It’s Sunday morning here in “Velcro” Beach. No wait, I meant to say Vero Beach Florida. However, it’s easy to lapse and call it by it’s “cruiser name, Velcro” as once you get here, you won’t want to leave. Me, I have trouble sticking in one place for more than a few days but I have to say that Vero is a great spot to settle and NEVER MOVE AGAIN. It’s chilly this morning and the heater is running but I am sure that it will warm up later in the day as it’s forecast to be a beautiful day.
The harbor has room for more than 100 boats on moorings and in the marina and we got a great spot on a mooring just off of the main dock. It’s very pretty. 
However, when the breeze drops at night, watch out for “no-see-ums” as they will find you.
The harbor and mornings are owned by the city and the staff at the marina office is very helpful and friendly. The moorings, and there are a lot of them, are not expensive, at less than $20 per day and less than about $350 per month. And, the city runs a shuttle bus system that is amazingly extensive so you can get most anywhere in the city with a minimum of fuss. Of course, if you don’t know the schedule you can easily sit at a bus stop for nearly an hour waiting for the next bus. However, you can’t beat the cost, “$0” per ride.
I had heard that Vero is a great spot to visit with it’s amazing bus system and terrific harbor, but on our last trip through here we had only spent a night or two so didn’t “do Vero” properly. Well, not this time. This time I expect that we will spend a week.
“A week Bob? Are you kidding? You’ve never stayed ANYWHERE for a week!?” Yes, I know it sounds implausible but I am trying to SLOW DOWN as I enter my 4th year of retirement. Honest…
Well, Brenda is doubtful too, but we’ve already been here since Thursday and it’s Sunday. A week doesn’t sound that far off. Really… That’s of course, as long as there isn’t a weather window… No, I must be strong. A week…
Besides, the shuttle bus system is FREE. I WILL BE STRONG.
Anyway, the last few days here have been very pleasant and shuttle or not, the beach is only about a 20 minute walk from the marina and the neighborhoods you walk through (yes, the shuttle does take you there too) are very scenic.
Along the way are modest homes shaded by massive live oaks. Quite beautiful. 
I was struck by this huge staghorn fern. What an amazing specimen.
The last few days have been very pleasant with daytime temperatures in the 70s with cooler, but not too cool, nights. Today is the first since we arrived in Vero when I turned on the heater. Love those new batteries. Yesterday it rained hard in the AM but cleared off to a beautiful, if windy, day.
I believe that I mentioned that I had put a hole in our dink a few days ago and I have been consumed with fixing that hole. First, I used some glue that I had aboard to affix the patch. Alas, it didn’t hold as it wasn’t a good quality glue. Well, it held long enough to pump up the boat but as soon as the sun hit it and expanded the air, the patch couldn’t handle the higher pressure air and gave way. So, I had to laboriously remove the glue and try again with a two-part glue that I purchased at a marine supply place in town. However, that glue has a 48 hour cure time which meant that we have been without out “family car” for two days. If you think it’s hard for me to stay in an anchorage for a week, imagine me trying to stay aboard for TWO DAYS in port. Not easy, I assure you. Well, Chuck and Sandy, our friends aboard Summer Wind, came to our rescue and have been our “shore link” for the last two days, picking us up so we wouldn’t be stuck. Well, today is the big day when I will once again, pump up the dink. I so hope that it holds. We are so dependent on the dink to get us around that if my patch doesn’t hold then I will have to find a place to take it for some professional help. I would think that I should be in good shape though as I did follow the directions. Fingers, and toes, crossed.
Anyway, we have enjoyed Vero and are looking forward a spending more time here prior to heading further south.
Today we hope to have brunch at the Vero Beach Yacht Club and take another walk over to the beach. Should be a nice sunny day. Rumor has it that things aren’t so warm and sunny at home in CT. Glad we’re here. Have I mentioned that I like warm. Yes, warm is good.