February 2022

Of all the travels we do the most dangerous involves land. While here in Stuart we have been working hard to stay fit. That includes walking and bike riding each day. And the traffic is terrible - as if half the population of northern USA is right here in Stuart! 

Back in December/early January, when we were anchored in West Palm, the bike riding was easy - bike paths along the waterway and under the bridges. No need to cross the busy highways! We could ride miles from the inlet coming into Lake Worth all the way to Trump’s Miralago. 

Speaking of West Palm, I wanted to share some pictures of West Palm and Palm Beach. West Palm is on the west side of the waterway. Palm Beach is on the east side along the ocean. When we hopped on our bikes in West Palm we drove around the busy city streets and admired the murals on the buildings...

"Eris and the Golden Apple" by Danny Doya

“The Spirit of Communication" by Tristan Eaton

"Einstein's Theory of Love" by Eduardo Kobra

There are homeless people along the sidewalks next to the water but they never ask for anything. I expect there are services here for food and shelter if they wish. They have all of their belongings in rolling luggage - no shopping carts here. 

The City Docks in West Palm.

Every weekend there’s a farmer’s market in the park along the water and for 2 block along Clematis Street. 

Farmer's Market in West Palm

If you cross the bridge to Palm Beach by the ocean, all the houses are huge, the cars are Porsche, Bentley, Rolls Royce and there are no homeless people on any of the streets. The road over the bridge goes right to the ocean.

Palm Beach - out to the ocean.

The shopping and dining are one-of-a-kind.

A dining garden in Palm Beach surrounded by bronze sculptures.

Each sculpture has a child or two at play.

Most of the shops are exclusive designers in Palm Beach.

Antiques

One of the many jewelry stores in Palm Beach.

Besides walking and biking we have been visiting friends “Aunt Susan” & Ken and Dale & Roni. Most recently we’ve been helping our friend Bob find a sailboat to live on.  He’s been living on a sailboat for the last 30 years sailing between NY and FL every fall/spring and last fall he hit an unlit something or other off the Delaware Bay.  Maybe some dredge equipment - it was dark and he’s a single-hander, he was able to motor the boat to safe harbor but it’s not seaworthy.  Anyway, he figures life isn’t worth living unless he can live on a boat.  We found him a boat here in Stuart, got him set up with all equipment working as it should, and off he went to Lake Worth.  I forgot mention Bob is in his mid-80s.

Bob's new home - a Catalina 36 loaded with cruising gear

We spent a wonderful week on the west coast of FL (we rented a car) to visit our cruising friends Ron and Deb who bought a house.  

I had to wrestle a gator when Ron and Deb took us to Matlacha on the west coast of FL.

Deb, me, Roni and Dale on our road trip to Matlacha.

 It was nice to spend time with them in their beautiful home on the water.  And with a puppy and a pool life can’t get much better!

Jerry reading a book by the pool with Charlie using the lounge chairs appropriately.

Charlie - what a good dog!  He's a mini-golden doodle.

We've had a couple of chilly days here in January - morning temperatures in the 30s.  The good thing about FL winter - the sun comes back out and warms things up quickly.  And spring is just around the corner!

Best wishes - stay warm and healthy!

Karen & Jerry