There was a break in the afternoon, so I chanced a walk toward town and stopped at Archie’s Seabreeze for a beer before heading back. Archie’s is popular with tourists and locals alike. 
There was a large patio in the back and another bar. The band was pretty good, but watching a few women dance (while acting out the lyrics) was even better.
When the skies darkened, it was time to hurry back to the condo – probably the fastest 2 miles I’ve ever walked – in a light rain and just before the downpour. Whew!
Author Archives: arletelouise
Bike ride #3
No rain until after 3 pm today,
so time for a bike ride to … 
Half crafts and half fresh fruits & vegetables and food vendors.
Miles = 12
Bike Ride #2
We drove to Pahokee today to ride part of LOST – Lake Okeechobee State Trail.
The lake is the second-largest freshwater lake in the USA, average depth is 9 feet. After a hurricane in 1928 when 2500 people were killed, a 30-foot dike was built around the entire lake. Parts of the trail are paved, parts are rough trail, and parts are impassable requiring cyclists to ride on roads. Ultimately, there is supposed to be a 110-mile paved trail. After just 6 miles, we came to an impassable section and turned around.
Back in Ft Pierce, we stopped at Pelican Seafood Market – what a beautiful selection.
As a thank-you for doing all the cooking, JD bought scallops for dinner tonight!
Yum!
Thanks, JD! Miles = 12.
Bike ride #1
Winds at 10 mph and no rain this morning – it was time for a bike ride. At last! Final check before heading south toward Jensen Beach, from our condo in Ft Pierce.
Lunch at Strawberry’s, our turn-around point.
Riding back, the Indian River is to the left, the Atlantic to the right. This is one of the narrowest sections of Hutchinson Island.
Our timing was perfect. An hour after we got back, it started pouring.
Miles = 29
Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Because the wind was still howling today, we decided to drive to Orlando and go to Epcot.
L-R: Jerry, Rena, the greeter at Port Orleans-French Quarter, Billie, JD. Rena and Jerry are Billie’s daughter’s husband’s parents and work part-time as Disney “cast members” (all Disney employees are cast members) at one of the water parks. They were very helpful in making last-minute arrangements for lodging. We were so grateful for all they did for us!
We saw and did a lot, but I think my favorite was
especially the greenhouses.
Elevated crop of winter melons.
The “lean and lower technique” for tomatoes.
Vertical growing system.
The fish provide fertilizer for the herbs growing above.
The World Showcase of countries. Mexican mariachi band:
JD needed to buy a hat and every country had their own version for sale. JD did not buy this one.
Acrobatic French Chefs.
Medieval Italian soldiers.
From England, Mary Poppins.
A salute to Canada’s Butchart Gardens.
Windy day
The weather wasn’t very good for bicycling today – wind gusts to 25 mph.
Time for a long walk around the Ocean Village grounds.
We also made several stops to stock our kitchen, including a really good outdoor fresh fruit and vegetable market. Billie, “This is one of my favorite places on Earth.”
Roanoke VA to Hutchinson Island FL
The van was packed and the bikes loaded last night.
4 am (oh my!), we are on the road!
Billie drove 13 hours!
Ah, it’s warmer already.
Our condo is on the 4th floor with a nice view of the ocean in the northern part of Hutchinson Island, closest to the city of Ft Pierce. We will be here two weeks!
To Roanoke VA
Work is over! Time for a vacation. I flew to Roanoke today. Billie, JD, and I have a bicycling adventure ahead.
There are still a few weeks left to gather walnuts and Justin is now in charge. Most of the picking is done, not many like this:
I’ve got 186 pounds so far and we’re hoping to reach 250 pounds. Using the Nut Weasel this year really made the daily job of gathering the nuts on the ground very easy. No more stooping and crouching.
Breakfast with Ade
arletelouise 