We decided to spend another day at the marina. Yesterday, we were still tired and we had boat chores to complete. We were also still adjusting to leaving the Bahamas. Laura and I shared a ride in the morning to the Publix. Fort Pierce has a free ride service. You have to wait a bit longer than uber or lyft, but not much. It worked well. Laura and Dan headed out shortly after we returned to the marina.
We did laundry, rinsed the boat, and refilled fuel and water. Once we were ready to go, we decided to spend some time exploring. We were not ready for land activities yet. We wanted to walk to the inlet and the beach. It was 2.9 miles but all sidewalk and part of it was over the Causeway Bridge.
We heard from Laura and Dan that they had had some trouble with engine overheating just before the second causeway bridge and had to anchor there. Then their anchor dragged in the current but the engine started and seemed to be ok. They made it through the bridge and the engine was doing well so they just kept going.
It was a nice walk after passing the sewage treatment plant. We had been aware of it when we came in last night but could actually see the source from the bridge. After the bridge, the island was narrow and we walked along an inlet beach where people were playing.
Jeff and Deb had sent us a list of their favorite Fort Pierce restaurants. They had stayed on the inlet side and were familiar. We had missed the opportunity for Dave’s diner breakfast and lunch but laughed when we passed it. Then there were two tiki bars both with decks facing the inlet. We visited both of those.
We walked down the jetty where people were fishing despite the numerous no fishing signs. They catch large grouper from there as well as sharks and even tarpon. David saw a very large fish jump and spin. There were pelicans fishing and children playing dangerously on the jetty. A little girl had named this pelican Mr. Williams.
The current was still rushing out close to two hours after low tide. There was some action. We watched as a sailboat go out the inlet, likely worse than coming in. We felt every wave and roll with them.
Then a large fishing boat came in the inlet and even he had some trouble.The only people enjoying the inlet, seemed to be the jet skiers and they were loving it.
We spoke to some locals who said it was unusually rough and a captain of a superyacht who had come in under the same circumstances we had and had also walked back to see it again. Back at the park, we discovered that there is a web cam at the jetty, the Fort Pierce Jetty Cam, which gives a great view of the inlet.
While we were having a snack at the inlet tiki bar, We saw a fishing boat drift by. They had been drifting and fishing above the inlet but this time, they kept floating down and the motor was up with someone trying to work on it.
Just as they were about to go into the waves, a police boat sped toward them and was able to guide them back to safety using the rubber fender of their boat. 10 more yards and they would have been in trouble. Back at the other tiki bar, where we had dinner, we saw the police boats go racing out several more times but we could not see what was happening. Finally, about two hours and forty five minutes after low tide, the inlet calmed and we started to see a slight incoming current.
We walked back to the marina in time to watch some basketball and then sleep. We plan an early start up the waterway in the morning. Puttering still feels like the right decision until the waves outside calm down a little and we are grateful for the option.
