Post #52: Movin’ Down the Coast

Monday, January 11 to Friday, January 15, 2021

Our stay in Cocoa Village ended last Monday and since then we have traveled southward, continuing down the Indian River past Melbourne to Vero Beach and beyond.  We had visited Melbourne briefly right after Christmas.  I missed driving around neighborhoods adorned with Christmas lights back in Massachusetts so I suggested visiting the drive-through Space Coast Lightfest sponsored (and set up and managed) by local Boy Scout troops.  It was awesome! We loved the 200-foot long “Light Tunnel” at the end of the 1.5 mile drive.

The next three days we spent at the Vero Beach municipal marina.  We decided that if we spend time in this area next winter, we’d like to stay at Vero.  It was so easy to walk to the beach, window shop the upscale boutiques, enjoy dinner outside, and dinghy to the grocery store.  In non-Covid times, we would like to visit the art museum and the Riverside Theatre, all within walking distance of the marina.  There were many incredibly well-maintained parks for walking, areas for paddle-boarding and kayaking, and protected habitats to explore. We understand why so many cruisers call it “Velcro Beach”—it’s hard to leave!

But we want to keep moving where it’s warmer so we continued past Fort Pierce and Jensen Beach. We made the decision to stay on the ICW rather than go out to the Atlantic at St. Lucie Inlet so that meant we had to cross the busy St. Lucie River at the “Crossroads.” Just imagine 5 major waterways coming together with boats going in 10 directions, trying to avoid shoaling areas, battling currents and cross currents and waves—it was crazy!  We were quite relieved to reach our destination. We dropped the anchor opposite Jupiter Island across from the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. The natural wilderness to the west contrasted strikingly with the manicured lawns and elaborate architecture of the mansions on the eastern shore.  But nothing could compare to nature’s own beauty: