July 19, 2012—Melbourne to Vero Beach

The Melbourne city dock was already occupied with fishermen when we arrived in the dark with Fritz in the dinghy at 6:00am for our little walk around the public park. It is wonderful for Melbourne to accommodate cruisers with easy access to their facilities.  Convenient trashcans, doggie bags, restrooms, library, restaurant and an easy on and off dinghy dock.  You just don’t find this many places, so kudos to the Melbournites.

Underway by 6:30 south on the ICW we had planned to go to Ft. Pierce Inlet and anchor just off the channel as we had before, but when it heated up we changed plans and pulled into Vero Beach City Marina about ten miles shy of our original destination.  It would make tomorrow a little longer, but let us have another good night’s sleep in the air conditioning.  On the way north a couple had highly recommended their home port, and it was a good one.  Easy on and off the ICW, friendly live aboards and very nice facilities.  Better yet, the walk to the beach was only about a half mile.  After walking the shore, and a margarita shaved ice, Dennis got in the water to scrub the brown mustache off Aurora, and I did what I hope will be our last laundry of the trip.

Fritz frantically enjoyed his favorite Florida past time, chasing lizards in the little park behind the marina.  I say chasing because he very seldom ever catches one, they’re so fast, hide quickly, and drive him crazy, but what fun he has just trying.