We decided we needed a car to really explore the area – too hot and definitely too dangerous to do much bike riding. We got a taxi to Enterprise yesterday – apparently there’s no pickup from airport locations and the only location is at the airport. Oh well – they upgraded us from a compact to a VW Jetta so we can’t complain.

First stop was Publix, the big grocery chain you find in the south. It was packed, but apparently it’s always that way because it’s the only big grocery in Marathon. It’s always interesting to see what different items you see as you travel around the country, and how much the same the grocery stores seem to be laid out. I was on a mission to get in and out quickly so I didn’t pay much attention to different items this time, but I’m sure I’ll see some unusual items the next time I go – I wonder what all the old folks who winter down here eat (and believe me, there are lots of old folks!)

Our next stop was West Marine. We discovered Tuesday that we had no water from the marina water supply to the boat because the connector for the hose to our boat had broken. We were able to fill our water tank, so we could use water from that, but it’s a pain to have to fill every couple of days. Fortunately they had the part we needed and Rich and a friend were able to get the broken part off. Rich got the new part on and now we have continuous water! Rich has become a different kind of plumber!

On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons there were weddings on the end of a jetty across from our boat. Fun entertainment!

We’re quickly becoming spoiled by this marina. Both USA Today and the Wall Street Journal are delivered to our boat each day for free. We get complimentary pumpout once a week dockside (anyone who owns a boat knows how fantastic this is) and we don’t even have to be on the boat when they do it. There’s free coffee every morning in the marina office, which is about 150’ from our boat. We have free access to the computers and printer at the Hyatt Place, which is just in front of the marina. What’s not to like???

I will probably be posting every other day now. It’s not too exciting to write about spending 2 hours (and $25) in the laundromat, doing dishes, or any of the other things that happen when you stay in one place for an extended period of time. And I don’t want to rub it in too much about how great the weather is 😊