  The old house being moved was just the frosting on the cake.

OH THE SIGHTS WE SEE!

                Lake Worth was our anchorage for the night and proved to be, again, calm and quiet.  We found Tiger Wood’s yacht, Privacy, is still docked at the Old Port Cove Marina and a Vermont sailboat in the anchorage.

TIGER'S PRIVACY

SAILBOAT FROM COLCHESTER, VT

                Wednesday Quest continues her way north, again passing under many bridges we finally made our way into the Saint Lucie River and found our slip at Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart.  You may recall that we spent about a month here before leaving for Bimini at the end of last year.  Garth and Kathy on Algonquin are here and we also, finally, met Gene and Ginny Browning on Free to B.  They were doing the Great Loop when we stayed in their permanent space at the Chipman Point Marina on Lake Champlain during the summer of 2011.  They are headed back up to their home base next week and we hope to see them there sometime this summer.

THE OLD ROOSEVELT OPENS TO WELCOME US TO STUART AND SUNSET BAY MARINA

GENE AND GINNY ON FREE TO B

          Easter Sunday found not one hidden egg, yellow Peep or colorful jellybean on Quest!  We did, however, find a great place to watch a group of manatees. For all of those who follow, take Indian Road to the little Whittaker Bridge and see what you can find.  These slow moving herbivores average about 850 to 1,200 lbs and 9 to 10' in length.  They spend their time sleeping  or grazing in shallow waters, surfacing for air regularly.  They are truly spectacular creatures, almost like modern day dinosaurs.

A MANATEE IS ALSO CALLED A SEA COW

THIS PAIR NEARS AS THEY FLOAT UNDER THE BRIDGE

        Things will be quiet on the Quest for the  next two weeks but I will update when we resume our journey north.  Hope you all had a great Easter and that Spring is beginning to make her colorful presence known.