Vero Beach to Stuart

Vero Beach is sometimes called Velcro Beach because so many people never leave once they arrive.  Much of the Indian River citrus crop is processed here before being shipped all over the country.  Fort Pierce is the largest city we came through on our trip to Stuart today.  Fort Pierce was founded as a military base at the time of the Seminole War.  During WWII its beaches were used as training for amphibious assaults by the U.S. servicemen.  Two noteworthy attractions are the Manatee Observation and Education Center and the Navy SEAL Museum.  

At the St. Lucie Inlet the ICW intersects with the St. Lucie River at what is known as Mile Zero on the Okeechobee Waterway--our route to the west coast of Florida.  About half a mile from the ICW is Manatee Pocket.  Manatee Pocket is the home of the Chapman School of Seamanship.  This school offers many courses for boaters.  Chapman's also has many donated boats for sale for boat hunters looking for a good deal on a used boat.  

Stuart sits along the St. Lucie River.  A city which boasts to have a little bit of everything that is considered Floridian--it is easy to find citrus, fresh vegetables, flowers and cattle in this town.  It likes to call itself the "Sailfish Capital of the World".  

Can you see the cows?

Above is Sea Bear--we just missed the boat in the Bahama's--it belongs to Jack Nicklaus. 

Joy